Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Today’s gop: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

Everyone is in a bubble, but some bubbles model reality far better than others!

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

“Loving your country does not mean lying about it’s history.”

Let there be snark.

Come on, media. you have one job. start doing it.

Cole is on a roll !

It’s a good piece. click on over. but then come back!!

Days Since JD Vance Insulted Women Across America: Zero

Republicans don’t lie to be believed, they lie to be repeated.

We need to vote them all out and restore sane Democratic government.

The rest of the comments were smacking Boebert like she was a piñata.

In short, I come down firmly on all sides of the issue.

When you’re a Republican, they let you do it.

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

If you are in line to indict donald trump, stay in line.

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

A lot of Dems talk about what the media tells them to talk about. Not helpful.

I am pretty sure Katy Tur wasn’t always such a bootlicking sycophant.

SCOTUS: It’s not “bribery” unless it comes from the Bribery region of France. Otherwise, it’s merely “sparkling malfeasance”.

The gop is a fucking disgrace.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

At some point, the ability to learn is a factor of character, not IQ.

The worst democrat is better than the best republican.

You are here: Home / Politics / Politicans / Black Jimmy Carter / Holder Resigning

Holder Resigning

by | 167 Comments

This post is in: 

As you all are in touch politically, you are all probably aware that Holder is resigning. I have no idea who will be nominated to take his place, but I sure hope it is someone who will push decriminalization of marijuana laws and will continue to aggressively pursue civil rights violations. Taking on the banksters would be nice, as well.

Who do we think the next nominee will be? I’m assuming it will be someone who is not being groomed for the Supreme Court, because serving for two years under Obama will make them impossible to elevate to the court, given the way the right wing and the compliant media are able to gin up lasting nontroversies (Fast and Furious, anyone?).

So who would you like it to be, and who do you think it will be? I have no earthly idea. Also, will the confirmation happen before or after the midterms?

Reader Interactions

167Comments

  2. 2.

    FlipYrWhig

    I’m going to guess it’ll be Homeland Security Sec’y Jeh Johnson. Someone who’s already been vetted and then confirmed for another office.

  5. 5.

    FlipYrWhig

    Or what about Goodwin Liu? Nominated to a judgeship but that was withdrawn. But this wouldn’t be a lifetime appointment.

  6. 6.

    Mnemosyne

    @John Cole +0:

    So your position is only fuck voting rights? That’s not actually better, you know.

    ETA: And, yes, I get very tired of marijuana advocates whining about California dispensaries being shut down just because they’re keeping millions of dollars in cash and guns on the premises, plus illegally squatting in areas where the city and/or county of Los Angeles have told them they can’t be. Poor babies.

  9. 9.

    Corner Stone

    Also, will the confirmation happen before or after the midterms?

    There’s no way it will happen before November. Waiting 3 months to confirm would be a dick move, so…maybe?

  10. 10.

    srv

    who do you think it will be?

    Lindsey Graham?

    Also, will the confirmation happen before or after the midterms?

    RNC thinks they’ll win the senate, so why not just wait and impeach him?

  11. 11.

    JoyceH

    I’m afraid no one can be confirmed in this climate. Who’s the assistant or deputy, or whoever it is that fills in? We have whole agencies being run by the number 2 guy because the nominee can’t get confirmed.

  12. 12.

    John Cole +0

    @Mnemosyne: Voting rights are civil rights, you fucking assclown. It’s even a subdivision in the organizational chart of the Justice Department (google justice + department + civil + rights + organizational + chart). Are you working to be a hysterical fucktard, or does this come naturally?

    And considering that the overwhelming majority of people in jail for marijuana violations are minorities, it essentially is a civil rights issue. These are not discrete issues.

    Christ almighty. The only thing you haven’t done so far is call me a dudebro, you dumb fuck. You can apologize now.

  13. 13.

    Corner Stone

    @Mnemosyne: Your unfettered ability to be mendacious about everything you post is near stunning at this point.
    I would suggest you read his post again, but you’d just re-jumble the words again in your broke ass brain.

  17. 17.

    Corner Stone

    @JoyceH:

    We have whole agencies being run by the number 2 guy because the nominee can’t get confirmed.

