Eric Holder, Attorney General

[napi21]

Updated, 11/18, 3pm

"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," Newsweek's Michael Isikoff reports.

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; the Obama transition team did not respond to e-mail messages.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/30/eric-holder-obamas-attorn_n_137696.html

[girl gone mad]

1. Another Clintonite.

Blah.

Edit: how's this for judgment?

"As Deputy Attorney General, Holder was, along with Jack Quinn, at the center of the controversial pardon of fugitive Marc Rich. Holder gave a "neutral, leaning towards favorable" opinion of the pardon to Clinton, which led to the pardoning of Rich on Clinton's last day in office."

"Since 2001, Holder has worked as an attorney at Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C. In 2004, Holder helped negotiate an agreement with the Justice Department for Chiquita Brands International in a case that involved Chiquita's payment of "protection money" to the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, a paramilitary group that has been designated a terrorist group by the United States government. In the agreement, Chiquita's officials pleaded guilty and paid a fine of $25 million. Holder represents Chiquita in the civil action which grew out of this criminal case"

:eyes:

[UnrepentantUnitarian]

6. Anything specific?

After all, the Clinton administration is the main well of experience that Dems have. We just haven't had the opportunity to lead very often. Would you prefer to go back to Carter admin.?

[napi21]

7. When you have a popular Dem President in office for eight years,

and one who tapped those who he believed to be the most competent, it's very difficult to find anyone who is GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO, Want to be in politics, and were never part of the Clinton admin.

[peace13]

10. So we hear.

So, every good candidate has been touched by the Clinton's. They must have great taste. Hate to be snippy but this is not Change. This is sad. Love to hear the talk at the Moveon.org meetings Thursday.

[napi21]

13. I think you're being too critical. Only my oipinion, but I'd love to see

Richard Clark back in the admin. Clark was VERY GOOD at his job, and just because he worked for the Clinton Admin. doesn't detract from that!

[peace13]

18. How do we deal with people like Clark who watched bad things happen

and then write a book about it. I would like to see public servants who stand up and speak out when things are wrong before the book is written. Peace, Kim

[amyrose2712]

2. Is this official?

i hope not.

[BunkerHill24]

3. Yep. msnbc just confirmed he was offered and that he accepted

[amyrose2712]

5. NOT HAPPY!

This is not good.

[amyrose2712]

9. Peace Patriot (sorry)posted this already:

I hope they don't mind.



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=405&topic_id=9608

[BunkerHill24]

12. He's close friend of Obama and was close adviser during the campaign

[amyrose2712]

23. Yea I kinda knew this was coming.

This doesn't reflect well on on Obama's plans for Latin American policy . I hope I am wrong.

[Donnachaidh]

4. all these Clintonistas is NOT change. n/t

[TNOE]

16. Yea, cause the 8 years under Clinton

were bad, bad, bad. Not.

[Zhade]

20. They were if you were Iraqi. Or Rwandan. Or a worker here or abroad.

Or a nonviolent drug offender.

The list continues.

[amyrose2712]

24. Don't forget the involvement in the Chiquita Banana massacre....

See above post.

"Do not expect these recommendations to be carried forward if Eric Holder decides to forgo his lucrative corporate law practice at Covington & Burling and accept the U.S. Attorney General position for which many believe he is the top contendor. Eric Holder would have a troubling conflict of interest in carrying out this work in light of his current work as defense lawyer for Chiquita Brands international in a case in which Colombian plaintiffs seek damages for the murders carried out by the AUC paramilitaries - a designated terrorist organization. Chiquita has already admitted in a criminal case that it paid the AUC around $1.7 million in a 7-year period and that it further provided the AUC with a cache of machine guns as well."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dan-kovalik/lawyer-for-chiquita-in-co_b_141919.html

[peace13]

8. Why announce now if he hasn't been vetted?

Look over here monkeys and forget all about Uncle Joe. Weird that they would throw this out when it is not a done deal.

[BunkerHill24]

11. I doubt vetting process would be a problem for him

[upi402]

14. no change, ho hope

more corporatism

betray democracy much?

it's over

[TNOE]

15. Oh brother

I just can't believe all the hang-ringing and throwing in the towel - Obama hasn't even taken office yet. My God - give him some time. He ran a brilliant campaign (which will be studied for its perfection over the next 20 years) with many on DU saying - that's it, we lose, we didn't pick Hillary, its over, Obama can never win, etc., etc., McCain's got it, etc., etc.

And we've got the other people at the other end of the spectrum that are already trying to get Obama impeached!

Geez, already. Does everything have to be "the end"? There's alot to be done - and I have no doubt Obama is picking the most qualified people, those he knows and can trust - who will in fact do as the President wishes them to do. THAT is their job. To get done what the President wants done.

[Pastiche423]

17. Give him some time?

It was Obama himself that said in almost every rally or event that it was us to US to help him change the wrongs in our country. We were to keep hiom on his toes if he were elected.

Well now he's elected and we can rightfully say, We do not like the DLCers and Clinton re-treads you're appointing. This does NOT represent CHANGE. It is more of the same. The corporatists are appoionted and the left that worked so hard to get him elected are thrown under the bus.

Will he appoint even one person the left can cheer about?

[Fumesucker]

21. Will he appoint even one person the left can cheer about?

I'll be mildly surprised if he does..

[upi402]

19. yeah, i used to be like you

I realize that I seem negative, but I have a history of being right, unfortunately.
Kucinich was the end to corporatism.

Sure would be nice if you bright-eyed Christmas kid types are right. But you never are. Keep up the struggle, however, or there IS no hope. It has to be taken FROM them, they will not give it up.

[lamp_shade]

22. Happy? Me? You betcha.