Hot Air » Blog Archive » Newsweek: Obama to name Eric Holder AG

Newsweek: Obama to name Eric Holder AG

posted at 4:15 pm on November 18, 2008 by Allahpundit
Share on Facebook | regular view

A veteran of his VP search team and yes, believe it or not, another Clinton retread. One knee-deep in the Marc Rich pardon, to boot.

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 only hesitancy about Holder’s selection was that he himself had reservations about going through a confirmation process that was likely to revive questions about his role in signing off on the controversial pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich. Although there is no evidence that Holder actively pushed the pardon, he was criticized for not raising with the White House the strong objections that some Justice Department lawyers and federal prosecutors in New York had to pardoning somebody who had fled the country. But after reviewing the evidence in the case, and checking with staffers on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Obama aides and Holder both decided the issue was highly unlikely to prove an obstacle to his confirmation, one of the sources said–especially given the Democrats’ more sizable post-election majority in the Senate.

Even better, he was deputy AG when federal agents extracted Elian Gonzalez at the point of a machine gun and did a cable news tour defending that decision. Elian’s father’s attorney at the time, incidentally? The One’s new White House counsel, Greg Craig.

Exit quotation: “These guys didn’t put together a campaign in order to turn the government over to the Clintons.”

Blowback

Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.

Trackbacks/Pings

Trackback URL

Comments

Comment pages: 1 2 Next »

Think he will push any ACORN investigations?

DerKrieger on November 18, 2008 at 4:18 PM

tee hee X2

YellowDawg on November 18, 2008 at 4:18 PM

Isn’t he somehow involved in the Fannie and Freddie mess?

Illinidiva on November 18, 2008 at 4:18 PM

AP,

Entry Quotation from me: “If they wanted Clinton 2.0, why didn’t they just put in Hillary?”

YellowDawg on November 18, 2008 at 4:18 PM

BWHAHAHAHA

I just imagined Billy Jeff pulling the strings on all these guys and asking them to leak stuff.

lodge on November 18, 2008 at 4:19 PM

Illinidiva on November 18, 2008 at 4:18 PM

That would be the other well dressed, smart black guy, Franklin Raines.

YellowDawg on November 18, 2008 at 4:19 PM

This is shaping up to be a horrible sequel to a really bad movie.

How many more puppet strings can Obama wear?

sherry on November 18, 2008 at 4:20 PM

Think he will push any ACORN investigations?

Jeesh, more likely they’ll bring ACORN in and make it a new cabinet position.

sannhet on November 18, 2008 at 4:21 PM

The theme of Jaws and the Exorcists come to mind.

upinak on November 18, 2008 at 4:22 PM

Makes me wonder if Dear Leader is in fact just an empty suit puppet of the Clintons. Hillary doesn’t have the charisma to get elected herself, so use a charismatic guy in her stead. Meanwhile, the Clintons will in fact be running everything behind the scenes.

rbj on November 18, 2008 at 4:22 PM

And if I remember rightly Holder is one that believes the 2nd Amendment is not an individual right. Here we go!

Jeff on November 18, 2008 at 4:22 PM

Wow. If he would seek a search warrant and deportation order on a Cuban immigrant then what kind of search warrant is he going to seek on Allah’s apartment?

Limerick on November 18, 2008 at 4:22 PM

Investigations for thee but not for me.

moxie_neanderthal on November 18, 2008 at 4:22 PM

Obama is Pathetic. In a country of 300 Plus million people he can’t find better then old Clinton retards???

Dritanian on November 18, 2008 at 4:22 PM

sherry on November 18, 2008 at 4:20 PM

Let’s be honest here, Clinton’s time in the White House was a helluva lot more productive than Dubya’s.

YellowDawg on November 18, 2008 at 4:23 PM

YellowDawg on November 18, 2008 at 4:23 PM

Reproductive, or productive?