    One way to read his announced resignation is to say he won’t resign until a successor is confirmed. I’m not sure, exactly, how that would work. But it sounds fun.

  20. 20.

    Mnemosyne

    @John Cole +0:

    Voting rights are civil rights, you fucking assclown. It’s even a subdivision in the organizational chart of the Justice Department. Are you working to be a hysterical fucktard, or does this come naturally.

    Hey, I’m not the one who thinks that Holder should be judged by his stance on marijuana. Take a look at the thread below if you think I’m reacting to nothing.

  21. 21.

    jl

    I only know what I read and hear in the news on this.

    I heard Preet Bahara’s name come up in the news report, and I like his history busting Wall Street, one of Holder’s weaknesses.

    Would be fun to see GOP try to block that nomination.

    I heard Khamala Harris’ name come up, but she needs to stay in CA for now. And while only a personal nuisance consideration, we would have to endure two years of idiocy about supposed ‘competition’ and jealousy with First Lady.

    Donald Verilli also might be good.

  24. 24.

    John Cole +0

    @Mnemosyne: No, don’t try to weasel out of your bullshit. You were reacting to ME. And you were not only wrong, but continued to be wrong when I pointed it out and forced you to read the post you had already commented on.

    Again, you can apologize whenever.

    Not to mention, I was unaware that there was a post below, because I looked at my iphone, saw nothing, and said “I better mention the Holder resignation or they are going to be posting all over the place as if we were not aware”

  25. 25.

    Brian R.

    The only reason to announce it now is to push for a replacement while the Senate is still in Democratic hands.

    They could go big — Preet Bahara? Kamala Harris? Cass Sunstein? — but given how fucked up the opposition is, I wouldn’t be surprised if they elevate someone already in DOJ like Deputy AG James Cole.

  26. 26.

    Betty Cracker

    I dont know all that much about Kamala Harris, but from what I’ve heard, she’s been great. And she takes on banks — a plus!

  27. 27.

    askew

    I think the nominee will be Deval Patrick and it won’t happen until after the midterms if we hold the Senate. If we don’t hold the Senate, they won’t even bother nominating someone new because the GOP won’t let anyone through.

  29. 29.

    geg6

    @jl:

    Patrick worked at DoJ at one point, I believe. In fact, I so remembered his name connected with DoJ that I looked it up (I’m usually too lazy to bother; I just let some other BJer do that). And I’m right, he headed the Civil Rights Division under Clinton.

  31. 31.

    Brian R.

    Hmm, others have good reasons why Harris would be a poor choice.

    I’ll say Bahara then. Go ahead, GOP: Stand in the way of the first Asian American nominee for Attorney General.

  39. 39.

    El Caganer

    I have no idea who the nominee will be, but it doesn’t really matter – there won’t be a confirmation.

  40. 40.

    Mnemosyne

    @John Cole +0:

    Fine. You mentioned one area of strength, civil rights, which in your head encompassed voting rights, but then mentioned two areas of weakness. But, hey, you threw Holder a bone, so what am I getting all bent out of shape over, right?

    I am really fucking sick of the whole Holder is the worst AG ever! meme that’s all over the fucking blogs, including this one. If that was not your intent, then I apologize.

  43. 43.

    Helmut Monotreme

    What about an east coast lawyer who has plenty of experience as a DA, one with leadership experience, who might be looking for a new job soon? Someone give Chris Christie a call.

  44. 44.

    Brian R.

    This recent NYT profile on Bharara not only makes him sound great, but plausible too. The Republicans will scream that whoever is nominated is a partisan hack, but that charge won’t stick against a guy who’s been fucking with Cuomo for several years.

  45. 45.

    PsiFighter37

    Preet Bahara would be a really good choice, if they can make sure his replacement keeps up the work he has been doing. So would Kamala Harris, but I think she should run for the Senate once DiFi or Boxer retires – set her up nationally.

    Lots of good choices for this, but not sure who will be interested in what will effectively be a 2-year stint (unless there’s some back-channeling about who Hillary would possibly keep on).

  46. 46.

    Brian R.

    @Mnemosyne:

    You mentioned one area of strength, civil rights, which in your head encompassed voting rights

    Civil rights encompassed voting rights in the heads of most civil rights leaders as well. You might want to read up on the Mississippi Freedom Summer and Selma.

