Leahy giving ground on DOJ selection (Surprise, surprise, surprise)

[ChairmanAgnostic]

Sen. Leahy promised to get to the bottom of several investigations, locked by Alberto Gonzales, including illegal, warrantless, domestic wired and wireless surveillance on US citizens.

No longer.

You just knew this would happen. You just knew it .
Thanks for nothing, Senator.

(Just reported on CSpan-1)

[King Coal]

1. We should all tell him how we feel about that bullshit. That ruined my day.

[Ezlivin]

2. The Democrats have proved one thing - subpoenas can safely be ignored

I have never been so disgusted than with this bunch of spineless "representatives."

Tell me again: What's the use in issuing a subpoena that can simply be ignored? And if the roles were perfectly reversed, could a Democratic President scoff at subpoenas and get away with it with a Republican majority in Congress?

[Benhurst]

3. Not just subpoenas, but all laws as well -- if you are rich or powerful.

The Constitution has been shredded. The Bush Crime Family and the Robber Barons rule.

[Toots]

4. This is just the sort of behavior that proves voting is over rated

I am almost to the point of saying just as the fellow said about saluting. I will vote no more...You celebrate their victory and then they rip your heart out...I am to the point of saying "ignorance is bliss" and I have not had much bliss in quite some time..I think I will just turn them off and whatever will be will be..

[papau]

5. not on the wire - only saying that he trusts Fielding's word.

9/18

His full remarks are below.

Leahy on this morning's meeting:

I just met with Judge Mukasey briefly, so that we could introduce ourselves to each other. We have the common bond of having both come from law enforcement backgrounds.

I have publicly praised the President, and do so again, for not choosing to nominate individuals from that publicized list of contenders whose records of partisanship would have led to immediate difficulties.

I begin this process of Senate review of the President’s nomination with hope and with optimism. The last thing I or any of us want is to be disappointed in those hopes.

Replacing an Attorney General is part but not all of what needs to be done to restore trust in the Justice Department. The confirmation process can be a catalyst for resolving outstanding issues between the Senate and the Administration. I hope that will happen now.

There are a number of issues that arise from that dark period that still need resolution. Cooperation from the Administration in making progress on our longstanding oversight requests is still needed and will be helpful in moving forward.

I am pleased to report that recent discussions that I have had with Mr. Fielding, the White House Counsel, have been encouraging on that score. I take him at his word that he will work to provide the Judiciary Committee with information and documents that we need. This is relevant to the next nominee and future Attorneys General so that past excesses and mistakes are not repeated.

I met with Judge Mukasey today hoping that after we get cooperation from the Administration and are able to conduct a fair and thorough review process, all Senators will be able to vote in favor of his confirmation. I want to avoid the kind of witch hunt from the Right that scuttled the President’s nomination of Harriet Miers.

I see Judge Mukasey’s nomination as another chance to clear the decks of some important unfinished business that goes to the heart of accountability in government. It is also another chance for a fresh start in the relationship between Congress and the Justice Department headed by a new Attorney General.

The big job of Attorney General of the United States has gotten bigger, with erosion of public trust and sagging morale throughout the Department of Justice. The next Attorney General will need to begin the process of restoring the Department of Justice to its proper mission so that it is worthy of its name.

[bigtree]

8. He didn't say he 'trusted' Fielding's word

He said he'd take him at his word. That is of course dependent on whether Fielding follows through. Quit making shit up.

[papau]

10. he'd take him at his word" is in the post-trusted his word is called a paraphrase & is not in quotes

n/t

[bigtree]

6. you have no link, no explanation of what Leahy actually said

this is just stirring folks up

[ChairmanAgnostic]

7. CSpan did not provide a link. I have been searching and will update

when I do.

CSpan does not strike me as an entity that makes things up.

[bigtree]

9. His statement provided above says he's still pursuing that information

his committee needs to proceed with their investigations. He's entered into a dialog with the WH and he'll see how that pans out. Nothing in his statement suggested that he's giving up on the original pursuit of information and documents from the WH or Justice.

edit: and he's still leveraging allowing the nomination to advance out of committee.

[L. Coyote]

11. Seeing is believing. Reported by whom? Otherwise this is just hearsay, Link?