Republicans try to slow down AG Eric Holder hearings (Whatza matter, boys?)

[seafan]

Now they're crying about not having *enough time* to review Holder's signoff on the Marc Rich pardon by Bill Clinton. These bastards truly are against the wall, because Pat Leahy is sticking to his guns to start Holder's confirmation hearings on January 8. And in Leahy's words:

Earlier this week, Leahy said that he wanted Holder confirmed with such speed so that he could walk into the Department of Justice after Barack Obama is sworn in and announce: “Okay, justice is back."

Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when Holder comes for you?



Holder fight heats up

By Ryan Grim
December 11, 2008

GOP leaders took to the Senate floor this evening to call on Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to slow down Attorney General-nominee Eric Holder’s confirmation process.

Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a former U.S. Attorney and Rhode Island attorney general, commands respect in the Senate on legal matters. He took to the floor to argue that the amount of time between the Holder nomination and the proposed hearings was within historical precedent. Leahy has proposed hearings as early as Jan. 8 with the goal of confirming Holder on Inauguration day or very shortly thereafter. Holder's nomination was announced Dec. 1.

Over the past 30 years, Whitehouse noted, the average time between a presidential announcement of a nominee and the first hearing has been 29 days and the time until a committee vote has been 37 days.

Earlier this week, Leahy said that he wanted Holder confirmed with such speed so that he could walk into the Department of Justice after Barack Obama is sworn in and announce: “Okay, justice is back."

.....

“Nobody is talking about a long, long, long delay,” said Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.). “We do ask that we be accorded the same consideration that was given to others in this situation and that there be adequate time to confirm him.” The Senate took four days of hearings, he noted, to confirm John Ashcroft, a former senator.

Specter, now the ranking minority member on the committee, also called for a deliberate process.

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) seconded Specter. “I understand the Judiciary Committee has a large number of boxes of archived documents relating to his employment at the Justice Department and those materials need to be reviewed,” he said. "We haven’t even gotten Mr. Holder’s questionnaire, nomination materials or F.B.I. background investigation yet.”

From TPMMuckraker:

.....

And now Leahy himself has issued a lengthy statement reiterating his desire to stick to the January 8th start date.

Leahy argues that the politicization of the department under Bush makes it especially crucial to move quickly:

This is no ordinary time. Over the last eight years, political manipulation and influence from partisan political operatives in the White House have undercut the Department of Justice in its mission, severely undermined the morale of its career professionals, and shaken public confidence in our Federal justice system. Never has it been more important to have an experienced hand as Attorney General. I hope our Republican members will resist the temptation toward partisanship and join with us to consider this appointment fairly and promptly.

Leahy even dredges up an old quote from a Senate Republican, from last year when GOPers were pushing for quick hearings on President Bush's nominee, Michael Mukasey. "Attorney general nominees have been confirmed, on average, in approximately three weeks, with some being confirmed more quickly," said one Republican at the time, according to Leahy.

Late Update: More on that quote from last year, just dredged up today by Pat Leahy, in which a Senate Republican argues for a quick confirmation for Bush AG nominee Michael Mukasey. Turns out the quote was from none other than Jon Kyl, who now is stressing the dangers of a quick process for Holder. Thanks to reader CR for the tip.

There's going to be a showdown in the DC corral. And watch these freaking criminals scatter.

[Idealism]

1. I am truly jealous of Vermont for Sen. Leahy

He is a great Democrat and a voice of reason in our party.

[KamaAina]

2. Don't have enough time? Haven't they been obsessing over the Rich pardon for years?

Quick! Somebody call the Waaahmbulance! Dial Whine-One-One!!

[amdezurik]

3. screw the Rich pardon BS

bad enough Holder just wants to stockpile sick people in jails.

[readmoreoften]

5. And the fact that he worked for Chiquita to excuse paramilitary thugs used against workers.

Great. Eric Holder. Man of the people. :crazy:

[amdezurik]

6. prepare for skinner to delete these messages

[Bjorn Against]

4. If they don't want someone involved with Rich then give them someone who had nothing to do with it.

If they stop the Holder nomination then Obama should nominate someone who had nothing to do with Rich and has solid legal credentials. Henry Waxman would be great for the job, and he would make the Republicans wish they never stepped in the way of Holder.