    Or, you know, you could tell Martin Luther King to go fuck himself too. That sounds right up your idiotic alley.

  48. 48.

    John Cole +0

    @Mnemosyne:

    You mentioned one area of strength, civil rights, which in your head encompassed voting rights, but then mentioned two areas of weakness

    What kind of patronizing bullshit is that? it’s not in my head, IT IS HOW THE FUCKING JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS SET UP. Voting rights fall under civil rights. Jesus fucking christ, some of the most widely heralded legislative achievements of the CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT were, get this, THE VOTING RIGHTS ACTS.

    And it gets worser and worser- you have heard of noted CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER John Lewis, right? You know what he spent the 60’s doing, right?

    And how you could infer I was criticizing Holder in this post for not adequately pursuing civil rights issues when I wrote, and I quote, “will continue to aggressively pursue civil rights violations,” is just more evidence of your world class derp in this thread.

    At this point, you are basically standing in the middle of the thread smearing feces all over your nude self while yelling about chemtrails and how you were anally probed by aliens. Take a time out. Go outside and get some fresh air.

  51. 51.

    boatboy_srq

    I for one would really love to see the five seconds either McConnell’s or Cruz’ name is under consideration – both for the “butbutbut” coming from the Reichwing, and from either gentleman when he learns he’d have to resign his Senate seat to accept the job. I wouldn’t want to see either one seriously considered, but the moment of consternation across the aisle would be priceless.

    Other than that, ditto aimai on Adegbile.

  52. 52.

    catclub

    The new person will get confirmed, because Holder has said he is staying in the job until that happens.
    If the GOP hates him as much as they seem to, they will not block the new nominee. Otherwise, Holder just stays longer.

  54. 54.

    different-church-lady

    As you all are in touch politically…

    OMG, you’re funny.

    I sure hope it is someone who will push decriminalization of marijuana laws

    OMG, you’re hysterically funny!

  56. 56.

    Elizabelle

    The New York Times moderates its reader comments.

    And a lot of the Holder resignation story comments are still a cesspool today. The flying monkeys, who see Holder as a race-baiter and the country’s number one racist, bigot [sic] are out in force.

    It is an ugly mirror.

  60. 60.

    lamh36

    De criminalization us all well and good, but if there is one thing we seen alot of these oh so many years us that whitw stoner dude are considered much more non – threatening than stones of color.

    I’m all for de criminalization but please let’s not pretend that it will actually mean anything much for the perception of POC in law enforcement or the courts.

    .

  61. 61.

    burnspbesq

    @Hawes:

    Do what about marijuana? As Mark Kleiman has pointed out repeatedly at RBC, only Congress can de-schedule marijuana. Holder has done exactly everything that an AG do by making dope crimes a low enforcement priority.

  62. 62.

    JPL

    Won’t Holder stay on, until the next DOJ is confirmed? If he does, the republicans want to confirm someone else.

  64. 64.

    lamh36

    Oh and I did check I to the lat thread on Holder’s resignation and other than the racist and outright bigoted conservatism comment sections there seem to me a number of people who considers AG Holder a so if not outright horrible AG.

    It came off as if the voting/civil rights was just meh to a number of people. So I understand Mnemosyne’s anger.

  65. 65.

    askew

    @Brian R.:

    I’d guess it is playing coy since he can’t even talk about being nominated until after the midterms. He has started talking vaguely about running for president but hasn’t done any of the legwork for it so I don’t think he’s all that serious about it.

    With all of the justice issues with AAs – voter discrimination, Ferguson, etc., I’d like to see Holder replaced with another AA and Patrick has the right background with time in DoJ as head of civil rts division.

  70. 70.

    mai naem mobile

    Eric Schneiderman for going after banks.
    Kamala Harris. DiFi doesnt get done with her term till 2018. Shes half East Indian/half black.
    I think it will be Patrick. Its a 2 yr gig. He was head of the civil rights division. And hes black and thats important because of the voting rights stuff. Nice way to cap off his public service career if he doesnt run for prez or veep.
    Also too, I cant remember his name but there was a state AG from Arkansas maybe who got pretty emotional about the gay marriage issue. He seemed like a decent person with principles.
    If Obama really wanted to make heads explode he could nominate Michelle. She is qualified.

