Obama to Replace US Attorneys
More housecleaning ahead! From the Brad Blog, via Politico.com:
President Barack Obama plans to replace a "batch" of U.S. Attorneys in the next few weeks and more prosecutors thereafter, according to Attorney General Eric Holder."I expect that we'll have an announcement in the next couple of weeks with regard to our first batch of U.S attorneys," Holder said Thursday during a House Judiciary Committee hearing which stretched out over most of the day due to breaks for members' votes. "One of the things that we didn't want to do was to disrupt the continuity of the offices and pull people out of positions where we thought there might be a danger that that might have on the continuity--the effectiveness of the offices. But...elections matter--it is our intention to have the U.S. Attorneys that are selected by President Obama in place as quickly as they can."
...
Holder's comments Thursday came in response to a question from Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) "Many jurisdictions are waiting desperately to see what is going to be done. As we understand it, the protocol has been that U.S. Attorneys would hand in their resignations and would give the new administration an opportunity to make new appointments, we don't see that happening quite fast enough," she said, pointing to complaints about prosecutors in Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama.
Big stuff.
Wow.
Thanks Astral, you are informing the heck outta me!!!
May 16, 2009 7:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
A grey, rainy day and me being under the weather = lots of blogging time these past few days.
May 16, 2009 7:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm the luckier for your misfortune.
Feel better.
And, thanks. I am working (sorta). I wouldn't have enough time to run this stuff down, but I'm so glad you do.
May 16, 2009 7:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Same here Astral. Thank you again. Busy cartoon character today. w just jumped right in there and axed all those rotten filthy liberals if I recall correctly.
And then got rid of the ones who were not er kissing his behind.
May 16, 2009 7:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do you get the feeling that the Obama Train is buiding up a big head of steam and is gaining some momentum?
May 16, 2009 7:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
He just keeps on keepin on Astral. He finds podiums all over the country. No matter what he is accused of, he gives the big smile and sells his message.
Not only is he the leader of the Democratic Party, the Dems know he is an asset. As long as that keeps up, he can do just about what he wants to do.
I do not see him letting up. Foreign policy is really trucking. Domestic policy is moving quickly--you can tell the madder the repubs are, the better job he is doing.
Defense. That appears to be his problem. We shall see.
May 16, 2009 8:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm looking forward to watching Obama push his agenda through Congress. I wonder if the GOP can see the steamroller in their rearview mirror yet.
May 16, 2009 8:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Astral,
I'm beginning to get the urge to offer you some sort of stipend for all the hard work. Like bwak says, (that lil' chickee is layin' smarter eggs all the time) you just keep making us more aware and informed of the facts.
So, guess I'll be thinkin' of some reward to send as appreciation.
And yeah, Maxine Waters is not one to not call it out.
So glad to hear this news as I believe it is so important that there are some changes made in this area. (Sorry under the weather, but you sure making me feel better! heh heh)
Thanks again. rec'd.
May 16, 2009 7:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks Sam. It's been nice to sit back and get caught up on the news and to be in touch with you folks here. Cheers.
May 16, 2009 8:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Important news! Are the US attorneys appointments that need confirmation? I can't recall that in the past.
May 16, 2009 9:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's the last bit from the article:
I like that Obama is ahead of the curve on this issue as well.
May 16, 2009 10:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, Lord!
May 17, 2009 1:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
"A batch". What does it mean?
Is that August 1, 2001 date really true, or as reliable as CIA torture timelines? Here's a DOJ announcement on March 14, 2001:
==============================================
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AGMONDAY, MARCH 14, 2001
(202) 514-2007WWW.USDOJ.GOV
TDD (202) 514-1888
WHITE HOUSE AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
BEGIN U.S. ATTORNEY TRANSITION
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Continuing the practice of new administrations, President Bush and the Department of Justice have begun the transition process for most of the 93 United States Attorneys. Attorney General Ashcroft said, “We are committed to making this an orderly transition to ensure effective, professional law enforcement that reflects the President ’s priorities.”
In January of this year, nearly all presidential appointees from the previous administration offered their resignations. Two Justice Department exceptions were the United States Attorneys and United States Marshals.
Prior to the beginning of this transition process, nearly one-third of the United States Attorneys had already submitted their resignations. The White House and the Department of Justice have begun to schedule transition dates for most of the remaining United States Attorneys to occur prior to June of this year. President Bush will make announcements regarding his nominations to the Senate of new United States Attorneys as that information becomes available. Pending confirmation of the President’s nominees, the Attorney General will make appointments of Interim United States Attorneys for a period of 120 days (28USC546). Upon the expiration of that appointment, the authority rests with the United States District Court (28USC546(d)).
May 17, 2009 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think the August 1, 2001, date refers to when the names were formally submitted to Congress.
May 17, 2009 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Still feels unlikely to me that they waited from this March 14 announcement (when they said 1/3 of the attorneys had already submitted resignations) to August 1, with the speed Bush approached politicization of everything else.
UNLESS it was that they announced their temporary appointments at this time, and it could be it was the start of their temporary-but-really-permanent strategy of not seeking approval, perfected with the PATRIOT's act formalizing no approval necessary.
May 17, 2009 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink