White House Floats Names for AG
By Nicole Belle Saturday Sep 08, 2007 9:01pmRoll Call: (subscription req'd)
White House officials have begun quietly circulating among key Senators a short list of potential replacements for outgoing Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, one that appears aimed at avoiding a lengthy confirmation fight with Senate Democrats, according to senior GOP and Democratic aides.[..]
According to senior Republican and Democratic leadership aides, the White House has floated six potential replacements -- former Solicitor General Ted Olson; former Attorney General Bill Barr; former Deputy Attorney General George Terwilliger; D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Laurence Silberman; former Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson; and Michael Mukasey, a former judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.[..]
Silberman, on the other hand, said a senior Democratic leadership aide,would "have a good chance of confirmation." The 71-year old jurist was appointed to the D.C. Court of Appeals by Ronald Reagan in 1985, and took senior status in 2000. As a senior judge, his departure would not create a vacancy in the circuit.
I'd like to know who this "senior Democratic" aide is, because if Silberman is the kind of candidate that the Democrats on the Judiciary Committee would have no problem confirming (Dianne Feinstein, I'm talking about you. I'm still not over your Southwick vote), we're all in a lot of trouble.
Is the name Silberman unfamiliar to you? The cases that he's had a big hand in shouldn't be: overturning Oliver North's conviction; discrediting Anita Hill; negotiating for the Iranian hostages' return on behalf of the Republican Party and Reagan (while Carter was still President); and the Starr investigation. Could you find a bigger partisan hack?
In fact, his partisanship runs so deep that recovering and reformed former Republican David Brock wrote specifically about Silberman in his book, Blinded by the Right--which was not refuted--and was used by the Alliance for Justice to protest his appointment to federal court. (.pdf) PfAW has an excellent recap of Silberman's neo-con bona fides as well.
I'd strongly suggest you contact members of the Judiciary Committee to let them know your feelings about such a divisive figure to replace Gonzales.
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Pick me! Pick me!
PLEASE GOD, make it Lieberman!
I want his a$$ gone in 18 months, not 2012!
How bout Rove since he has experience hiring and firing attorneys?
His appointment wont create a vacancy and he should get confirmed by the Redemlicrat Senate no problem.
Put a cork in both ends of Alberto and I'll bet he'd float too.
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If he had an ounce of gray matter, he would appoint Arlan Specter. No chance of that though.
I’d strongly suggest you contact members of the Judiciary Committee to let them know your feelings about such a divisive figure to replace Gonzales.
I am really getting tired of having to wet-nurse the bozos in Congress on every issue that comes up. I know that it is good to make our feelings known, but they are put there as representatives so that I can go and do other things. It's like having to go down to the automotive plant and supervise the guy welding my car; it should not be necessary, the person should do their job and do it right without my oversight. If not, then just fire the whole lot and make this country a true democracy where we all directly vote on all issues.
If the Democrats in Congress can't be trusted to do the right thing without a nanny chiding them all the time, then we need new Democrats in Congress. Maybe if every Democrat no matter how senior knows that he/she isn't safe, then maybe they'll start doing their job. Maybe the example can be set with Feinstein if she doesn't start representing her constituents.
The Democrats ought to be floating THEIR OWN LIST... with a checkmark next ot each name. ONE OF THESE... OR NOBODY.
How about the Petreaus guy everbody is talkin' about?
Why not him?
you guys need to look on the bright side, at least this guy has cracked open a law book on occasion.
Here's a thought: SAM ALITO!
I nominate any Bathroom Monkey.
When old or no longer practical to feed, throw in plastic bag, twist tie the end and toss into garbage.
a lineup of Flintstonian women in the kitchenists
Cowboy Bob in Austin @ 7:
You ride 'em Cowboy! What a fucking brilliant idea. Problem is, that's called playing offense. Dems haven't done that in decades, and the spineless wimpo-crats (the whole bunch are dark pink, only two shades left of being red ) will gladly rubber stamp any new torture Czar that chimpy wants.
This is how it works, huge multinational companies pay enormous bribes to both the RNC and DNC. They in turn tell the puppets we call representatives and senators how to vote. Every couple of years we have a huge farce called an election where the sheople get to pretend that they have any say in what happens with their country. Once elected, the puppets do as they are told by the corporations or they become road kill.
It's a really good system if you want to corn hole the American people as badly as possible. Not such a good system if you're one of the American people constantly on the receiving end.
Harry Reid: "Thank you so much, Mr. President! What a fine and fantastic choice you have made here. Of course we'll pass Silberman. We wouldn't want the public to think we weren't bi-partisan, or anything. We're still hurting from those obstructionist comments your guys made. Hey, we're looking forward to more Clenis-type investigations if a Democrat makes it into office. Give me more in the posterior, George; I love it!"
What? Harriet Miers isn't on the list?
Could you find a bigger partisan hack?
Former Solicitor General Ted Olson, maybe? He gets bonus points for his deceased but not forgotten wife.
CMike @ 16:
Maybe I have nothing left but pure, molecular cynicism because I think he will be nominated on Tuesday. Bush gets to talk about 9/11 as a personal tragedy and send up the victim for confirmation. How can those Democrats be so mean to the poor guy who lost his wife on 9/11.
Let's not forget Silberman's dismissive refusal to believe Sarah Connor's account of that police precinct attack, and his subsequent commitment of her to a state mental facility, leaving her young son at the mercy of child services.