  71. 71.

    burnspbesq

    @PsiFighter37:

    Mary Jo White.

    If it turns out to be Bharara, then Andrew Ceresney (currently head of the Enforcement Division at the SEC) should be the new USA for SDNY. He’s already done two stints as an AUSA in that office, and the quality of his work is legendary.

  74. 74.

    Cacti

    @lamh36:

    Oh and I did check I to the lat thread on Holder’s resignation and other than the racist and outright bigoted conservatism comment sections there seem to me a number of people who considers AG Holder a so if not outright horrible AG.

    It came off as if the voting/civil rights was just meh to a number of people. So I understand Mnemosyne’s anger.

    When your right to vote has never been under siege, and you can walk the streets without fear of a cop or neighborhood vigilante gunning you down in public, you can fret over things like getting stoned legally.

    White privilege is a powerful thing, even within liberal political circles.

  77. 77.

    DTGstl314

    @Mnemosyne:

    Who exactly is saying that? There’s a pretty wide chasm between making valid criticisms of an AG’s record and calling him/her “the worst AG ever”. I think it’s fair to say that on the matter of fighting for civil rights/voting rights that Attorney General Holder has been terrific. And I also think it’s fair to say that on some other issues – particularly cracking down on a lot of the malfeasance of the big banks – that AG Holder has been less than terrific. This doesn’t mean that I hate AG Holder or think that he has been the worst attorney general ever, but it does mean that I do wish that he had done a few things better during his tenure. Why is it wrong to say that?

  78. 78.

    gwangung

    @Cacti:

    When your right to vote has never been under siege, and you can walk the streets without fear of a cop or neighborhood vigilante gunning you down in public, you can fret over things like getting stoned legally.

    White privilege is a powerful thing, even within liberal political circles.

    Yes. Indeed. I think too many people take it for granted, even in the face of blatant voter suppression.

  79. 79.

    gwangung

    @DTGstl314:

    Actually, I do NOT think it’s fair to say that Holder has been less than terrific on the banks. I think you can arguably say that he is going through channels that are available to him, because he has far fewer tools to prosecute banks with than other officials, either in the past or on the state level.

    And, sorry, but there were numerous people in the previous thread who did not give Holder credit AT ALL for civil rights and voting rights accomplishments.

  80. 80.

    jl

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Yes, Spitzer has a kind of baggage the GOP is familiar with and which for their own is considered ‘carry-on light’. So, should speed the confirmation hearings.

    Though not as kinky or nasty as most of theirs. So they might complain they don’t want an AG who is not a real man’s man.

  81. 81.

    Ripley

    At this point, you are basically standing in the middle of the thread smearing feces all over your nude self while yelling about chemtrails and how you were anally probed by aliens.

    New FPer? (Salary commensurate with amount of feces smeared.)

  82. 82.

    The Thin Black Duke

    See what happens when you get “uppity”, Mnemosyne? The piling on seems ridiculously excessive, but maybe that’s just me.

  83. 83.

    Belafon

    push decriminalization of marijuana laws

    He/she can push it all they want, but they execute the laws, not make them. That’s Congress you’re looking for. The best the AG can say is “we don’t have time,” which is not the same thing.

  84. 84.

    John Cole +0

    I’m still kind of shocked that anything in my OP was considered either an attack on Holder or even remotely controversial. I thought this would be a calm thread where people would throw out names of people I had not heard of before and could google. Instead, it turned into this disaster in which I am perceived to be attacking Holder for not using the terminology someone else has in their head correctly rather than the actual way the Justice Department is set up and then informed that Holder doesn’t write the laws in this country. Really? I HAD NO IDEA the executive branch doesn’t write the laws.

    Sweet jeebus. I’m going to cut the grass and weed-eat. Some of you people are fucking insane in the membrane.

  86. 86.

    Cacti

    @The Thin Black Duke:

    See what happens when you get “uppity”, Mnemosyne? The piling on seems ridiculously excessive, but maybe that’s just me.

