Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Showing posts with label attorney general. Show all posts
Showing posts with label attorney general. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
AUDIO- "Circus freak show”: Virginia attorney general a birther?
By GottaLaff
Caught on tape:
Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli is caught on tape discussing his thoughts on how to challenge President Obama's birth certificate in order to strike down federal laws he signs.
Cuccinelli... Cuccinelli... Why does that sound familiar? Oh yeah:
This is the same Ken Cuccinelli who recently came under fire for encouraging Virginia universities to rescind their anti-gay discrimination policies, a move that several groups have condemned as rooted in homophobia and bigotry.
The audio in question was released today by Ben Tribbett, a Virginian political blogger who is often credited with breaking the George Allen “macaca” video. [...]
“I think it shows a shocking lack of judgment for an Attorney General to be having this kind of blunt conversation with a conspiracy theorist,” Tribbett said. “I think his lawsuit against the EPA, his letter on anti-discrimination policies and this audio shows that he is turning the Attorney General’s office into a circus freak show.”
Tribbett said it all, and very well. An Attorney General has no business entertaining birther conspiracies. To do it publicly was also just plain stupid. When are these people going to realize there are inventions called recording devices?
Thankfully.
UPDATE: Cuccinelli denies being a birther.
H/t: OsborneInk (Matt Osborne)
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Alaska lawmakers reject Palin’s controversial attorney general pick
By GottaLaff
The Alaska Legislature rejected Gov. Sarah Palin’s (R-AK) pick for state attorney general, Wayne Anthony Ross, by a vote of 35-23 today.That stomping sound you hear is a spurned little Pouty McPoorTaste leaving the room in rage and disgrace.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Sarah Palin's new disaster
By GottaLaff
According to two sources close to the confirmation hearings, Palin may ask Ross to withdraw before his appointment comes to a vote. [...]
Sparky McBackfire really picked a winner, didn't she? Oh, whoops, my bad, I shouldn't use that term. "Winner" and "Palin" should never be juxtaposed. That would be inappropriate and bad form.But as pro-Palin forces attempted to push back against Ross’s critics, dozens of op-eds Ross authored during the 1980s and 1990s surfaced as key exhibits in the case against his confirmation. Among them is a 1993 piece entitled, “KKK ‘art’ project gets ‘A’ for courage,” in which Ross cheered on a local college student who had offended an African-American classmate by creating a statue of a Klansman with a cross in one hand and a flag in the other. “It might have been fun to see [the African-American student] try to remove the display,” Ross wrote. “Then she could have been arrested and her future as a student of the university could have been resolved through the university disciplinary proceedings.”
During the early 1980s, while Anchorage residents grappled over renaming the city’s 15th Street as Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and state legislators mulled establishing a state holiday honoring the assassinated civil-rights leader, Ross wrote several manifestoes attacking King as a communist subversive, according to University of Alaska-Anchorage music professor and local progressive activist Phil Munger. Munger also told me Ross has routinely appeared at public events beside his friend, Don Tanner, a white nationalist who moved to South Africa for a period during the 1980s to support its apartheid government, and who reveled crowds of conservatives with anti-black “South African jokes” upon his return to Alaska.
A glance at Ross’s published archive shows he never limited his resentment to minorities. He taunted environmentalists (“It is time we quit crying over the oil spill” was the title of an editorial he wrote in the wake of the Exxon Valdez disaster); he denounced homosexuals as “degenerates” during a 1993 legal fight over a local gay-rights ordinance; and announced that his final wish before dying was to overturn Roe v. Wade. While rising through the ranks of the NRA’s national leadership in the 1980s, Ross published a piece in the mercenary magazine Soldier of Fortune, defending the right to form antigovernment militias.
“Ross’s profile fits where Palin wants to go after the current legislative session ends,” Munger remarked to me. “She seems to be planning some behind-the-scenes movement to stir up the crazies, especially by convincing them the federal government is going take their guns away. So nobody here is surprised by this selection.”