Limerick on November 18, 2008 at 4:23 PM

Like Obamunism, it’s all retreads. So much for new and different.

tarpon on November 18, 2008 at 4:24 PM

Thanks Reagan.

marklmail on November 18, 2008 at 4:24 PM

Jeff on November 18, 2008 at 4:22 PM

Good thing people are buying them left and right huh!

upinak on November 18, 2008 at 4:24 PM

We need change….

Nah, never mind! Back to the 90s folk, just with less “prosperity.”

terryannonline on November 18, 2008 at 4:24 PM

I’m almost impressed. It’s no mean feat to pull 60+ million voters pants down and shaft them hard to the chant of “yes we can!”.

LimeyGeek on November 18, 2008 at 4:24 PM

Change you can buy your way out of!

MayBee on November 18, 2008 at 4:25 PM

LimeyGeek on November 18, 2008 at 4:24 PM

Is there a condom with that?

upinak on November 18, 2008 at 4:25 PM

Terrorist #1: “Did you hear that Obama is bringing back half of the old Clinton administration, including those idiots who wanted to try us in court?”

Terrorist #2: “Let’s roll”

fogw on November 18, 2008 at 4:26 PM

Limerick on November 18, 2008 at 4:23 PM

*snort*

and just like Monica Lewinsky, the American taxpayer has to clean off the pearl necklace given to us by Hank Paulson.

YellowDawg on November 18, 2008 at 4:27 PM

Let’s be honest here, Clinton’s time in the White House was a helluva lot more productive than Dubya’s.

YellowDawg on November 18, 2008 at 4:23 PM

Above or below the desk?

sherry on November 18, 2008 at 4:28 PM

Let’s be honest here, Clinton’s time in the White House was a helluva lot more productive than Dubya’s.

It depends on how you define “productive.”

terryannonline on November 18, 2008 at 4:29 PM

Who else can Obama turn to but Dem hacks and Clinton retreads? He came up so fast with Chicago-Daley tactics clearing the way, that he had no time to develop the size and depth of staff needed to fill all the positions to support the Presidency. Starting with Biden, Emmanuel, Podesta, Craig, Holder, Clinton — who else does he know other than Ayers, Wright, Farrakhan, Rezko, Soros?

jerseyman on November 18, 2008 at 4:29 PM

Change you can believe in.

davidk on November 18, 2008 at 4:30 PM

sherry on November 18, 2008 at 4:28 PM

terryannonline on November 18, 2008 at 4:29 PM

You’re too late, Limerick already gave us the money shot.

YellowDawg on November 18, 2008 at 4:30 PM

You know, as long as it ain’t Doyle, I feel better.

MadisonConservative on November 18, 2008 at 4:31 PM

who else does he know other than Ayers, Wright, Farrakhan, Rezko, Soros?

jerseyman on November 18, 2008 at 4:29 PM

I dunno, but he will soon know Dinnerjacket, Pukin, and Poncho Villa.

Limerick on November 18, 2008 at 4:31 PM

This is “Change”??

LMAO

Norwegian on November 18, 2008 at 4:32 PM

YellowDawg on November 18, 2008 at 4:30 PM

LOL!

Actually I wasn’t trying to be Clintonian. It really does depend on how you define productive.

terryannonline on November 18, 2008 at 4:32 PM

I’m still trying to figure out why we actually vote. It doesn’t make a difference as the same guys in power are the same guys in power. Why would they care what we think?

We ’sent a message of change’ to DC by sending people from DC.

Why vote?

ThackerAgency on November 18, 2008 at 4:34 PM

You’re too late, Limerick already gave us the money shot.

YellowDawg on November 18, 2008 at 4:30 PM

We’re the backup band.

sherry on November 18, 2008 at 4:35 PM

who else does he know other than Ayers, Wright, Farrakhan, Rezko, Soros?