    The sycophants and assorted rump swabs of the comment section get a case of the vapors, when someone points out that dear blog host has a habit of coming across as a brogressive caricature.

  88. 88.

    John Cole +0

    @Belafon: When the attorney general declines to prosecute or places less emphasis on certain types of drug investigation and prosecutions, he is de facto advocating for the decriminalization of marijuana laws.

  89. 89.

    jl

    Holder has kooties.

    Edit: Holder is not hip, does not listen to the ‘in’ bands.

    Edit: Always brings the worst dishes to the DC pundit potlucks. He is the worst AG ever.

  90. 90.

    Cacti

    @Helmut Monotreme:

    OK, what about Eliot Spitzer?

    I’m guessing you’re a big proponent of marijuana legalization…

    Because you’d have to be high to think Eliot Spitzer is a plausible choice for USAG.

  91. 91.

    SFAW

    Spitzer (“baggage” – none of which includes diapers or receipts from abortion mills – and all) or David Boies.

    Failing those two: perhaps the greatest lawyer, prosecutor, and civil-rights-for-some advocate in the history of the Senate: Lindsey Graham

    If Graham is not acceptable to the GOP, then Bobby Seale would be an outstanding choice, if for no other reason than to see some Rethug heads a-splode.

  92. 92.

    SFAW

    @Cacti:

    Because you’d have to be high to think Eliot Spitzer is a plausible choice for USAG.

    He would be an OUTSTANDING choice, he just wouldn’t get confirmed, even if dead St. Ronnie and Dead Andy Breitbart returned and gave him their blessing.

    ETA: Does deriving some amount of pleasure from noting that Dead Andy Breitbart is Still Dead make me a bad person? (And if that isn’t a set-up line, y’all are off your game.)

  93. 93.

    srv

    @gwangung: Perhaps some take it for granted that a Democratic AG would fight voter suppression that impacts Democrat’s elections. Perhaps some think he is the modern-day Atticus Finch for doing his job. Perhaps some think he should do more.

    I’m going to cut the grass and weed-eat.

    So much White Privilege.

  94. 94.

    jl

    @SFAW: Lindsay will be gone, leading charges in O’Reily’s Exceptional American Expeditionary Force of Glory. Heard a news report that he is polishing his sword and looking for white war horse.

  95. 95.

    Grumpy Code Monkey

    @Cacti:

    So what you’re saying is that Cole should have reversed the order of the issues he listed? That by listing decriminalization first, that means he obviously places more emphasis on that than civil rights and going after banksters?

  96. 96.

    burnspbesq

    @John Cole +0:

    Reading is Fundamental. Apparently not on this thread, though.

    Do you seriously believe that an AG sets legislative priorities for an administration? Or is a free agent in that regard?

    You’ve written so much dumb shit on this blog over the years that it’s impossible to rank-order it all with precision, but that is surely close to the top of the list.

  98. 98.

    SFAW

    @jl:

    he is polishing his sword and looking for white war horse.

    “Hey! He can’t abuse our pledges AG nominees! Only WE can abuse our pledges AG nominees!”

  99. 99.

    Bobby Thomson

    Also, will the confirmation happen before or after the midterms?

    You slay me.

    We’ll be lucky if there is a confirmation before 2017.

  100. 100.

    Mnemosyne

    @The Thin Black Duke:

    Nah, I know I’m an asshole sometimes, so I roll with it.

    Final thing without scrolling back up: what drives me nuts about the Holder hates marijuana! crowd is that, at least here in California, what the DEA is doing is helping state and local authorities enforce state and local regulations, but dispensaries with sob stories tend to leave that little part out when they complain about The Man being out to get to them.

  104. 104.

    gwangung

    @srv:

    Perhaps some take it for granted that a Democratic AG would fight voter suppression that impacts Democrat’s elections.

    None of them black or Hispanic, however (and few of them Asian).

  105. 105.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    @srv: There are only so many things an AG (or anyone else) can prioritize. Either you think that Holder has been lazy and his replacement needs to work more, or for everything you want to see prioritized more heavily, there will also be something that gets less effort.

    So, what do you think the DoJ should be less concerned about than it has been?