While Ross sustained withering criticism for his views on social issues, Native American tribes denounced his vociferous opposition to their subsistence rights. The tribes were especially disturbed by his vow during a 2002 gubernatorial debate to “hire a band of junkyard dog” attorneys to gut federal laws guaranteeing natives subsistence preferences. “It almost looked like she was rubbing our face in Anthony Ross’s appointment,” said Tim Towarak, co-chairman of the Alaska Federation of Natives, told The Bristol Bay Times. “Like rubbing our face on the ground, saying ‘Here, take this.’” With increasingly powerful tribal groups mobilizing a united front against Ross, Palin was compelled to defend her own record, pleading, “Obviously I am not anti-Native and would never appoint anyone who is.”
If Palin withdraws Ross’s nomination, she could end another embarrassing political spectacle before it registers on the national press corps’ radar. Alternatively, if she manages to ram his appointment through, Palin can begin implementing a hard-right legal agenda that will appeal to the elements she is cultivating as the base of her likely 2012 presidential campaign. However Palin decides to proceed with W.A.R., by nominating him, she has staked out the culture war as the fuel for her national ambitions.
Sparky McBackfire really picked a bigoted, mean-spirited, bottom-feeding boor, didn't she? There. That's better.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Gov. Palin's pick for AK attorney general: Ethics schmethics
By GottaLaff
A Wayne Anthony Ross license plate
Sorry for the long post, but I didn't want to edit this.(I wrote my testimony against Governor Palin's choice of Wayne Anthony Ross on the issues specific to ethics. However there are any number of major concerns with this man becoming AG.
Refer to the online archive for Gavel to Gavel. [...] [L]isten to the April 10th House Judiciary Committee hearing and testimony. If all of that doesn't alarm you, I don't know what will... ) [...] [Laffy Note: Follow the link, she provides e-mail addresses for those who want to contact the legislators]
Dear Legislators:
Friday, April 10, 2009, I watched the House Judiciary Committee's interview with Wayne Anthony Ross, Governor Palin's appointee for the Alaska Attorney General position. I was surprised when, towards the end, Representative Ramras referenced the ethics complaint I submitted in March. I was then disgusted by Mr. Ross's response:
Representative Ramras: "We have a Governor who is provocative in a lot of her actions. Recently it comes to mind when she was in Fairbanks for the finish line for the Iron Dog she was wearing Arctic Cat gear...Arctic Cat letters..."Wayne Anthony Ross: "It was provocative; she looked very good in them, didn't she?"
The fact that Mr. Ross thought it appropriate to sexualize the issue on the floor of the House during his confirmation hearing is probably alarming enough by itself. It seemed to add credibility to the Senate and House public testimony from multiple individuals alleging disturbing past negative comments and attitudes from Mr. Ross towards women.
However, the focus of this letter is the cavalier way in which Mr. Ross seems to view charges that the Governor of Alaska has behaved unethically.
While this attitude is clearly obvious in the previous comment, it is also reflected farther into the exchange between Rep. Ramras and Mr. Ross:
Representative Ramras: Presently, General, there are some concerns in this building about the focus of our chief executive because she's taken a speaking engagement in Indiana for a 36 hour period with only 72 hours to go in the Legislative Session. [Laffy Note: My post about this here] Although she's available by phone, there's a reason we have you here in front of us because we're not interested in doing the confirmation hearing telephonically. Nor are we interested in having a Governor available telephonically with only three days to go in the session.So my question for you...as the Governor's attorney as well as the chief attorney for the State of Alaska...how are you going to advise the Governor, with these lucrative offers she has on the table to write a biography and the requirement for anyone who writes a book to take a book tour across the country? Are you going to advise the Governor that this is something that is within her rights and purview or is that something that infringes upon the rights of all Alaskans?
W.A. Ross: I don't know how I'm going to advise her because the question hasn't been made and I don't know all the facts.
Later on, Mr. Ross gives this response:
W.A. Ross:...Whether that's part of her job or not, I'm not making any decisions on that. Whether she should wear Arctic Cat or I should get in trouble for wearing a Steton, I'm not making any decisions on that. If the questions come to us maybe we'll have to make a decision at that time. I'm sure she feels appreciative that you guys are going to miss her for two days while she's outside giving a speech. She's never talked to me about it and I'm sure you'll be in her heart and mind the whole time.Again, he is clearly not taking any of this seriously. He also states that he is not making any decisions on advising the Governor whether or not the above behavior is ethical.
