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It looks like the Senate Repubs are picking on Eric Holder. Why is that, is he the weak link, the one designate that wouldn't put up much of a fight? Something is rotten in Denmark folks.

We're not hearing much ado about the other designatees being confirmed. What's the deal?

You could fill all cabinet positions with lobotomized chimps and they could equal the success of the past 8 years. So right-wingers should just remain quiet and let intelligent people see if they can dig this country out of the Bush-Cheney hole.

Holder will be approved. The GOP will grill him on some of the funny business with the Clinton adminstration, particularly the 11th hour pardons. All they are doing is providing a smoke screen so Bush can get his pardons through without much fuss.

Dow closed down 245 pts.

Too many of our soldiers and marines overseas in harms way.

Too many people losing their jobs, too many people uninsured.

Doesn't the GOP have something better to do than 'score political points'?

Like roll up their sleeves and work for the nation, rather than against it?

Obviously the Republicans see the opportunity, and the need, to bring Obama down a peg or two, and this choice is certainly fuel for the fire.

I predict the return of Clarence Thomas tactics, this time on the part of the Democrats.

Viv,
Most of the Bush appointees were crooks, so yes, they were grilled and many denied the jobs he wanted them in. If Holder has things that will keep him from doing his job, they should be brought out by the committee.

Anyone remotely connected to the pardonning of Marc Rich has absolutely no busness near the Office or parking lot of the Attorney General...puh-leez! Of course the word on the street is that the unbiased Congressional Balack Caucus will unanimously support this nomination anyway!

Ask him if waterboarding is torture. There is only one correct answer in the view of a wide majority of credible people who have opinions. "Yes" gets him Justice. "No" or waffling should send him back to C&B.

Corruption is already surrounding Obama's Presidency. We always knew it was a matter of time, but we never thought it would start even before he took the oath.

viv in Utah,
most of bush's appointees were not qualified...Harriet Miers??? Josh "down with the UN" Bolton???
Holder should be vetted, as should all appointees of any administration, but the bottom line question "is he/she qualified?"

There was no "bluff" . Remember
the moto of the Democratic Party is "I did not have sex with that woman."

"Eric Holder likely will face a grueling round of questions from Republicans during his confirmation hearings."

-and-

Eric Holder likely will NOT face a grueling round of questions from DEMOCRATS during his confirmation hearings.

I am sure that the democratic contributors to this column forget the often outrageous grillings given to any Bush appointee during his term. Most times, their behavior was appauling at best. They did their best to ridicule and insult, it was embarrasing to watch.

Please stop the bickering and get over it! Our country is facing a real crisis.

Republicans need to be careful. If they blast Holden and he does a good job, then they risk to really look like a bunch of fire breathing boat rockers.

TCM> You don't have any proof that Richardson had "corrupt dealings". Unless you know something the people investigating the situation don't know. Which I doubt.
Perhaps Richardson thought that if this investigation is going to take possibly *months*, that it is going to take away from him doing his new job. Perhaps?

I don't know much about Panetta, but one doesn't always need experience in a particular industry to do well in it. There are skills that carry across from one industry to another.

We all know that the republican party is very bitter that there dear Sarah and Mccain never got in, so now every chance they get they will work against every thing Oboma is trying to do. They dont relaize they are the ones who brought this country down. There party is just going to keep getting less and less. And if Sarah comes anywhere near the republican ticket in 2012, I will be another one who will drop out of the republican party.

not surprising when you take a beating as bad as the Repubs got in the last election

Close scutiny of the cabinet posts is not a bad thing though

I trust a Harvard educated lawyer who taught the constitution more than a bunch of senators who have the lowest rating ever and who have demonstrated over and over that they are totally incompetent of working for a better America and world rather than feed their egos and pockets.

Kind of like how the Democrats have been throwing dirt for years. Worked for them, they won the whitehouse and congress with a gaggle of fools too dimwitted to turn on a light.

"Where they can score some political points around this corruption issue, they will try to do it."

And that, disgustingly, is what this is all about. Political Points. Holder's credentials and potential are secondary to "political points" – this is exactly why the Republicans are falling into oblivion – they are oblivious!
I am sick to death of political points taking the lead in important national decisions – grow up!!

These incompetent choices are exactly what one would expect from a guy who has done absolutely nothing that qualifies him to be the President of the U.S.

Matt "ridiculous and baseless, really?

Holder was upfront in getting Marc Rich off, who denounced his citizienship, sold weapons to our enemies and ripped people off.