  107. 107.

    burnspbesq

    @John Cole +0:

    When the attorney general declines to prosecute or places less emphasis on certain types of drug investigation and prosecutions, he is de facto advocating for the decriminalization of marijuana laws.

    Which is my comment 61, less well written.

  108. 108.

    srv

    @Mnemosyne: You are so completely full of shit.

    The DEA and DA’s are re-imagining state and local laws to hammer dispenseries. Nowhere are the locals incapable of enforcing their own laws except in your twisted imagination.

  112. 112.

    Brian R.

    @Cacti:

    dear blog host has a habit of coming across as a brogressive caricature.

    What in the original post was “brogressive”? The part where he admitted he didn’t have any suggestions and welcomed people’s input? The part where he said he wanted to see aggressive prosecution of civil rights violations?

    I think some folks here do have a loose grip on reality, but it’s not the ones sticking up for Cole.

  113. 113.

    Chris

    Will really miss Holder. He might just have been my favorite cabinet member in the Obama administration.

  114. 114.

    Mnemosyne

    @srv:

    You read the editorial at #15, yes? Explain to me exactly what’s wrong in it and how all dispensary owners are totally obeying state law and local regulations.

    Also, you know who disagrees with you about them being joint raids? LAPD and the LA City Attorney’s office:

    Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and Los Angeles police officers about 11 a.m. Tuesday raided the Black Rose dispensary in Fairfax, Downtown Medical Caregivers off Main Street, Washington and Western Medical Group in Harvard Heights, Herbman in Exposition Park and two homes in Beverly Hills. (emphasis mine)

  115. 115.

    SFAW

    @SatanicPanic:

    That guy has some good qualities, but not enough to outweigh his negatives

    Outside of the whole hooker/cheating thing, what negatives? He would go after the Banksters like crazy (which is why he would never get confirmed), and would probably address the other areas of the job reasonably well.

  116. 116.

    Brian R.

    @Bobby Thomson:

    We’ll be lucky if there is a confirmation before 2017.

    For Attorney General? No fucking way.

    There are a lot of positions that can go unstaffed in the face of Republican obstruction, but as long as they’re bleating about the need for tough prosecution of the War on Terra AND Holder is promising to stay in place until a replacement is confirmed, they’re not going to be able to hold off for long.

  117. 117.

    Corner Stone

    Holder gave quite an emotional speech. Very moving.
    Essentially, the President is my good friend, and the struggle continues.

  118. 118.

    jl

    @Trollhattan: Whatever would set her up best for CA gub or US Senatorial gig would be my preference. I don’t think that would include 2-year stint as US AG, but BJ CA political mavens may have a more informed opinion.

  121. 121.

    Hal

    I won’t ever underestimate the GOP’s willingness to obstruct Obama in anything, but AG is a big deal. I wonder how long they would be willing to stand in the way of a new AG? Especially of Holder is not willing to leave until someone replaces him.

  125. 125.

    srv

    @Mnemosyne:

    The raid comes a day after City Atty. Mike Feuer announced the city is doing its own enforcement against L.A.’s pot shops. In a news conference Monday, Feuer said the city has closed 100 pot shops since it began enforcing new restrictions on the businesses.

    Thanks for making my point. LAPD is able to do its own thing, even if the DEA has to bring their MRAPs and drones. And I’m sure there is always only one side to these stories, the DEA one.

    Your anecdotes always seem to miss what the DEA has done w/o local cops. Which is plenty.

    @Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN): Holder has had all the time in the world attack MJ Clinics. If you want to debate other shortcomings, take it up with John. I was just debunking Burnsie and his “name names” comment as though it was all null.

  126. 126.

    Hal

    On Spitzer, people think he has more than a slim chance in hades of being confirmed? Obama’s aversion to drama aside, why nominate a candidate who is in all likelihood a nonstarter?

  128. 128.

    KS in MA

    I’d like to nominate Patrick Fitzgerald. Evidently he quit being US Atty for Chicago a couple of years ago and is now working for Skadden Arps. (Late to the thread; I assume, and hope, lots of you have already nominated him.)

  129. 129.

    Mnemosyne

    @srv:

    Thanks for making my point. LAPD is able to do its own thing, even without the DEA MRAPs and drones.

    Except when they act jointly with DEA, which is what the story is about.