Here is the rest of the exchange:
Ramras: I would look forward to an opinion from the Department of Law on that point...whether the Dept. of Law will endorse a chief executive writing a book and making a multi-city book tour while she's serving in the capacity of the chief executive. On that point we would like to get an opinion from the Department of Law going forward as we have a new Attorney General.Ross: I think I have a lot more important issues as Attorney General then deciding whether or not the Governor should write a book.
Ramras: I didn't ask you if she should write a book. I asked you if she may take prolonged absences from the State of Alaska on a book tour.
Ross: I don't have all of the knowledge of the issues facing the Department of Law, but when it comes time that I have plenty of extra time for such things I will certainly devote the time appropriate to such an issue
I believe that Mr. Ross needs to read the job description for the State Attorney General a little closer. In a 2007 letter and attachments (starting at page 6) from the former Attorney General, Talis Colberg explains his role as AG to Governor Sarah Palin as the person who is supposed to assist her in understanding her responsibilities regarding her own ethical behavior:
Since I serve as your designated ethics supervisor, I want to remind you that the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act requires that all state employees report to their designated ethics supervisors any outside employment or services benefiting their personal or financial interests by July 1 of each year.So, one of the functions of the Attorney General is to serve as the Governor's designated ethics supervisor, which not only has time-sensitive reporting requirements but would require him to properly advise her if there is a possibility she may be violating the Alaska Executive Ethics Act. I believe that requires Mr. Ross to take action on the issue of ethics whether he has "plenty of extra time for such things" or not. It's an important part of his job. Further, the letter from the former AG lays out more specific guidelines for chief executives:
However, the Ethics Act also precludes "the head of a principal executive department of the state" from engaging in "outside employment."l The Office of the Governor is a principal department of the state.2 Therefore, as head of that office, you may not be engaged in outside employment. We construe "employment" to have its ordinary meaning.These definitions are explained in an attachment to the memo for the Governor (page 8), a list of Frequently Asked Questions that looks like it may be given to all new state employees. What's disturbing is that it very clearly raises questions as to the legality of the chief executive officer (Governor Palin) accepting "a book deal." Mr. Ross seems to be completely unaware of this:
3. What does "outside employment" include?
• Any employment for which you are paid, but not your state employment.
• Examples: a job with another employer, work as an independent contractor, and work in your own business.Also, Mr. Ross seems to be unaware that established DOL criteria may already address the issue of leaving the state for extended travel on a book tour:
The statute (AS 39.52. 170(a» restricts public employees from providing services that benefit a personal interest if those services are incompatible or in conflict with the proper performance of official duties.Mr. Ross discussed none of this when asked pointed questions by Representative Ramras. Instead, Mr. Ross gave flippant answers, seemed to dismiss the importance of Executive Ethics Act enforcement and didn't seem to understand the requirements of the Act himself. While I don't expect Mr. Ross to be up to speed on all the requirements of his potential job, I believe he should have at least a passing understanding of some of the more important duties. Keeping the Governor out of trouble is a VERY important duty and not something to be taken lightly.
Wayne Anthony Ross's disrespectful attitude during the ethics questioning concerns me for another reason. The Alaska Executive Ethics Act does require that the Personnel Board hire an independent investigator in place of the Attorney General when ethics complaints involve the Governor, the Lt. Governor or the AG him/herself. However, the AG is the head of the Department of Law which still the "gatekeeper"-Dept. of Law employees make the decision whether or not the ethics complaint meets the criteria and is sent to the Personnel Board at all. I am concerned that Mr. Ross may not take the process seriously enough to become well-informed and base the fate of ethics complaints upon unbiased legal criteria.
I believe we should all be deeply concerned about the appointment of Wayne Anthony Ross for many reasons already presented to both Judiciary Committees. However, no behavior in front of either Judiciary Committee causes more concern and reflects more directly upon how Mr. Ross may perform at his job than the ethics exchange with Representative Ramras. Ethical government should be a high priority for everyone but especially for the person whose job it is to lead the Department of Law. I urge you to reject the appointment of Wayne Anthony Ross for Attorney General.
