Bipartisanship, Baby!
By John Amato Thursday Dec 11, 2008 12:30pmSen. Arlen Specter, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, has just thrown a wrench into the Eric Holder hearings planned for early January, saying Holder's involvement in the Marc Rich pardon is a "red flag" and a "very serious matter.
But Specter is already applying the brakes, indicating that Republicans are going to make a big deal out of Holder at the hearing. Specter said he sees no way in which the Holder hearings could happen before Jan. 26. Specter said he still needs to see thousands of pages of background documents and Holder's FBI background check.
"There are questions that need to be addressed," Specter said in a Senate floor speech.
And to think, Obama already got reassurances from the GOP before he made the pick a few weeks ago:
President-elect Barack Obama’s transition strategists are now satisfied that Eric Holder will be confirmed as attorney general despite plans by Senate Republicans to ask tough questions at his confirmation hearings, Democratic officials said. Plans to name him to be the nation's top law enforcement officer are now definite after aides took soundings from Capitol Hill, the officials said.
Republican senators plan to grill Holder about his role in President Bill Clinton's controversial last-minute pardon of the international financier Marc Rich. Republican Senate aides said they expect "tough" and "interesting" hearings, but said they know of no plans to try to kill the nomination.
You can always count on Republicans to keep their word. Yeah, right. Obama has just received his first lesson on the meaning of the word "bipartisan" in the Wingnut Dictionary.
It essentially means is that there is bipartisanship only when Conservatives and Republicans are in the majority, the Democratic Party votes with them to pass their laws and they get to block any amendment or bill a Democratic member makes.
And if Democrats do try to speak out against Republicans then they are painted as obstructionists who have no ideas. The media then just nods its head and moves on.
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I could never be bipartisan
It hurts enough when women turn me down.
on "Call in gay" day...... :-D
When you may only need 10 minutes? :-P
Takes me an hour, and I produce a grumbling growl.
Obama should have never nominated this guy.
When will the democrats figure out if there is a way to play politics and destroy the country, the repukes are going all in. This guy has WAY too much baggage. There are plenty of other honest democrats he could have nominated.
He gave the repukes a free-bee, and surpise surprise, they are gonna use it. Bad choice!
Holder's role in Marc Rich's pardon is the least of what worries me about him. Getting the Chiquita Corp execs out of trouble for what they did in Central and South America. That should disqualify him as AG.
But you will never hear the Reptiles bring that up.
Here is HuffPo.
Having read that, I have changed my mind about Holder. I hope Obama does, too.
How did Obama miss this about Holder?
Honestly, Obama is a lawyer. So the dept of justice and the supreme court would be his areas of expertise.
I am not giving him a pass on this one. Because this is a deliberate decision, and he is fully aware of he is doing in this case.
Any other offices, I would be more willing to give the benefit of the doubt. But not for the ones that are his area of expertise.
That certainly reinforces my theory that Obama plans on continuing the same disastrous policies towards Latin America so I guess they can look forward to more coups/kidnappings/murders, and then the idiots wonder why people hate the US.
Patrick Fitzgerald would be a better choice.
anyone would be a better choice. Obama really slipped on the Chiquita banana peel with this appt. The DOJ is in intensive care and needs a really great and extraordinary person to pull it back into health. I don't think Eric Holder is the guy.
Arlen Specter can make all the noise he wants about it. I don't like this choice. But I remember how cute Arlen was during all the Gonzo hearings, talking all the tough guy talk, all the things I loved hearing, just to watch him wilt when action was required. What a hot air machine!
Specter has a well-deserved reputation for getting the "tough guy" label with the media,
then caving in to the GOP party line on most votes and committee hearings. In short, he's a fraud.
They had their go at it for 2 administrations, they f*cked up so badly we are all covered in shit.
The last priority of a Dem administration would be trying to make nice to the same party that has got us here, and more effort and focus should be put on cleaning up the mess.
I was (and still am) hoping for Elizabeth de la Vega...