That one still chaps my ass.
You write, "Is the name Silberman unfamiliar to you? The cases that he’s had a big hand in shouldn’t be: overturning Oliver North’s conviction; discrediting Anita Hill; negotiating for the Iranian hostages’ return on behalf of the Republican Party and Reagan (while Carter was still President); and the Starr investigation. Could you find a bigger partisan hack?" Partisanship is one thing, but overzealous loyalty to the chief executive is another. I think it would be naive to think that an A.-G. who is nominated by a president, then confirmed by Congress, would not be partisan at least to some extent: presumably, he'd be beholden to the party that put him up; or, as University of Texas football coach Darrell Royal used to say, "You dance with them what brung you." Loyalty is another matter entirely. Alberto (VO-5) Gonzalez's problem was that he could not be other than a "Yes" man to Bush; unlike Elliot Richardson, he simply could not say "No." Under Gonzo, the Justice Department was not just politicized, it became an arm of the executive branch, blurring if not obliterating the separation of powers doctrine vis-a-vis the executive and judicial branches. This is not only Contitutionally improper, it is dangerous in the extreme. I am convinced that if Bush had an enemies list like Nixon's, people like Joe Wilson would have been framed on trumped up charges, tried, and convicted, which is what Tricky Dick might have done to Richardson (or to Archie Cox, the special prosecutor Richardson refused to fire, leading to the infamous "Saturday Night Massacre"). On the other hand, it bothers me greatly that our spineless Dems would even consider approval of someone like Silberman, and I must thank you for reminding me where I'd heard the name before. Of course, this leads back to a pet peeve of mine, the gross hypocrisies of the neocons and the White House organ that is Fox Noise. I had a vague memory of Ollie North being convicted for his role in Iran-Contra, but I had forgotten he'd been "pardoned" by Silberman. Not even Murdoch would have a convicted felon hosting his own show on his crypto-fascist op-ed cable channel....Or would he?
kerplunk @ 15:
Now THAT'S funny!
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I don't think anyone Bush chooses would be acceptable. If someone must be chosen which most certainly will be a Republican, I think James Comey would be a good choice. He at least spoke out against the wiretapping. Let's face it, we are not going to get much from the Bush administration but sheer disappointment.
CMike @ 16:
Only because Olson was too much of a coward to just get a divorce from her. His last words to her were probably...Have a nice flight, honey.
White House Floats Names for AG
Turds float. Coincidence? I think not.
Silberman is the Republicans' "fixer" guy dating back to Watergate and Iran-Contra.
I ran across his name recently aside from those two examples, but do not recall what it entailed.
Dear Nicole,
I don't know if you will read this post from me, but if by chance you do. I would love for you to post a response I receive from Diane Feinstein on her vote in favor of "Southwick". It was so arrogant, so condescending I thought I might write her back. This women thinks it is she that should make the decisions not the way her constituents ask her to vote. Shit we don't understand anything in her mind.
Well, you have got my email address, if you read this, you can email and I will forward her reply to me on this "educated" Diane Feinstein decision.....
All my "Idiocracy" little mind can think is; "What a 'F'ing Bitch she is!" This is not the first condescending reply she has sent me either.
I hope you see this post, because I wish everyone C&L readers could read this response I received from her. It is very telling of who she thinks she is...."Damn it, I am a Senator, who are you to question my decisions!"
I don't know who these guys are, but, somehow, I'm not expecting much. If any are not criminals, (or almost criminals) please let me know.
NEVER Silberman. NEVER Olson. Both are dyed-in-the-wool cons an crooked. Silberman wouldn't know justice if it smacked him in the head. He lives to convert law to Bush's way or no way. Unfailingly supports the wrong side.
Olson wins no sympathy from me for his wife's death either. God knows he's never shown any remorse that I'm aware of. No remorse for his help in undoing our democratic elections either.
If either of these men is confirmed, we will know that the rule of law is dead, dead, DEAD. Deceased. Rotted. Putrefied. Dessicated.
lpmiller @ 9:
Yes but he didn't think anything in there applied to his court.
When I see sentences like this
"Silberman, on the other hand," said a senior Democratic leadership aide,would “have a good chance of confirmation.”
I think it has to be Dan Gerstein, the Lieberman toady.
Picking an Attorney General from the bottom of the out-house will save the taxpayers money. They are always stinking of us. Er, thinking.
I'm not sure why appointing Silberman wouldn't create a vacancy but at least it would get this hack out of the judiciary.
Face it: Bush will appoint someone just as partisan as Silberman and the Dems will roll-over after a few perfunctory barks.
It's a shame that we can't throw the every one in Congress and start over without cowardly, corporatist pols.
The DOJ has functioned this long under Bush without a competent AG at the helm. No reason it can't continue on until someone else gets to pick the partisan flak to fill the seat. I'm with Coiwboy Bob, above. If a replacement is necessary, the Dems can circulate the list and the GOP can accept one or none. Otherwise, someone only "acting" leaves us with exactly what Gonzo was doing anyway.
Draft Lieberman, absolutely!
Would the DNC be wrong in initiating a Draft Lieberman movement?
What's the downside?
Am I missing something here?
Lest we forget: In Memory of the Olsons
Could Barbara Olson Have Made Those Calls?
An Analysis of New Evidence about Onboard Phones
link
Arroyo@33
Conn gov is repug.
moondancer @ 35:
Thanks, I missed that.
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