Sincerely,
Linda Kellen Biegel
Sarah Palin's pick for AK's Attorney General: “If a guy can’t rape his wife…who’s he gonna rape?” Part 2
By GottaLaff
I got a huge response to this post:Sarah Palin's pick for Alaska's Attorney General: “If a guy can’t rape his wife…who’s he gonna rape?”
In that post, I linked to Wayne Anthony Ross's response to Leah Burton's testimony about Palin's terrible Attorney General pick. But this is far from over. Check this out (I strongly suggest you follow the link to read the entire letter), via the wonderfully astute and very thorough Shannyn Moore:
Flippant much, WAR? And where in your response letter did you deny or defend anything that Mr. Burton said about you?From Leah Burton’s Dad:
Mr. Ross,
You may or may not remember the times when we met but I remember you very vividly. The purpose of this communication is over concern for my daughter first and your attempt to be confirmed as the Attorney General, a job for which I know you had long aspirations, as well as thinking you could be the Commissioner of Health and Social Services or the Commissioner of Public Safety, none of which you are qualified for.
I was told today that you deny knowing or associating with the Mad Dads group in Wasilla. Surely records of filings in the court must still be available so that you can produce proof of who you clients were. This, is the same group that my daughter witnessed you addressing and making sexist and demeaning comments in reference to spousal rape and domestic violence, which as I see it means physical abuse of the spouse by the husband. Considering the group to which you were speaking that is the only logical conclusion one could draw from such remarks. I’m also assuming that you may have made these remarks in order to appear as a macho man in front of such a gathering. First of all, I want to caution you on what you say but can’t prove and to advise you that if this kind of slander and attacks on my daughter continue you may well meet a real attorney that knows how to win.
In over 30 years in law enforcement in Alaska, as a police advisor for the U.S State Dept and the Dept of justice, I have met and worked with many quality professionals in the field and let me say that you do not rank among this group. I worked the street as a young patrol officer starting in Ketchikan in 1954, joined the Alaska State Police in 1959 and ended my career by serving two separate terms as Commissioner of Public Safety for the 2 best Governor’s in Alaska, Jay Hammond and Wally Hickel. (In the interest of brevity I will attach my resume for you perusal as I want to establish my bona fides for the remarks I am about to make).
You sir, speak and act like the kind of bully I met many times when responding to domestic violence calls, some of the most dangerous situations police officers are often in. Over the years I brought many an abused spouse and/or children to my own home for my wife to care for, because there was no place else to take them. [...]
Contrary to what you recently told the Judiciary Committee about the Child Welfare workers being hell bent on taking kids away from their families my personal experience was just the opposite. I had to take many children into protective custody,. and even in the most dangerous of situations the welfare workers attitude was that a child was always better off staying with their natural parents regardless of the circumstances. Not a decision that I could always agree with. Therefore I am totally surprised as your comments and I challenge you to provide actual proof that supports that allegation.
[...] The bottom line in this case we found that children were being left in home circumstances in many cases when the right thing to do would have been removal. This resulted in changes of the child protection statutes and policies of the agencies concerned which also included the relationship between children and adult probation sharing of information.
The only conclusion I have been able to come to concerning your remarks about the “frightening” case works is that you really don’t know what you are talking about and are just talking to try to impress someone that you may have an some knowledge about the subject.
In light of the strong reaction from the native and rural communities of the state and your obvious position and bias relative to domestic and children’s issues I find it hard to believe that you could be in charge of the department that is charged with enforcing laws in an impartial or effective manner. I think you should do the state a favor and withdraw your name from confirmation.
Richard L Burton
Commissioner of Public Safety (retired)
RESPONSE BY WAYNE ANTHONY ROSS:
Dick: Thanks for writing. I’ll pray for you and for your daughter. Sounds like both of you have problems. My best to you old friend, WAR
Oh, that's right, nowhere. We'll pray for you (even us atheist commies). Sounds like you have problems.
[Laffy Note: Shannyn has appeared on The Rachel Maddow Show and Countdown (if I'm not mistaken), among others. She's a credible, thorough liberal commentator, observer, radio personality, and activist. Go here to read more about her.]
