Panel's vote on Holder to be AG delayed a week

[Hope And Change]

Panel's vote on Holder to be AG delayed a week

By LARRY MARGASAK, Associated Press Writer

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

(01-21) 13:42 PST WASHINGTON, (AP) --

Eric Holder's bid to become the first African-American attorney general was delayed Wednesday for at least a week when Republicans demanded more time to question him about harsh interrogations, Guantanamo trials and other topics.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, convened the panel Wednesday and asked for an immediate vote to send Holder's nomination to the Senate. Republicans then invoked the automatic delay one-week delay that committee rules permit.

The committee plans to meet again next Wednesday, and Holder's confirmation is not in doubt. He has solid Democratic support and enough backing from Republicans to prevent a filibuster — although no Republican has yet opposed the nomination.

Leahy, D-Vt., said he was very disappointed by the Republicans' delay. "But they have that right," he said, lamenting that "this historic nomination is held over."

Holder testified before the committee last week and no further appearances are scheduled. But several Republicans will meet with the nominee over the next several days.


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/01/21/national/w130420S63.DTL&type=politics">Full article here

[Thrill]

1. Obama may try. But you can't work with these assholes

I'm sure he knows that, having been in the Senate. Its good that the country will know it too. I hope he calls them out in the press

[jillan]

2. What was that line that Obama said about it being time to end the silliness?

[Uzybone]

5. went right over the GOPs heads didn't it?

[jillan]

6. Doesn't everything?

(couldn't resist)

[Uzybone]

3. Token resistance

nothing we can do about it, hopefully the GOP continues to make themselves the obstructionist and delay party.

[lamp_shade]

4. I'm glad Leady kept his cool.

[backscatter712]

7. Just delaying the inevitable.

Holder rocked the house at his confirmation hearings - even most Republicans will likely vote to confirm him. There's not enough for a filibuster, so this week delay is the best they can do.

Nice to see the Republicans so pathetically toothless, isn't it?

[sohndrsmith]

8. I could certainly be wrong, but I think there is real fear of Holder

in regards to torture and those who thought they wouldn't be held accountable, perhaps. Seems like they're circling the wagons of sorts to try and figure out how to figure out who's prosecutable and who might be safe. My guess is there is a lot of panic in those who are legitimately on the wrong side of this issue.

Saying (as someone did on msnbc today - Whitman, I think, maybe not) that it is concern for the prosecution of those who may have participated in war crimes because they were ordered to do it by those in power really is sort of smarmy. Holder is not an unreasonable, unfair person. He's not going to be an idiot about this, but I think (and hope) those truly involved in the promotion and process of torture are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

[budkin]

9. It's only becauset the repukes know they are fucked.