He also was upfront in getting GROUP of terrorists off whose stated goal was to kill US, and they were not able to follow through with it only because WE CAUGHT THE FIRST.

Richardson, do I even have to comment on this lack of vetting here... where have we heard lack of vetting before over and over, but funny how a certain segment ISN'T saying that here?

Keith, Chris, Katie, Bueller, ANYONE?

Panetta is getting quetioned from the right, middle and left because he has NO BUSINESS or experience in this type of field, NONE.

So maybe your comments were baseless and factless, but then you are an Obama supporter.

Ding, ding, school is now out of session.

Eric Holder should clarify some of his positions during confirmation, but he is certainly qualified to be the next Attorney General. Obstructing to score cheap political points would not be wise for Republicans with their own image issues.

if the senate questions holders pay to play then they had better be ready to question hillary's pay to play too! if they let her off because of her name they will show that it is all politics and nothing real!

The republicans will split on this one. But Holder will be confirmed.

What is wrong with the Republicans and the Democrats working together to solve the problems of the country instead of finding ways to sabotage one another.

Imagine what a different world we would live in !

What is wrong with the Republicans and the Democrats working together to solve the problems of the country instead of finding ways to sabatoge one another.

Imagine what a different world we would live in !

What PLANET are some of you on ????

THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT

APPROVED JOHN ASHCROFT.

NEED I SAY MORE ?????

Holder is a crook who helped Marc Rich get a pardon from Clinton. Holder should be escorted to jail after his hearings. And to "G", the dems were running the White House.

After the Republican Campaign (I should say circus) against Obama I'd think they'd start using some good sense. They always grill these people when appointed. Republicans and Demo's but I hope the Republicans don't go too far with their bias, slanderous remarks like the ones made during the Presidential campaign. Hey RNC...you asked for it now do what is right. You lost so now it is make up time.Let's do it by being smart rather than smart a–!

Of course he has to be asked questions if necessary, but they can't be grasping at straws with this business about Blago and try to make a point.
Unfortunately as we've seen during the campaign the Repubs tend to find any little thing and hold onto it and milk it for all it's worth...hoping against hope something will stick.

Fight Eric Fight....

@ LIP

You think that was about it? *WOW!!!* Were you in a coma for the past 8 years of Republican nonsense? Did you miss 9/11, Iraq, Afghanistan, torture, political firings of US Attorneys, illegal wiretapping, refusal to comply with Congressional subpoenae with the fake legal defense of "Exec. privilege," Rovian campaign tactics, stolen elections, angering North Korea (who has nukes btw) and the entire muslim world, etc. etc. etc.?

As usual, it didn't take long for the ignorant to make this racial!

Awwwwwww poor baby. The obamanation is going to NOT get things handed to him easily. Awwwwww, my heart just breaks.

If he is corrupt then he needs to be out!

That people is what the Republicans are all about when they are not in power which is to be obstructionist and try every way they can to score political points. Let us say no not this time we want our elected officials to work together for the good of the country not for a party.

I seem to recall an endless dirge of crap dumped unceremoniously at the feet of the Republicans everytime they messed up...homosexual stuff, a little bribery with Lobbyists and I think that was about it, but when the democrats do it they do it big. First Rezko is put in jail and then Bladojovich (remember that Emanuel worked directly for this guy) tries to sell Obama's Senate seat and then Richardson is being investigated for giving out a million dollar contract to someone who gave him money for his campaign and the list will get longer and longer. So, when you hippocrits are pointing your crooked little fingers at Republicans, remember that they can't hold a candle to you Democrats and your corruption.
Center stage.

dr.mimi de la cruz January 7th, 2009 3:01 pm ET

THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO SHINE A BRIGHT

LIGHT ON THEIR OWN BIGOTRY BY TREATING THE ONE

AFRICAN-AMERICAN DIFFERENTLY FROM THE WHITE NOMINEES.

THEY KEEP NAILING THAT COFFIN OF THEIRS & I LOVE IT.
==================================================

If you take the time to read the article you will clearly see that they have good reason to question him. But hey, I guess you are right, he should get a free ride based on his skin color. It amazes me that you have the audacity to call anyone racist.

Have all of you been asleep for the past several decades or what? The party not in control ALWAYS makes these confirmation hearings "grueling". This is nothing new and both parties have responded this way during every administration change. This isn't a republican against democrat issue.

The mechanism of confirmation hearings was put in place to ensure there are checks and balances in the process and to protect us from cronyism and/or the appointment of less than qualified people. I'm not saying it always works...but that's the intent anyway.

THAT'S A GREAT REPUBLICAN "STRAGEDY".

MAKE IT HARDEST FOR THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN, BOYS !!!

THAT IS THE GREAT COMEBACK MOVE. GO FOR IT.

Here I go again trying to get printed. Would it help if I changed my name to one of those that get printed and re-printed every time?

I would like to say that I think Leon Panetta is a good choice. There are times when it takes someone outside the organization to bring the needed objectivity to a job. The Director of a hospital does not have to be a doctor to be a good administrator. Eric Holder is also a good choice but the Republicans would rather start a fight than see the government work well.

Wish me luck!

Do you think the Democrats would not do this if they had problems with a nominee?

That kind of partisanship, at the expense of America, is why the Republicans lost the election.

THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO SHINE A BRIGHT

LIGHT ON THEIR OWN BIGOTRY BY TREATING THE ONE

AFRICAN-AMERICAN DIFFERENTLY FROM THE WHITE NOMINEES.

THEY KEEP NAILING THAT COFFIN OF THEIRS & I LOVE IT.

Well, he has not had a perfect political career, imagine that! Since the republicans are ethical, honest and clean it makes sense for them to grill Eric Holder.....geez!

REPUBLICANS YOUR POWER IS gone, gone gone,( bye, bye.)

I am a true blook Democrat but Republicans must do what they have to do and there is no getting around it. Furthermore, the time Republicans spend attacking Democrats the less time they have to address their own party problems which are overwhelming. The democrats haven't stopped investigating republicans either.

Yawn...much better to focus on this than on trying to fix the economy. GOP's job...drag their feet on everything to prevent any potential for improvement. Democrat's job...to be stupid lap dogs and let it happen.

Empty people voted for an empty suit –

I agree, I concur with some of Obama's picks...although Hillary was one to try to maintain voter base; Gupta seems like a straight-up guy, and Rick Warren is admirable....I believe the worst was/is Rahm Emanuel....total scumbag.

They can be as "grueling" as they want, they still won't accomplish anything...they are desperate and it shows...LOL!!!!!

@ Empty people

Ridiculous and baseless. Wake up and smell the facts.

Anything the Republicans can do to take the focus off of the TAINTED Bush/Cheney Administration!!! They will do anything it takes to throw a monkey wrench in Obamas progress. After what their heros did to our country the past 8 years, I'd think they would just step back and learn. THEIR LOSE!!!

If Obama keeps nominating politicians for cabinet spots it may not be remotely possible to find one who is not tainted. He may have to go to a Sarah Palin type!!!!!!

Add this horrible pick to the list, see Richardson and Panetta.

Not just Republicans have attacked ALL three of those picks as MANY democrats have also.

Obamabots get ready to apologize for and attack any dissension in 1,2,3...............................................

Unlike you sheep, I can be rational, I love the Surgeon General pick and Hillary will be fine as Secretary of state.

Not all that the "selected one" does is gold, so stop acting like Keith Olbermann zombies.

Republicans emboldened? How could that be after so many corrupt Republicans like Richard Nixon, Warren G. Harding, Andrew Johnson, Tom Delay, North Dakota Republicans, Oliver North, Norm Coleman, George W. Bush, Ted Stevens, Dick Cheney have committed much harsher corruption & crimes against humanity than Blagojevich.

How could they be emboldened when the Republicans in Congress over the last 2 years have sabotaged and gridlocked most of the good Democratic bills, initiatives, programs etc. They preferred to make the Democrats look bad rather than working together for the good of the American Citizens. For this pointless approach to politics they created much more harm than good and as always the American people had to pay for it.

After 8 years of failed wars, failed economy, failed hurricane Katrina preparation response, betraying CIA agent Valerie Plame and denying armor to the soldiers, failed inspections and fixing of infrastructure, selling out to oil, weapons, construction and health care corporations, wiretapping the nation without warrants, torturing and executing prisoners of war which just creates more terrorists and makes them more popular, stripping the citizens of rights to sue corporations for malpractice or damage, trying to privatize Social Security, ignoring intelligence prior to 9/11 and indirectly causing more than 3,000 deaths that could have been avoided and many more failures.

President George W. Bush, his cabinet & Republican congress members were all responsible for these failures and catastrophes.

Democratic Senators & House Representatives were not responsible for this and the American people know it thats why they elected almost 60 senators and more than 250 house representatives.