Some people just like to hear themselves talk. He is getting old and does not have much time left in the spotlight.
Specter is a worthless repig hack. Sure, he stood up to Bush - right up to the point of actually having to vote against him, then didn't. Now he wants to show how "tough" he is to his fellow repigs by doing this. Fuck him; have the vote as soon as possible, just to shut his weasel mouth.
Of course, the spineless Dems won't do anything of the sort. They'll let the repigs walk all over them AGAIN.
Leahy should just say, "Tough shit, Arlen. You know more than enough about him. The vote's in early January, and if you don't like it, don't show up. Doesn't matter to me."
Specter is far from worthless.
He gave us the ridiculous Single Bullet Theory.
and he's been rewarded ever since by the State/Shadow Government.
n/t
wow.
yeah the dumbocrats useualy bend over forwards so the repigs have a natural gang bang and wait for the repigs to towel off the residew from thier hineys! oyh yoy yoy!
These assholes have been in power for so long that they have forgotten that they're now the minority party. And you're wrong Matt...Obama's quite different a leader than Nancy and Harry. Just wait, he'll show you better than I could ever tell you.
I was referring to the Dems in Congress - they have a unique ability to fuck even the most simple things up.
Because I have seen this movie when Pelosi was elected. And there were plenty of cheerleaders telling us to "wait and see." In fact, at some point we were wondering (in this blog) if some of them were interns working for Pelosi's office. I believe LA Conf was one of them (or LA something).
Please understand that some of us may have our doubts and not willing to be put through the same grinder again.
Not even inaugurated yet.
For Mr.O to present even the appearance of keeping any campaign promises, no matter how vague and shifty they were, is gonna require the support of the Pukes.
I have said repeatedly that the Pukes could not and cannot be relied upon to conduct co-operative governance in good faith. They will always seek--and the dims will apparently always concede--their own political advantage, regardless of the consequences. This has been true of every GOPuke president since 1968.
Try since the 30s. At least...
such a PUTZ! I'm embarrassed that he's my Senator. The guy has no principles - just sticks his finger up to see which way the political wind is blowing. Can't wait 'til reelection time so all of us in PA can give him the finger!
Here's a bipartisan ferya
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdfPtrI0OWg
Fuck Specter. I'll never forgive the man. He's dirt.
*
Where was arlen when he was needed during the Bush admin? He can go fist himself if he thinks this will save him from the religous right in the primaries, they hate him as much as I do. Compare Holder and his actions to anybody in the white house and it seems as though Arlen has come up with a spine a day late and a dollar short.
Specter is like a reoccurring boil on someones ass. Sometimes it doesn't bother or hurt but then just when you think it might have gone away, it's back. It's always back!
That's great, let Spector just whine and whine about Holder! Everytime he brings up Holders name, the Dems need to bring up Scooter Libby's name! Scooter was also Rich's attorney of record!
to avoid Holder as AG, not the least of which is his over-zealous prosecution of obscenity à la Gonzo and Ashcroft before him. The more you learn about Holder, the less appealing his becomes. With so many qualified candidates (who actually care about solving crime and not just signing off on pardons and socially conservative vendettas), why are we stuck with this dude?
We are stuck with this dude because Obama is a corporatist/right-of-center guy, and he's putting together a straight-up corporatist/right-of-center cabinet. He isn't a liberal, and he isn't all that progressive.
"It essentially means is that there is bipartisanship only when Conservatives and Republicans are in the majority, the Democratic Party votes with them to pass their laws and they get to block any amendment or bill a Democratic member makes."
Greenwald has spelled this unwritten law out quite clearly.
I'm waiting to see whether an Obama presidency is going to amount to more of the same one sided Horse shit.It boggles my mind how the Dems continue to seemingly quake in their boots before the lamest of lame Duck presidents and an extremely unpopular GOP.Will we see any justice the coming years?Any accountability?Any genuine bipartisan behavior?Any "change" at all???
