Reply #9: If you're into the chess player theory of the Obama administration,

[Jackpine Radical]

the Stevens action proves that they're non-political, and is the opening move in reversing a lot of bad DOJ shit. Now the 75 come forward with their demand, thereby completing the de-politicization of Holder's actions against his predecessors. The way is now clear for Holder to take on the Siegelman case with no fear of being painted with the political tarbrush.

For the moment, this and the torture scene (in which they're "allowing" themselves to be "forced" into prosecutions of high Bush officials) are putting me back in the Obama-as-chessplayer camp.

Now, if he'll just let himself be "forced" to nationalize the banks, end both stupid wars, and institute a national health care plan, I'll be pretty comfortable with having crawled back into his camp.