Obama to name black Attorney General - I'm sure that is just a coincidence

[Bootlegged]

And he's the guy that pushed for the Marc Rich pardon....


Good times to come.


Obama recession '09!



Obama to pick Holder as Attorney General: report
Tue Nov 18, 2008 3:37pm EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama has decided on Eric Holder, a former senior official in the Clinton administration, to be attorney general, Newsweek said on Tuesday.

The magazine, citing two legal sources close to Obama's transition team, said on its website that the 57-year-old Holder, who served as deputy attorney general under President Bill Clinton, "still has to undergo a formal vetting review" before the selection is final and announced.

If the appointment is confirmed, he would be the first African American to head the Justice Department.

Newsweek said that in discussions over the last several days, Obama had offered Holder the job and he had accepted.

"The announcement is not likely until after Obama announces his choices to lead the Treasury and State Department," the magazine said.

Officials with Obama's transition team declined to comment.

Holder helped to vet candidates to become Obama's vice presidential running mate and has been a senior legal advisor for Obama's presidential campaign.

A partner at law firm Covington & Burling in the District of Columbia, Holder could not be immediately reached for comment.

Holder has said that the United States must reverse "the disastrous course" set by the Bush administration in the struggle against terrorism by closing the detention center at Guantanamo Bay and must declare without qualification that the United States does not torture people.

Obama has announced several White House staff appointments since his victory in the November 4 presidential election, but so far has not publicly announced any picks for cabinet positions.

(Reporting by Andrew Quinn, Editing by Sandra Maler)

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x291/purpman_03/black-power-pin.jpg

[Jenson71]

Bring back Alberto!

[BigRedChief]

Good thing those Whiteys got their guns before the "blacks" take over.

[DaneMcCloud]

And he's the guy that pushed for the Marc Rich pardon....


Good times to come.



Are you a racist?

Or an asshole?

Or both?

[Stinger]

Yay!!! another Clintonite ..........

[Jenson71]

Good thing those Whiteys got their guns before the "blacks" take over.

Won't be long 'fore we're paying reparations through government bail bonds.

[Bootlegged]

Yay!!! another Clintonite ..........

CHANGE


You can sell the American people anything..

[Jenson71]

The Founding Fathers would not have had a black guy be attorney general.

[StcChief]

surprise... :)

[Ari Chi3fs]

Sweet, with all these black people running things, the Chronic should become legal soon!




TAGS: Weed FTW! Puff Puff Pass Punt, SkipTowne is stoned right now!

[Chief Henry]

And he's the guy that pushed for the Marc Rich pardon....


Good times to come.


Obama recession '09!



Obama to pick Holder as Attorney General: report
Tue Nov 18, 2008 3:37pm EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama has decided on Eric Holder, a former senior official in the Clinton administration, to be attorney general, Newsweek said on Tuesday.

The magazine, citing two legal sources close to Obama's transition team, said on its website that the 57-year-old Holder, who served as deputy attorney general under President Bill Clinton, "still has to undergo a formal vetting review" before the selection is final and announced.

If the appointment is confirmed, he would be the first African American to head the Justice Department.

Newsweek said that in discussions over the last several days, Obama had offered Holder the job and he had accepted.

"The announcement is not likely until after Obama announces his choices to lead the Treasury and State Department," the magazine said.

Officials with Obama's transition team declined to comment.

Holder helped to vet candidates to become Obama's vice presidential running mate and has been a senior legal advisor for Obama's presidential campaign.

A partner at law firm Covington & Burling in the District of Columbia, Holder could not be immediately reached for comment.

Holder has said that the United States must reverse "the disastrous course" set by the Bush administration in the struggle against terrorism by closing the detention center at Guantanamo Bay and must declare without qualification that the United States does not torture people.

Obama has announced several White House staff appointments since his victory in the November 4 presidential election, but so far has not publicly announced any picks for cabinet positions.

(Reporting by Andrew Quinn, Editing by Sandra Maler)

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x291/purpman_03/black-power-pin.jpg

Wasn't it the 68 summer Olympics in mexico that I first saw that black fist ?

[Chief Henry]

Are you a racist?

Or an asshole?

Or both?




I beleave its called free speech.

[Jenson71]

Breaking news: Bush's nomination of Mukasey was to cement the Jewish control of U.S. government.

Black people genetically have underdeveloped logical thinking.

[Bootlegged]

Are you a racist?

Or an asshole?

Or both?

Good one, little lady.

[Bootlegged]

Breaking news: Bush's nomination of Mukasey was to cement the Jewish control of U.S. government.

Black people genetically have underdeveloped logical thinking.

You are just so PROGRESSIVE! Gold star for you.

[Jenson71]

I beleave its called free speech.

LOL. Free speech means there's no such thing as racism, or being an asshole?

[jAZ]

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a248/Murrwolf/white-power-unicorn.jpg

[Sully]

I'm sure this has nothing to do with the guy's merit.

[Jenson71]

You are just so PROGRESSIVE! Gold star for you.

I've been brainwashed by the liberal media.

[DaneMcCloud]

I beleave its called free speech.

I believe that you don't know how to spell.

Therefore, how can I take anything you "say" seriously?

Ah, that's right.

I don't.

[Jenson71]

You are just so PROGRESSIVE! Gold star for you.