I hope we will be able to track who is obstructing the country in favor of baby political games so that these will be eliminated at the next election time. I think a lot of repugs are going to lose their jobs. Seems like they are having trouble coming up with reasonable objections to Obama, so they picked this fight with Holder to oppose, just for opposing sake .. WATCH IT BUD, WE ARE WATCHING YOU!!!

Who wouldv'e thought the GOP is the Vatican...even we are laughing! LOL!!

I just wish republicans put as energy into being constructive and productive for the good of the country as they do obstructing and wasting time.

Pardon Mark Rich!!!!

So the knuckle draggin' trogdolyte , anti-science party is at it again. I guess they want to loose more seats.

They (Repukes) will try to paint him as unpatriotic because he will not blindly enforce W's tactics for detainees and dismantling of Constitutional rights . They will also villify him for taking on corporate theivery by Duh-byas buddies in the good old boy network

I'm an Independent, and I think Holder is a very questionable choice. I hope he is well grilled!

Richardson was a smart democrat; get out before your corrupt dealings are publicly known....now, let's replace him with another Obama cronie..."Change?" you got to be kidding...don't hear that anymore...."Yes we can..." Do what? Finish off the country?
I'd have more faith in Ringling Bros; at least their ring master has experience.

@G, get real. Rich was pardoned while he was still a fugitive from Justice. Holder approved the aprdon before it went to Clinton. Holder demonstarted at best incredibly poor judgement. He deserves to have to explain himself. The Constitution says appointments are domnne with the advice and consent on the Senate, not just one party. A better pick would have avoided this.

To be expected. The GOP will waste as much of our precious time as possible trying to avoid doing any real soul searching and changing of its behavior. They no doubt see this all as an opportunity to hamper Obama's ability to get things moving so they can later say "look, he didn't get much done." They're idiots really. They already tried that crap with the 109th Congress and nobody bought it (see Nov. 4th election results for your evidence).

.... looking for tainted party members and scandal? The GOP should be masters at it – having both run rampant in the Republican Party for the past 8 years .... DeLay, Abramoff, "Duke" Cunningham, Mark Foley and all those who protected him for years ...

The GOP had the ideal chance to lead 2000-2006 when they had total and complete control of all three branches of government ... and they piddled it away building bridges to nowhere ... just like they threw away the Clinton years in favor of looking under rocks instead of working on the people's business.

As long as Republicans only reason for being is to obstruct the work of government and hunt for scandal (never in their own party) – making up "facts" when they can't find any, they will remain marginalized and scorned.

Hats off to "G" and people like them, who are the real patriots... putting country before partisan politics...

Touche!

Dems are just dumb. The republicans know what to look for as this all looks to familiar.

Any Republicans questioning Mr. Holder: what say you to torture, rendition, and maybe just plain being a cowboy? Any grueling questions there? What about your contribution to the current economic mess and your constructive plans to fix that mess–got any ideas there?

I wouldn't vote to confirm him either.

THIS IS VERY SIMPLE --ERIC HOLDER IS A DIGNIFIED,QUALIFIED BLACKMAN --THE RNC IS A RACIAL ,NOTORIUS pack of CROOKS.

There shouldn't be any hold up on Mr. Holder's confirmation. All of these appointments were vetted. Even Mr. Obama was aware of Richardson's situation, but Richardson did the noble thing and bowed out knowing he was under investigation and didn't want to disgrace the Administration. Republicans are doing everything in their power to attach any appointee with these pay-to-play antics. That's what they plan on running on in 2010. Wake up call GOP. Every democratic politician is not Blago. One bad apple won't spoil the bunch in this case.

Yeah let the republicans bring it on – there are still a few that need to be cleaned off capital hill; we will be watching and listening so that come 2010 those that played partisan games with our future will be relegated to the past. IN OTHER WORDS WE WILL VOTE YOU OUT OF OFFICE

"Republicans are seeing enough different stories in the taints of possible corruption around Democratic politicians lately." Yeah, and next month it will be: Democrats are seeing enough different stories in the taints of possible corruption around Republican politicians lately. Such is politics.

Hateful Republican Losers.

As usual the republicans are eager to score cheap political points and then they wonder why they lost. They are as arrogant as ever before they lost badly and they still have the nerve to act all high and mightly. So what if there are one or two bad apples in the dem party at least these people weren't running the white house. Let's remember who was oh yeah it was republicans like George Bush and his fellow republicans eager to support every bill he asked for but yet they were shock and outrage by the financial crisis.