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
True or False: Holder assures GOP on interrogation prosecution and telecom immunity
By GottaLaff
Original post:
How can one make a decision to prosecute or not prosecute before one investigates and has seen the evidence? Granted, this piece is from the Washington Times, but.... If accurate, this would be politicizing the legal system, which was BushCo's M.O. It better not be Holder's:
Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond, a Republican from Missouri and the vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said in an interview with The Washington Times that he will support Eric H. Holder Jr.'s nomination for Attorney General because Mr. Holder assured him privately that Mr. Obama's Justice Department will not prosecute former Bush officials involved in the interrogations program.
Mr. Holder's promise apparently was key to moving his nomination forward. [...]
Sen. Bond also said that Mr. Holder told him in a private meeting Tuesday that he will not strip the telecommunications companies that cooperated with the National Security Agency after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks of retroactive legal immunity from civil lawsuits--removing another potential sticking point among GOP senators.
In the interview Wednesday, Mr. Bond said, "I made it clear that trying to prosecute political leaders would generate a political firestorm the Obama administration doesn't need."
He added, "I was concerned about previous statements he made and others had made. He gave me assurances that he would not take those steps that would cause major disruptions in our intelligence system or cause political warfare. We don't need that kind of political warfare. He gave me assurances he is looking forward." [...]
Mr. Holder made a similar point to senators last week in a little-noticed written response to questions from Republican senators Jon Kyl of Arizona and John Cornyn of Texas. Mr. Holder indicated that he would not prosecute any intelligence officers who participated in the interrogation program and who had followed Justice Department guidance.
Prosecutorial and investigative judgments must depend on the facts and no one is above the law, Mr. Holder wrote. But where it is clear that a government agent has acted in 'reasonable and good faith reliance on Justice Department legal opinions' authoritatively permitting his conduct, I would find it difficult to justify commencing a full blown criminal investigation, let alone a prosecution.
The legislative director for the American Civil Liberties Union, Caroline Fredrickson, said Wednesday that she was alarmed by Mr. Bond's statements and was hoping, Kit Bond is not stating this in the way that Mr. Holder stated it to him. She added, We are hoping there will be a clarification. It would be extraordinary if our top prosecutor, before taking office, would have predetermined whether or not to pursue certain cases because of political pressure.[...]
Mr. Specter called "satisfactory" Mr. Holder's statements that interrogation techniques authorized by legal opinions would provide a strong cover from prosecutions. According to Mr. Specter, Mr. Holder could not make any more explicit statements without knowing the facts of specific cases.
According to Ellen Ratner (of Talk Radio News Service) on Thom Hartmann just now, Holder is also caving on the question of Karl Rove's claims of "executive privilege".
Thom Hartmann's reaction to the Rove matter: We have to put the pressure on these guys. Yes, and the pressure better be enormous. This is not acceptable.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Arlen Specter will support Holder
The top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee announced Tuesday he will support the nomination of Attorney General-designate Eric Holder when the panel votes on it Wednesday.Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pennsylvania, had angered Holder during the confirmation hearing 10 days ago when he questioned Holder's "fitness" for the office.
Specter questioned whether Holder would be politically independent from the White House, recalling Holder's refusal as deputy attorney general to seek an independent counsel for an investigation of allegedly questionable fund-raising by then-Vice President Al Gore.
A clearly annoyed Holder then warned Specter he was "getting close to the line in questioning my integrity." [...]
And Specter, who later met with Holder privately, says he is satisfied on yet another point — that Holder is not intent on prosecuting Bush-era officials who were operating under what they presumed to be a lawful order when they engaged in harsh interrogation techniques. [...]
With Specter agreeing to support the nomination, Holder's floor vote and swearing in could be accomplished by the end of this week.
Holder may not be "intent" on prosecuting BushCo, but it will get done eventually, because it has to. I shall personally will it. From what I've been hearing, U.S. Attorneys, along with the Siegelman case, may be the catalysts.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Republicans to Holder: "Promise not to prosecute BushCo, 'k?"
By GottaLaff
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., a former U.S. attorney and former Rhode Island attorney general criticized Republican members of the committee for delaying a vote on Holder's nomination.