I expected him to nominate a load of left-wing bloggers and think tank researchers. Like Paul Krugman

lodge on November 18, 2008 at 4:35 PM

Bill Clinton stated that his greatest achievement as President was not being removed from office after he was impeached. It looks like Obama might just be covering all the bases, in case he needs a good impeachment lawyer.

jerseyman on November 18, 2008 at 4:36 PM

We’re the backup band.

sherry on November 18, 2008 at 4:35 PM

and this one time in band camp.

upinak on November 18, 2008 at 4:36 PM

I would pay $100 for him to announce Slick Willy as UN Ambassador, btw

lodge on November 18, 2008 at 4:36 PM

what a group of insider Washington dc beltway special interests. Pathetic.

rob verdi on November 18, 2008 at 4:36 PM

When exactly in all of Obama’s “change” rhetoric did he promise to not bring in people who had previous experience in D.C.? And notice Holder was first appointed by Reagan.

Obama promised change through a different agenda and a less divisive, more bi-partisan approach to governing.

In addition to not being part of the change he was offering, it’s not feasible or smart to ONLY name Washington outsiders to key administration cabinet positions.

Obama may bring back some Clinton people, but HE sets the tone and course for the administration. How he decides to steer the ship will determine how much change comes to Washington.

Tom_Shipley on November 18, 2008 at 4:37 PM

Dubya may bring back some old cronies of his dad’s, but HE sets the tone and course for the administration. How he decides to steer the ship will determine how much unity comes to Washington.

Tom_Shipley on November 18, 2008 at 4:37 PM

Where have I heard this before?

YellowDawg on November 18, 2008 at 4:39 PM

And if I remember rightly Holder is one that believes the 2nd Amendment is not an individual right. Here we go!
Jeff on November 18, 2008 at 4:22 PM

We don’t need to worry about Holder’s views on gun rights. When these idiots are your “friends”, who needs enemies?

http://rightwingnews.com/mt331/2008/11/assault_weapons_ban_introduced.php

Bishop on November 18, 2008 at 4:39 PM

I forgot to add: if you HAVEN’T gotten yourself an evil black rifle, you had better do so now.

Bishop on November 18, 2008 at 4:40 PM

We’re the backup band.

sherry on November 18, 2008 at 4:35 PM

Hotair has fluffers now? :D

terryannonline on November 18, 2008 at 4:32 PM

Welfare reform, for one. I can’t think of a single thing that Bush passed that SAVED money.

YellowDawg on November 18, 2008 at 4:41 PM

And if I remember rightly Holder is one that believes the 2nd Amendment is not an individual right. Here we go!

Jeff on November 18, 2008 at 4:22 PM

Here we go.

Vic on November 18, 2008 at 4:41 PM

Where have I heard this before?

Exactly. W. also ran on a kind of “change” message when he said he’d be a “uniter, not a divider.” He didn’t fulfill that promise. We’ll see if Obama does or not.

Tom_Shipley on November 18, 2008 at 4:42 PM

Obama may bring back some Clinton people, but HE sets the tone and course for the administration. How he decides to steer the ship will determine how much change comes to Washington.

Tom_Shipley on November 18, 2008 at 4:37 PM

I care more about how he will actually govern than “tone.” And appointing Clinton people is probably a sign that he will govern like the Clinton. So all that long and drawn out Democratic Primary fight was for what? Either way we would have gotten a bunch of Clintonites.

terryannonline on November 18, 2008 at 4:43 PM

Perhaps Elian can be a foreign exchange student and intern at the Obama White House. He has already been pre-brainwashed.

RobCon on November 18, 2008 at 4:44 PM

Here we go.

Vic on November 18, 2008 at 4:41 PM

Some good it is doing… just sitting there.. again.

upinak on November 18, 2008 at 4:44 PM

Apparently, the only liberal cabinet candidates left in Washington are old Clinton retreads. Now we’ll get to see what Jimmah Carter would have done with a Clinton staff at his disposal.

Wyznowski on November 18, 2008 at 4:45 PM

Exactly. W. also ran on a kind of “change” message when he said he’d be a “uniter, not a divider.” He didn’t fulfill that promise. We’ll see if Obama does or not.

Tom_Shipley on November 18, 2008 at 4:42 PM

Exactly

Obama = Bush.

And we wonder why Bush’s hired socialist, Paulson, didn’t tell everyone about what a kid Obama was like during that meeting over the economic crisis.

