The honeymoon may already be over in Washington. Last week, Senator Arlen Specter voiced doubts that Eric Holder will make a good Attorney General. Senator Diane Feinstein complained that Leon Panetta does not have enough experience as a spy to head the CIA.
Specter claims that Holder is a yes-man who will not place his job above politics. Holder, a former Deputy Attorney General, was willing to place the law above his personal beliefs. In confirmation hearings for that job in 1996, he made it clear when he said, "I am not a proponent of the death penalty, but I will enforce the law as this Congress gives it to us. (NYT)"
Specter also questions whether clients from his private practice would see favorable treatment. Lawyers are bound to represent their clients while employed by the clients. Once Holder takes office, he will resign his position with his law firm, and have no clients. Furthermore, Holder will not be the only attorney at the Department of Justice (DOJ). To suggest that Holder would prevent the DOJ from investigating any of his former clients is absurd. Specter overlooks the fact that Holder can recuse himself from any case that presents a conflict of interest.
Holder's record shows that he is willing to prosecute crime, regardless of what party commits it. His more famous prosecutions include Senator Dan Rostenkowski, for the Congressional Post Office scandal and Congressman John Jenrette for bribery. Both were Democrats.
Could his attitude about the law and lawlessness be the reason Washington insiders do not want him to be the nation's chief law enforcement officer?
Meanwhile, some in the Intelligence community are unhappy with Leon Panetta as head of the CIA. He is not a spy. The agency should promote from within. That kind of thing. Diane Feinstein backed down, but the cat is already out of the bag. Washington insiders who know where the bodies are buried do not want to tell.
In 1970, Leon Panetta left his job as Director of the Office for Civil Rights because of political pressure not to enforce civil rights and equal education laws. He is a 9-term congressman from California. While in Congress, he served on the budget committee and helped bring about a balanced budget during the Clinton administration. He was Clinton's chief of staff and headed up the Office of Management and Budget. Panetta is a manager, a straight-shooter, and an admirable public servant.
Holder and Panetta have similar views on torture and warrantless surveillance. Both conservatives and the intelligence community oppose their appointments. Clearly, the intelligence community fears legal problems stemming from the current administration's contempt of the law.
Indeed if the Justice Department were to focus on wrongdoing among the privates and not on the generals giving the orders, any investigation would be a waste of time.
Barack Obama claims that he has more important concerns than witch-hunts. At the same time, he pledged to return us to the rule of law. Obama watchers have come to expect this kind of measured response. He must maintain the trust of the intelligence community and obtain the cooperation of conservatives to be successful, and that seems to be his plan. The kinds of criticism these two nominees have drawn may show that these are exactly the right people for the job.
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Comments: 30
'Holder and Panetta have similar views on torture and warrantless surveillance. Both conservatives and the intelligence community oppose their appointments. Clearly, the intelligence community fears legal problems stemming from the current administration's contempt of the law.'
Gotta keep cleaning house I guess.
I think Feinstein has toned down her complaint because critics realize Panetta is an excellent choice to restore confidence in the US intelligence agency, and not likely to come up with a new war a few weeks after the administration takes off.
I just wanted to stop by since I am finally going through what is now listed as under 4,600 pieces of gather new mail that is sitting in my inbox on here.
With that mentioned I just came across either a mailing from you yourself, or someone else brought this piece to my attention. You or they felt that your creation should be shared with the gather community, which I am very glad that it was passed on to me to view. So I wanted to say Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to publish it here on gather for us to all view. :o)
As well before I leave you I wanted to wish you a Happy New Year... in 2009 :o)
A quote I read is appropriate here, a pilot on a kamikaze mission should be allowed the co-pilot of his choice!
It was a political slip up in Senate protocol and Obama and Biden personally apologized to her and she withdrew her complaint.
As for Leon Panetta being placed in charge of the CIA, just what does Civil Rights have to do with spying?
Sounds like he is scaring some people.
Could his attitude about the law and lawlessness be the reason Washington insiders do not want him to be the nation's chief law enforcement officer?
Another person who is scary for the old guard.
Indeed if the Justice Department were to focus on wrongdoing among the privates and not on the generals giving the orders, any investigation would be a waste of time.
I agree, the little guys are the ones caught in the middle. They are damned if they do and damned if they don't. It takes a brave "little guy" to stand up to illegal orders, and it is usually personally costly to do so. Much better to nail the guys who gave the orders in the first place.
The kinds of criticism these two nominees have drawn may show that these are exactly the right people for the job.
Well said.
The point was that Panetta was enforcing the LAW. Doesn't really matter which law. There has been a great deal of lawlessness in government these last 8 years. I suppose you hadn't noticed.
To your point about spying on us your thinking about the NSA not the CIA. The CIA spies outside this country and the NSA are the one's that handle the spying within our own borders.
As for lawlessness within the government your unwilling to see just where it started under the Clinton years.
Hillery walking away from prosecution over the Rose Law Firm!
Someone killing Hillery's boyfriend and dumping him in that park!
The Justice Department killing babies!
Renting out White House rooms like a bed and breakfast!
Good picks, and a good article--Thanks Ann.
I am beginning to see real indicators that change WILL be brought to us. People like Philip, kicking and screaming, will be drug right along with us into the changes; and they'll never-ever admit that it is a good and necessary thing, even when we REbalance the budget, and pay off the deficit, AGAIN!
Wilka