"Republicans on the Judiciary Committee have asked Eric Holder to make a commitment, before he is even confirmed, that he will not prosecute any Bush administration officials for their involvement in acts of torture during the last administration," Whitehouse said in a news release. "Anyone familiar with the criminal justice system -- especially those with experience as prosecutors or judges -- should know that a prosecutor should make no determination about who to prosecute before he or she has all the facts, and particularly not in response to legislative pressure."
Promise you won't bust the Bush Crime Family for breaking the law, committing war crimes and stuff like torturing and junk, 'k Eric? If you sweartogod you won't do that, we'll be your bff*.
The GOP has lost all sense of reality, utterly and completely. It's just one big delusional sack of mental illness now.
*best friends forever
Thursday, January 15, 2009
VIDEO-- Feingold Questions Attorney General Nominee Eric Holder on FISA
By GottaLaff
This is the video I've been looking for. Think Progress, thank you. However-- and this is a big "however":
The New York Times reports that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court is expected to issue a major ruling validating “the power of the president and Congress to wiretap international phone calls and intercept e-mail messages without a court order,”even when U.S. residents’ personal communications are involved:
In validating the government’s wide authority to collect foreign intelligence, it may offer legal credence to the Bush administration’s repeated assertions that the president has constitutional authority to act without specific court approval in ordering national security eavesdropping.
Huh? Wha? No. Nonononono. No.
VIDEO-- Holder confirmation hearings, Lindsey Graham (R-SC): "I'm almost ready to vote for you right now"
By GottaLaff
For Ady:
VIDEO-- Attorney General Nominee Holder: "Waterboarding is torture"
By GottaLaff
A far cry from Mukasey (thanks, Feinstein and Schumer). Take a peek at what sanity looks like:
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Friday, January 9, 2009
John Warner bucks GOP-ers, backs Holder
This is interesting. Won't stop the R's from screeching about Mark Rich and Puerto Rican terrorists, but nevertheless interesting.
Sen. Arlen Specter and other Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee may want to derail or slow down Eric Holder’s nomination to become the next attorney general, but one of their just departed colleagues is going to bat for the nominee.
Former Sen. John Warner (R-Va.), who just stepped down from the Senate after 30 years in the body, will appear on behalf of Holder during Thursday’s Judiciary Committee hearing, according to Sen. Patrick Leahy’s (D-Vt.) office. Leahy is the chairman of the panel.
Warner and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) will introduce Holder to the Judiciary panel, and they will offer strong support for his nomination to the AG post.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Breaking- Obama team has finished Blagojevich report, will not release for a week per DOJ request
MSNBC reporting that Obama transition team spokesperson Dan Pfieffer has sent out a press release saying that their investigation into communications with Blagojevich is done, it is as reported (no shady stuff) and that they are delaying the release of it per the request of Fitzgerald. That's pretty much it, will put up more when I get it.
UPDATE- Per SusanG-
At the direction of the President-elect, a review of Transition staff contacts with Governor Blagojevich and his office has been conducted and completed and is ready for release. That review affirmed the public statements of the President-elect that he had no contact with the governor or his staff, and that the President-elect's staff was not involved in inappropriate discussions with the governor or his staff over the selection of his successor as US Senator.Obviously, the talking heads on MSNBC don't speak English since after this direct statement was mentioned a half dozen times in the past 10 minutes, the dude talking with Norah just said, "If they have the information put together, I don't understand why they're waiting to release it!" Um, because the US Attorney's Office requested the release be deferred until the 22nd you moran.
Also at the President-elect's direction, Gregory Graig, counsel to the Transition, has kept the US Attorney's office informed of this fact-gathering process in order to ensure our full cooperation with the investigation.
In the course of those discussions, the US Attorney's office requested the public release of the Transition review be deferred until the week of December 22, in order not to impede their investigation of the governor. The Transition has agreed to this revised timetable for release.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Confirmation hearings for A.G. nominee Holder in early January
By GottaLaff
Oh, just hurry up and confirm. We can't take any more ugly Bush stains!
Holder, a former second in command at the Justice Department during the Clinton administration, appeared on Capitol Hill today for traditional, closed door meetings with Senate leaders. If he is confirmed, Holder would become the nation’s first African American attorney general.