YellowDawg on November 18, 2008 at 4:45 PM

Tom_Shipley on November 18, 2008 at 4:37 PM

Sigh, apparently you know NOTHING of how large organizations run.

You can have someone at the top who sets a wonderful tone, but if his subordinates don’t follow his lead?

Bush believes in the Free market system, yet the Fed Bank and SEC are now going Socialist… why? because the STAFF member who run those entities think that way.

Staff is VERY important… because the Head person cannot micromanage the entire US Government… and the President HAS to trust their input in order to make decisions.

Romeo13 on November 18, 2008 at 4:47 PM

I posted on the Ayers article and here it is worth repeating:

January 20th, 2012 – Presidential pardon granted to Mumia Abu Jamal.

Heaven forbid, but that may very well happen.

J.J. Sefton on November 18, 2008 at 4:49 PM

Bush believes in the Free market system, yet the Fed Bank and SEC are now going Socialist… why? because the STAFF member who run those entities think that way.

Romeo13 on November 18, 2008 at 4:47 PM

Are you kidding me? Obviously he doesn’t believe in it that much or he’d tell Paulson to bugger off. Last I checked, he’s the boss.

BTW looking over a subordinate to make sure he files something correctly is micromanaging. Making sure that he doesn’t blow over a trillion bux on handouts and cause the economic collapse of a country IS NOT.

YellowDawg on November 18, 2008 at 4:49 PM

What are these people so worried about as far as confirmation is concerned. The One could nominate Charles Manson and the rubber stamp congress would confirm him.

CurtZHP on November 18, 2008 at 4:49 PM

AP,

Entry Quotation from me: “If they wanted Clinton 2.0, why didn’t they just put in Hillary?”

YellowDawg on November 18, 2008 at 4:18 PM

‘cuz they didn’t want HILLARY, just her “posse”, so to speak.

uncivilized on November 18, 2008 at 4:52 PM

Hot Fuzzy Shinola.

L.N. Smithee on November 18, 2008 at 4:54 PM

Future HotAir headline about the Nutroots reaction to Hillary’s appointment as Secretary of State

“This is not the Hope and Change that we knew”

YellowDawg on November 18, 2008 at 4:55 PM

I have a great idea for AG instead: Christine Gregoire.

Seriously. 3-term State AG, just elected to 2nd term as Governor. Horrible Governor to anybody to the right of, say, Hillary Clinton but good consumers’ advocate AG.

At least we can have “hope n change” in the other Washington and real hope n change in the real Washington!

HotAirJosef on November 18, 2008 at 4:58 PM

I want this Clintonian empty suit Holder’s confirmation hearings to be as fun for him as a three-day icewater enema. I hope the Republicans remember what the Dems did to John Bolton.

Travis Bickle on November 18, 2008 at 5:02 PM

I would pay $100 for him to announce Slick Willy as UN Ambassador, btw

lodge on November 18, 2008 at 4:36 PM

Isn’t he already “Ambassador To The World?”

jackmac on November 18, 2008 at 5:02 PM

Didn’t he play a cop in that sit com with Abe Vagoda?

Star20 on November 18, 2008 at 5:03 PM

Heh. Obama got big props for beating the Vaunted Clinton Machine and his acolytes even proffered that as an executive “accomplishment.” Pie.Face.ObamaFans.

innominatus on November 18, 2008 at 5:08 PM

Lock and load.
sigh

pambi on November 18, 2008 at 5:09 PM

No doubt the Marc Rich pardon will come up, but it’s probably not killer if this report from Minnesota Public Radio is true:

An Obama official and two Democrats in touch with the transition team confirmed that Holder is Obama’s top choice but the Obama official said the decision has not been finalized. Holder did not return messages seeking comment Tuesday.

In the past week, Obama aides have asked Senate Republicans whether they would support Holder. In particular, the aides questioned whether Holder’s confirmation would be delayed because of his involvement in the 2001 pardon of fugitive Marc Rich by Clinton at the end of his presidency.