    Your anecdotes always seem to miss what the DEA has done w/o local cops. Which is plenty.

    Your link seems to be missing. Please provide one.

  130. 130.

    Trollhattan

    @jl:
    Agree. A short USAG stint following a bruising confirmation fight would 1. be grueling punishment for little “reward” and 2. take her out of the state for two long years.

    ETA Dates corrected: Boxer will soon announce whether she’s seeking another term–I give it 60:40 she will, seat’s up in ’16. After that, it’s Feinstein’s seat in ’18 (10:90 against running another time). Jerry will continue doing governatorial pull-ups, also until ’18, same time Harris’ seat must be vacated.

  131. 131.

    Corner Stone

    @Hal:

    why nominate a candidate who is in all likelihood a nonstarter?

    Do you honestly believe any suggestion of Sptizer was serious?

  133. 133.

    SFAW

    @Hal:

    On Spitzer, people think he has more than a slim chance in hades of being confirmed?

    Cole asked who we’d like to see confirmed, before he asked who we thought it would be.

    Obama would never nominate him, because he has no desire to go after Wall Street et al., never mind the “No Drama” bullshit.

    I’d also like to see my senior Senator get elected President, but that ain’t happening either.

  139. 139.

    Steve in the ATL

    @burnspbesq:

    You’ve written so much dumb shit on this blog over the years that it’s impossible to rank-order it all with precision, but that is surely close to the top of the list.

    And yet you come here every day.

  140. 140.

    Kay

    @KS in MA:

    They made Fitzgerald the monitor of a giant rip-off for profit college chain in June. They’re “winding it down” and he’s supposed to protect the interests of the federal gov and the students when they sell it off.

  142. 142.

    Belafon

    @John Cole +0: Except, when he’s no longer in office, the next person can take them up again. I understand what you are saying, but it’s still the wrong focus.

  143. 143.

    Mnemosyne

    @srv:

    Yes, the horrible, horrible DEA, sending really mean emails that request state-required documentation:

    On Jan. 18 and again Jan. 27, Special Agent David White of the DEA’s financial investigative team sent emails to the health department asking for business licenses, health permits, ownership information and yearly inspection forms for the 12 dispensaries.

    When will their attempts to enforce California’s regulations stop? When?!

  146. 146.

    FlipYrWhig

    @KS in MA:

    I’d like to nominate Patrick Fitzgerald.

    He might have trouble getting confirmed, on account of what people say about him and Gerald Fitzpatrick.

  147. 147.

    srv

    @Mnemosyne: You’re dishonesty knows no bounds.

    On Oct. 7, the four U.S. attorneys for California announced a coordinated, statewide crackdown on what they called the “medical marijuana industry.” Since then, hundreds of dispensaries have closed, mostly in Sacramento and San Diego counties. Five have closed in San Francisco, and one in Marin.

    I weep for you, at least Republicans have some shame.

  148. 148.

    srv

    @Elie: Dumb, Dumberer and now Dumbest.

    I’m sorry, I can’t hang out with you here, I can only handle so much stoopid DEA fellating.

    And I can’t top this:

    At this point, you are basically standing in the middle of the thread smearing feces all over your nude self while yelling about chemtrails and how you were anally probed by aliens. Take a time out. Go outside and get some fresh air.

    Try harder, M, unless this is to be your legacy.

  149. 149.

    Mnemosyne

    @srv:

    So you’re opposed to state and local laws being enforced because you don’t like that the DEA can also bring federal weight to bear?

    Again — show me an article with a California dispensary that was closed down despite following all of the state and local regulations. You should have hundreds of stories, right? After all, your claim is that the DEA is illegally shutting down California dispensaries that have been following California state and local laws. It’s not much of a story if the DEA is shutting down dispensaries that are operating outside of the law or breaking the law.

  150. 150.

    srv

    @Mnemosyne:

    After all, your claim is that the DEA is illegally shutting down California dispensaries

    You can’t go two paragraphs without lying.

    Jesus, you’re just in a death spiral, pull out.

  151. 151.

    Patricia Kayden

    @catclub: Exactly. Holder is not a fool. He’ll be there until he is replaced which means that he will be replaced. I’m glad that he’s leaving on his own terms and not being forced out by the Republicans.