Oh, well. The sooner they start this bullshit, the sooner will arrive the day that Obama finally understands and accepts that there is no accomodating pathological personalities. It is always their way or no way. Since the entire body of the GOP at this point, with very few exceptions, is composed of twisted, pathological and malignant personalities, striving for "bipartisanship" is most often going to reduce down to committing self-defeating or suicidal acts, or it is going to reduce to mere excusing-making for capitulation to, or participation in, acts that are corrupt and/or despotic.
Sharks will always be sharks, and it is foolish to fail to recognize them for what they are or try and make nice with them. That's how you get eaten.
Yup, Yup....just like Cantor saying that the Republicans will become the the 'Party of checks and balances' and some other whose name escapes me saying it will be the Republicans job to 'restore balance' to the Government. When they were in power, these things never even received a first thought, little more than a second thought. Apparently their definition of 'checks and balances' is a rubber stamp. As for 'restoring balance'...balance had not existed before the last midterm elections for quite a few years. It sure sucks when they're not the ones calling the shots anymore.
If I recall correctly, the 2/3rds rule governing blocking appointments is a Senate rule and, as such, may be changed by a simple majority. The Republicans threatened this a while ago. Should the Dems do the same now?
I would be more concerned about Holder's involvement in covering up aspects of the Oklahoma City bombing.
Or
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/state_of_chang...
...Seems they like to play the same games Saddam played before the US launched thier unprovoked and unjustified attack into Iraq. Say one thing....do another. Give assurances, and then do your best to stonewall any moves by the incoming administration.
These scum bags need to be further filtered out in 2010...and they need to be exposed and lamblasted by the press for these games at OUR expense. Wasteful and divisive.
F*cktards!
I wish President O would realize that the more credibility he lends to an obsolete, anti-American organization like the GOP, the longer it will take for it to fade disgracefully into the sunset, nevermore, nevermore.
Anybody remember if Arlen stood in the way of Scooter Libby's appointment as Cheney's Chief of Staff?
Why you ask?
Because Scooter Libby was Marc Rich's attorney.
I think I put it on the board twice yesterday.
Those darn internet tubes.... Can't-a-guy get any privacy no more? :-P
BHO does not take this "bipartisanship" thing too far.
The rethugs/right/wingnuts will block/fight him every inch of the way.
BHO needs to use every ounce of his mandate for change starting 1/20/09, "shock and awe/Roosevelt (not Clinton) style.
If he tries to play nice, he will be hamstrung and ineffectual out of the shoot.
I recall the photo of Obama with the caption "Chill the f**k out, I got this". I only hope he does.
Arlen didn't seem too concerned about Clarence Thomas sexually harassing Anita Hill during the Thomas Supreme Court appointment Senate hearings. In 2010, Specter will be running for re-election. We kicked out Rick Santorum in 2006 and we will kick out Specter in 2010. Pennsylvania is Blue, baby. It's Blue.
Sammy 1, you are absolutely correct. And Barrack and team must hit the ground running with a double punch...Teddy Roosevelt(swing the big stick) and FDR at the same time. As a republican I know Specter is scumbag. LOOK AT THE DAMAGE THE RED'S HAVE DONE! BANKRUPCY!
NO BI-PARTISAN! THEY DIDN'T DO IT FOR THE BLUE! JUST GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. THE RIGHT WING ISN'T EVEN CHRISTIAN! RED IS DEAD! AND SO IS RONALD(666) WILSON REAGAN! REAGANS POLICIES MUST DIE NEXT!
GOD SAVE AMERICA!
SSSSMMMEEELLL the Republican hypocrisy!
A lot of folks on the right will fight Holder more so than any other nominee in my opinion. Besides the Marc Rich pardon, Holder will be questioned about the Oklahoma City Bombing.
paramilitaries blamed in the killing of more than 4000 Colombian laborers and organizers...
Holder is beginning to sound like a really nice guy. Yeah, like the kind who will be really, really concerned about the civil rights of schmucks and such.
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