One person involved in the talks said the Obama team has received some assurances that, while the Rich pardon would certainly come up during hearings, the nomination likely wouldn’t be held up. All spoke on condition of anonymity to describe private conversations.

On the last day of Clinton’s term, Holder was asked whether the president should pardon Rich, a wealthy commodities dealer who had spent years running from tax charges.

Holder said he was “neutral, leaning towards favorable” on the pardon. Clinton later cited that as among the factors that persuaded him to issue the pardon.

Holder has publicly apologized for what he said was a snap decision that he should have paid more attention to. Had he taken more time to review the case, he would have advised against a pardon, he said.

starfleet_dude on November 18, 2008 at 5:10 PM

Are you kidding me? Obviously he doesn’t believe in it that much or he’d tell Paulson to bugger off. Last I checked, he’s the boss.

BTW looking over a subordinate to make sure he files something correctly is micromanaging. Making sure that he doesn’t blow over a trillion bux on handouts and cause the economic collapse of a country IS NOT.

YellowDawg on November 18, 2008 at 4:49 PM

Bush, IMO, is way to trusting of a person. He has trusted his staff to give him expert advice… and its bit not only him, but the country as well.

Trust me, I don’t hold Bush up as a paragon of how to run the country… I think his heart is in the right place… and he is loyal to a fault… but he does not hold his subordinates accountable for failure.

My point was that Staff can not only influence the initial decision by their reccomendations, but also have a huge impact when those policies are implemented.

Romeo13 on November 18, 2008 at 5:12 PM

ha ha ha ha ha

Y-not on November 18, 2008 at 5:12 PM

“These guys didn’t put together a campaign in order to turn the government over to the Clintons.”

Maybe, in some ways. But our real overlord is this reaper.

Schadenfreude on November 18, 2008 at 5:13 PM

Thanks for the reminder of how liberals enforce immigration laws.

As for Holder….hmmm, at least he’s not Gorelick.

NTWR on November 18, 2008 at 5:14 PM

So is this Bill Clinton’s third term, or what?

Always Right on November 18, 2008 at 5:18 PM

Here we go.
Vic on November 18, 2008 at 4:41 PM

Not trying to excuse these guys on the AWB Bill, but is it possible that they are trying to get the lesser of two evils? If you compare H.R. 6257 with H.R. 1022(waiting to pounce until , they are just about alike, hence likely to pass without a single (R) vote. However, the difference is that 6257 has a sunset clause of 10 years. I couldn’t find one in 1022, making it permanent. Just asking. Gotta go, will check for responses when I get home.

Catseye on November 18, 2008 at 5:18 PM

Even better, he was deputy AG when federal agents extracted Elian Gonzalez at the point of a machine gun and did a cable news tour defending that decision. Elian’s father’s attorney at the time, incidentally? The One’s new White House counsel, Greg Craig.

Yeah. So what? Bottom line is that the child’s mother was dead. His next of kin, his father, wanted him back. It is immoral to take a child away from his parent NO MATTER WHERE THE PARENT LIVES. A child is not a political pawn. He belongs with his parent. Period. I agree with the Clinton’s administration’s decision.

Andy in Agoura Hills on November 18, 2008 at 5:19 PM

Why is there a picture of Lionell Ritchie circa 1980 on this article? :-)

Alden Pyle on November 18, 2008 at 5:23 PM

I can’t think of a single thing that Bush passed that SAVED money.

YellowDawg on November 18, 2008 at 4:41 PM

Bush tax cuts for the “wealthy” saved this single mom $1200 in taxes, plus another $600 for the child credit.

I get that you don’t like Bush, but trust me when I say you’ll be missing the hell out of him in 18 months or less.

Heck, I miss him already. 2008 Bush is a pale shadow of 2002 Bush. One thing you can say about Bambi without reservation: He makes John Kerry seem almost a good idea.

NTXLass on November 18, 2008 at 5:26 PM

Where is that clown Deathtomediahacks who was defending the con man who just got elected president? No problems with these appointments. Then he engaged in sophistry about The Empty Suit really being a change from President Bush only. And the Hillary zombies? Just trying to expand the tent, he said. He never had a problem with Hillary except corruption…Ha Ha

This lawyer bowed to the (McBeth) Clinton couple and gave the pardon of Marc Rich a “Recommended with reservations”. Look up Rich’s record. Rich was later an aid to Saddam Hussein in the ‘Oil for Food’ scandal. There are other hijinks suspected, after the pardon. Apparently the Empty Suit has no problem with corruption.

And the hits just keep on coming…makes you wonder how the empty suit got this way..and when!

IlikedAUH2O on November 18, 2008 at 5:27 PM

Ok it was neutral leaning toward favorable as the party above wrote.

The paperwork led directly from Marc Rich’s lawyer to the White House with a passby Mr. Holder’s desk.

I am sorry for the mistake.

IlikedAUH2O on November 18, 2008 at 5:35 PM

We’ll see if Obama does or not.

Tom_Shipley on November 18, 2008 at 4:42 PM

He won’t.

mjk on November 18, 2008 at 5:39 PM

Even better, he was deputy AG when federal agents extracted Elian Gonzalez at the point of a machine gun and did a cable news tour defending that decision. Elian’s father’s attorney at the time, incidentally? The One’s new White House counsel, Greg Craig.

Mmmmmm, that’s delicious.

BadgerHawk on November 18, 2008 at 5:44 PM

I am having a hard time believing Obama is this naive. Ron e manual probably text messages Hillary all day long with their subversive agenda . Obama has the look, not the stuff. Hello secret in the shadow president Clinton!!! All these ex clintonistas and their staffers. Their loyalty is to the clintons>

gringo69 on November 18, 2008 at 5:50 PM

Looks like Hill & Bill are still in control…. Four more years of Clinton….?

DL13 on November 18, 2008 at 6:04 PM

Obama is a fool if he populates his administration with Clinton cronies. First sign of trouble they will sell him out. He would off starting with a clean slate of incompetent idiots like him instead of the old retread incompetent idiots.

echosyst on November 18, 2008 at 6:09 PM

When’s he going to appoint Bill Clinton president so he can go back to not his rigorous Senate schedule of not doing anything?

Chuck Schick on November 18, 2008 at 6:28 PM

I know what i am thinking is crazy, but i think by the time inauguration day rolls around hillary will have put enough of her people in positions of power that she will become president elect. Am I loonie???? Let the games begin!!!!

gringo69 on November 18, 2008 at 7:07 PM

Take that my compatriots Cuban Americans…..who voted for Obama.

Cuban4McCain on November 18, 2008 at 7:24 PM

Helping deport Elian Gonzalez is his only redeeming quality.

KSgop on November 18, 2008 at 7:30 PM

Damn, if you’re from Massachusetts like me you are really upset at this point. We were looking at a chance of getting rid of both Deval and Kerry, at least that was one change Barry could have done for us. Now it looks like there’s no way we’re getting rid of either one.

Dave_d on November 18, 2008 at 7:31 PM

IMO, the most important thing to know about Eric Holder at this point in time is that he was also Janet Reno’s right hand man in pursuing DOJ lawsuits against banks for “redlining”, which ultimately forced banks to give bad loans, which led to the housing crisis, which caused the economy to tank.

Great pick, Barry! Way to cover Barney Frank’s ass, et al.

Buy Danish on November 18, 2008 at 9:10 PM

Here’s just a bit of Eric Holder’s good works:

To settle the Justice Department’s claim for monetary damages, today’s agreement requires Chevy Chase to pay $11 million to the redlined areas through a special loan program and the opening of bank branches and mortgage offices. The bank will pay at least $7 million by offering special home mortgage loans to all residents of majority black areas in Washington, D.C. and Prince George’s County, Maryland, resulting in approximately $140 million in special financing for the communities. The offering will make home loan financing available at either 1% less than the prevailing rate or 1/2% below the market rate combined with a grant to be applied to the down payment requirement.

Buy Danish on November 18, 2008 at 9:24 PM