Comments on: Former H.W. Bush justice appointee ‘looking very good.’

By: Nardstick

Nardstick — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 06:03:57 +0000

Lieberman… could be. BushCo is in freefall right now, he has absolutely nothing to lose, but he still has to pick somebody the Senate can actually CONFIRM– the first major appointee to go before this new (just barely, alas) Democratic Senate. If it were me, I’d go for someone who would be absolutely the most infuriating to the majority party, while still being more or less solid as a candidate. Right from the get-go, all signs point to the Joe-mentum. Added bonus: Gov. Jodi Rell is a Republican. Bye-bye, Democratic majority!

Somebody said somewhere that Bush only really lets upper-echelon people resign on *his* terms, not theirs. Having a replacement you consider suitable waiting in the wings could well be one of those terms.

By: cal1942

cal1942 — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 05:18:26 +0000

“Rumor heard on Thom Hartmann: Joe Lieberman.

Enjoy.

Comment by pendergast ”

It would not be in Lieberman’s best interest to accept a nomination.

He would be out of public office in 17 months no matter who is elected in 2008.

I hope he’s not nominated because of the position it would put Democrats in. If he’s bumped off in committee he could very well switch caucuses which would cost Democrats control of the Senate. If Lieberman was nominated and approved, the Republican governor of Connecticut would appoint a Republican and Democrats would lose control of the Senate.

It would be the type of cynical play to be expected from Bush but I don’t believe Lieberman would go along. At least I hope he wouldn’t accept.

By: cal1942

cal1942 — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 05:07:58 +0000

“Laurence Silberman

Hm, none of yâ€™all freaked out at that name? Do you understand how dangerous this guy is?

Comment by Avedon”

Comments 29 and 31 at least. There are probably more.

By: Helena Montana

Helena Montana — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:27:21 +0000

Honest to Pete, the little dictator is such an abject creep. He’ll do whatever he figures it takes to further his dream of the United Totalitarian States of America. I’m betting on Lieberman, but he doesn’t have to do it with a recess appointment. The Kabuki Kongress will confirm whomever it is told to confirm.

By: Mimi Schaeffer

Mimi Schaeffer — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 20:57:46 +0000

Forget Olson, he shot his wad when he sided with Acting Attorney General Jim Comey against Gonzo, Rove & Bush.

By: Mimi Schaeffer

Mimi Schaeffer — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 20:36:28 +0000

olson’s career with the Bushies was shot when he basically sided with Acting Attorney General Jim Comey.

By: Harris Gruber

Harris Gruber — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 20:35:46 +0000

I am not necessarily smarter than any of you, but I am older than most of you. “Wisdom” (which accidentally comes with advancing years) is the sum total of all our experiences.
Stand back, don’t miss the forest for the trees…….a new AG MUST have demonstrated superior integrity (and all that means) or NOT be approved. Given this administrations predelection for creeps, that means the Dems MUST be prepared to reject EVERY NOMINEE that doesn’t meet that criterion. Time is NOT of the essence here……clear-eyed judgement is…….including using any means available to stop an interim appointment….

By: That American Chap

That American Chap — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 19:42:13 +0000

Hoe-boooy! I can see now that the Department of Justice is going to be given back it’s integrity, it’s fairness and returned to a sense of prevailing……justice.

NOT!!!!!

By: doctorwilderpenrose

doctorwilderpenrose — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 18:33:20 +0000

I know it doesn’t really go to the substance of DOJs current problems, but imagining either Silberman or Olson try to perpetuate the administrations ‘this is partisanpoliticsofpersonaldestruction’ trope would be rather giggle-inducing.

By: pendergast

pendergast — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 18:05:43 +0000

Rumor heard on Thom Hartmann: Joe Lieberman.

Enjoy.

By: andy phx

andy phx — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 17:46:51 +0000

Bush will not let his new AG go through the confirmation process. PERIOD! He will do what he’s famous for which is being a total pussy and a coward and install the AG in a recess appointment. Anyone he appoints is going to be a bigger disaster than Gonzo the liar. That’s how he rolls: when someone has to resign because they were caught comitting their shenanigans, Bush nominates someone even worse.

By: MDNY

MDNY — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 17:23:53 +0000

Terwilliger wrote an op-ed for the WSJ in support of the WH not responding to subpoenas regarding the US Attorneys and mismanagement of the DOJ.

By: Maeven

Maeven — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 17:11:01 +0000

Laurence H. Silberman is a ‘playah’ himself in the war in Iraq, and has a vested interest in keeping the facts from being investigated accurately and legitimately. Whomever is put into the post of Attorney General is there to keep the secrets secret, and not allow investigations to go forward.

From “State of Denial,” Bob Woodward’s book, we learn that Silberman, a Bush family loyalist, was brought in to head the WMD Study Commission, which was intended to whitewash any negative findings from the 9/11 Commission in advance of the 2004 Presidential election, making sure that the war in Iraq continued. Silberman, a close friend of Dick Cheney’s, described Silbermanâ€™s report as â€œenormously helpful.”

There really are no true statesmen in Washington, no honorable men there anymore. Not Jim Baker, not Lee Hamilton, not Brent Scowcroft – they’ve all been compromised and tools of their own ambition and arrogance of power.

When are we going to stop giving Bush 41 a pass on the failure that is ongoing with his son’s presidency? Nothing that has happened these last six and a half years is troubling to the father, as the media would have us all believe. It’s one of the biggest con jobs ever perpetrated on the American people. The day will come when we will be talking about 2000-2008 as Bush 41’s “2nd and 3rd terms.”

By: pbg

pbg — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 17:00:59 +0000

recess appointment.

By: nuQler ostrich

nuQler ostrich — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:46:46 +0000

#44 Dirk – right on the money

Read Alexander Hamilton’s warning of the “Obsequious Instrument” in Federalist #76. A warning that the Senate ignored when it came to Abu Gonzales, and we have all seen the results.

I suggest you [we] all send a copy of Federalist #76 with the pertinent sections highlited. Since the admonition to the President who “would be ashamed” is not applicable to someone with no shame, the Senate needs to do it’s legitimate job of advise and consent. My guess is our Senators never read the damned thing.
.

By: crack

crack — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:42:41 +0000

Chuck Todd looks suspiciously like Murray Hewitt from the Flight of the Conchords tv series.

By: lambert strether

lambert strether — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:41:49 +0000

Actually, that’s a good litmus test.

NO MEMBERS OF THE FEDERALIST SOCIETY.

Why reward bad behavior by negotiating with them?

By: dirk gently

dirk gently — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:21:53 +0000

I canâ€™t imagine any Democrat on the Judiciary Committee voting for either of these rabid-dog right-wing movement scum.

two words:

samuel alito.

By: Nan

Nan — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:21:53 +0000

The names mentioned so far are all VRWC members. They have all been in the GOP dirty tricks business for decades. They are all members of the Federalist Society.

Democrats in the senate must block them all.

By: dirk gently

dirk gently — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:20:35 +0000

i believe it should be illegal for a president to appoint one of his personal attorneys to be attorney general.

on general principle.