Confirmation hearings could begin Jan. 5. Obama will not be sworn in until Jan. 20.
Gee, do you get the impression that Senate Democrats are eager to get the Bush administration out the door as quickly as possible?
Out the door, door bolted shut, 20-foot-high cement wall built, moat dug and filled, invisible shock barrier installed... so yeah, I do get that impression. Snerk.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Future Attorney General Holder: The Anti-Bushie
By GottaLaff
ThinkProgress has compiled Eric Holder’s stated views on critical issues:
Don't agree with him on everything? That's okay. Think of the alternative.On Role Of Attorney General: “The attorney general is the one Cabinet member who’s different from all the rest. The attorney general serves first the people, but also serves the president. There has to be a closeness at the same time there needs to be distance.” [National Journal, 3/3/06]
On Torture: “The notion that the Department of Justice would in essence sanction the use of torture as part of the President’s plenary power over military operations is as wrong as it is shortsighted. This position flies in the face of the entire history of American law, helping to create a climate in which unnecessarily abusive conduct can somehow be considered legitimate.” [Remarks to ACS Conference, 6/19/04]
“We must declare without qualification that it is the law, policy, and practice of the United States government that we do not torture people and we do not subject people to cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment.” [ACS Conference, 6/14/08]
On Closing Guantanamo: “Guantanamo Bay is an international embarassment. Some of our closest allies see this prison as a symbol of what America has become. We should close Guantanamo Bay, transfer the remaining prisoners to military prisons in the United States.” [ACS Conference, 6/14/08]
On Extraordinary Rendition: “We must end all U.S. government practice and programs, covert or otherwise, that transfer individuals involuntarily to other countries that are known to engage in torture.” [ACS Conference, 6/14/08]
On Indefinite Detentions Of Non-U.S. Citizen Terror Suspects: “It seems to me you can think of these people as combatants and we are in the middle of a war, and it seems to me that you could probably say, looking at precedent, that you are going to detain these people until war is over, if that is ultimately what we wanted to do.” [CNN, 1/02]
On Warrantless Wiretapping: “I never thought I would see that a President would act in direct defiance of Federal law by authorizing warrantless NSA surveillance of American citizens. This disrespect for the rule of law is not only wrong it destructive in our struggle against terrorism.” [ACS Conference, 6/14/08]
On U.S. Attorney Scandal: “‘Internally, there is a morale problem the likes of which I have never seen before,’ Holder said. ‘Externally, there is a crisis of confidence that the nation has with regard to the department.’” [Washington Post, 11/10/07]
On Politicization Of Justice Department: “Holder said [Attorney General Michael] Mukasey ‘has to move swiftly and tangibly in order to restore faith in the integrity of the decision making at Justice. He has to show that he, not political operatives at the White House, is making the calls at Justice.’” [AP, 11/9/07]
On Scooter Libby Sentencing: “[T]he sentence Libby got, it was a little farther than I would have gone.” [Bloomberg News, 6/27/07]
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Obama picks Eric Holder for Attorney General
MSNBC is also confirming. First AA AG?
President-elect Obama has decided to tap Eric Holder as his attorney general, putting the veteran Washington lawyer in place to become the first African-American to head the Justice Department, according to two legal sources close to the presidential transition.
Holder, who served as deputy attorney general during the Clinton administration, still has to undergo a formal “vetting” review by the Obama transition team before the selection is final and is publicly announced, said one of the sources, who asked not to be identified talking about the transition process. But in the discussions over the past few days, Obama offered Holder the job and he accepted, the source said. The announcement is not likely until after Obama announces his choices to lead the Treasury and State departments.
Holder, 57, has been on Obama’s “short list” for attorney general from the outset. A partner at the D.C. law firm of Covington & Burling, Holder served as co-chief (along with Caroline Kennedy) of Obama’s vice-presidential selection process. He also actively campaigned for Obama throughout the year and grew personally close to the president-elect. Holder has not returned a call seeking comment; a spokeswoman for the Obama transition team told Newsweek in an e-mail early Tuesday afternoon that no decision has been made.
.jpg)