  152. 152.

    Felanius Kootea

    @aimai: I doubt that Adegbile would allow himself to be put through that shitshow again especially since his record as a civil rights lawyer is what disqualified him in republicans eyes. I’m sure they’d rather have Holder stay put.

    I think Kamala Harris would make a great nominee.

  154. 154.

    Mnemosyne

    @srv:

    Then state your claim. Your own links showed that the DEA was trying to determine whether the suspect dispensaries were operating within state and local laws before closing them down. Why do you have a problem with illegal dispensaries being closed down?

  155. 155.

    Mnemosyne

    @Trollhattan:

    I have to admit, I’m surprised to find out that it’s illegal to make your own liquor in California since making your own beer and wine are legal. Maybe it’s because he was selling it without a license?

  158. 158.

    rikyrah

    Holder has also been excellent also with changes in the Prison Industrial Complex. You think any other AG would be talking about getting rid of mandatory minimums, breaking down the disparity in sentencing for powder and crack, and making the reduction of sentences retroactive?

    ……………….

    Holder has been a champion for voting rights

    ……………….

    Holder helped to rebuild the Civil Rights Division

    so, all you droooonessssss folks

    can go somewhere and sit down.

  159. 159.

    rikyrah

    @FlipYrWhig:

    Or what about Goodwin Liu? Nominated to a judgeship but that was withdrawn. But this wouldn’t be a lifetime appointment.

    Liu’s on the Supreme Court of California…building that resume to be the first Asian appointed to the United States Supreme Court.

  160. 160.

    rikyrah

    @jl:

    I heard Khamala Harris’ name come up, but she needs to stay in CA for now. And while only a personal nuisance consideration, we would have to endure two years of idiocy about supposed ‘competition’ and jealousy with First Lady.

    She needs to run against Feinstein.

  161. 161.

    Kay

    @KS in MA:

    Anytime.

    Former federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald agreed to serve as an independent monitor of Corinthian Colleges Inc, the struggling for-profit education company that agreed to sell or close its campuses, the U.S. Department of Education said on Friday.

    The colleges are “clout-heavy” on both sides of the aisle (sadly) so I think it was an attempt to put somewhere in there who isn’t considered part of the political scene. I don’t know this, but I follow it pretty closely and my feeling was Cordray was moving in if Duncan didn’t get off his ass. Cordray did file a complaint last week, and he is stretching the CFPB oversight to student loan issues generally. Cordray was great on consumer issues as Ohio AG. Students will benefit with two regulators moving in from different angles, so a turf war sounds good to me! Go crazy. Monitor the hell out of them.

  162. 162.

    singfoom

    I applaud Holder for his civil rights fights, but his record on the banks is TERRIBLE. Not so so, not just ok, not meh, TERRIBLE. Google the holder memo. Sure, he didn’t set priorities for the entire executive branch, but he is at the very least responsible for deciding to not go for criminal prosecutions of the banks. Perhaps he was told not to from above, I’ll admit that’s possible. But that doesn’t remove his responsibility.

    He’s repeatedly let the banks off with large fines that aren’t even as large as DOJ claims they are. Make them admit the wrong doing, and bring criminal charges against the INDIVIDUALs inside the bank that committed the crimes.

    I don’t see why everyone else isn’t pissed off about this. Or maybe I just haven’t stopped being pissed off about this for over 7 years. I welcome the obligatory “Prove bankers did things that are illegal responses”.

  164. 164.

    Kay

    Libertarians weigh in:

    Shapiro said that Holder only worked to protect minority groups.
    “According to our outgoing attorney general, and the 14th Amendment, Civil Rights Act, and Voting Rights Act only protect some citizens (members of the right kinds of racial minority groups) – and should be used to extract political and financial concessions for them,” he wrote.

    Actually, just about every racial and ethnic minority group were represented in all of Holder’s voting rights actions – Latinos, Native Americans, Asian-Americans, general immigrant rights groups, you name it. The Texas case is pretty much all about Latino voters, really, as a practical matter. I wonder when Republicans will drop the southern strategy. My God, it’s generations of this by now. Let it go. Try something else.

Comments are closed.