I take free vaccine handouts from the Government.

[DaneMcCloud]

Good one, little lady.

So considering your response, I'm assume it's the third option?

[BigChiefFan]

Nothing like judging this man by the color of his skin. What shallow fools.

[Bootlegged]

watch the pc police come screaming to this thread to denounce the "racist, bigot, pillowbiters" to quote dirk diggler.

[Jenson71]

You are just so PROGRESSIVE! Gold star for you.

I went through public schools.

[Bootlegged]

So considering your response, I'm assume it's the third option?

Go make me some pancakes.

[DaneMcCloud]

Go make me some pancakes.

I'm really sorry that you're little Republican party of old, rich white folks was summarily voted out of office.

Boo fucking hoo.

[Jenson71]

Go make me some pancakes.

The Good Old Days: when slaves made pancakes for me.

[Jenson71]

I hope he will continue to defend the torture tactics that preserve our country's freedoms.

[Jenson71]

You are just so PROGRESSIVE! Gold star for you.

I'm elitist; I like science.

[Bootlegged]

I hope he will continue to defend the torture tactics that preserve our country's freedoms.

Were you asked to torture people during your days in the service?

[Bootlegged]

I'm really sorry that you're little Republican party of old, rich white folks was summarily voted out of office.

Boo ****ing hoo.


It's your - you're = you are. Dipshit.

[Jenson71]

You are just so PROGRESSIVE! Gold star for you.

You're so TRADITIONAL. Thank you sir; have a cigar sir. Perhaps these former slaves will someday move back to their real home soon.

[BCD]

CHANGE


You can sell the American people anything..Considering this country reached its nadir under Bush, it can only get better...

[Jenson71]

Were you asked to torture people during your days in the service?

Of course not. Just waterboard. Ho ho ho.

[BigChiefFan]

watch the pc police come screaming to this thread to denounce the "racist, bigot, pillowbiters" to quote dirk diggler.
It's pretty well-documented that you don't like "Others". Cry me a river, predgy.

[Bootlegged]

Of course not. Just waterboard. Ho ho ho.

I'm pretty sure without the help of the Interweb you would have no idea what that is. Get back to class.

[Bootlegged]

It's pretty well-documented that you don't like "Others". Cry me a river, predgy.


If others means fat, moronic posters named, "BigChiefFan" - you got me.

[Jenson71]

I'm pretty sure without the help of the Interweb you would have no idea what that is. Get back to class.

thank God for the internet! I can say whatever I want with no reprecussions! I'm so free now.

[BigChiefFan]

If others means fat, moronic posters named, "BigChiefFan" - you got me.Ahhh. Not hateful words coming from you-I would have never guessed it. You can get back to your hate rally now.

[Jenson71]

I'm pretty sure without the help of the Interweb you would have no idea what that is. Get back to class.

A fine post for a fine thread. Two Gold Stars for you, good sir. Two!

[Bootlegged]

Ahhh. Not hateful words coming from you-I would have never guessed it. You can get back to your hate rally now.

Really? You were so nice - it's amazing that your small brain can't comprehend irony.

[Jenson71]

America can not handle two black people with significant powers at once. This process of Political Opportunity in Equality must be gradual. Perhaps in the next 200 years or so. But not now. Look how divided we are.

[Bootlegged]

America can not handle two black people with significant powers at once. This process of Political Opportunity in Equality must be gradual. Perhaps in the next 200 years or so. But not now. Look how divided we are.

You want to be a thug, don't ya? Come on playa - admit it. You go in front of your mirror, straighten out your hats, put on your JV jersey, hang your moms pearl necklace around it and throw gang signs... Right?

[Jenson71]

Both of these blacks went to Columbia University. Why are they supporting the infiltration of blacks into our governmental system? Do they hate America?

[Jenson71]

You want to be a thug, don't ya? Come on playa - admit it. You go in front of your mirror, straighten out your hats, put on your JV jersey, hang your moms pearl necklace around it and throw gang signs... Right?

I like the sounds of Two Pack. I see no changes.

Does that answer your question?

[Jenson71]

Were you asked to torture people during your days in the service?

I want to thank you for your servince in promoting the advancement of Real America, similar to Middle America: sticking up for Small Town Values and Noble Gentry and Aristocracy and The Godly Race.

Hard-Working America, those who work hard to maintain the plantation. I don't like whipping the boys, but God has given me the duty to shape them up to their potential.

[Bootlegged]

I want to thank you for your servince in promoting the advancement of Real America, similar to Middle America: sticking up for Small Town Values and Noble Gentry and Aristocracy and The Godly Race.

Are you in between classes right now?

[Jenson71]

Are you in between classes right now?

In a way; Nigger Jim takes lecture notes for me.

[Pitt Gorilla]

What coincidence? That he's a lawyer?

[dirk digler]

watch the pc police come screaming to this thread to denounce the "racist, bigot, pillowbiters" to quote dirk diggler.

You can't even spell my name right you idiot

Anyway do you have a problem with a black attorney general? Did you bitch and moan when Bush had a Latino Attorney General?

[kstater]

I believe the Great Ronald Regan appointed him to his first judiciary post. But I'm sure that is just a coincidence.

[SportsRacer]

Are you a racist?

Or an asshole?

Or both?

I don't recall.

[SportsRacer]

Anyway do you have a problem with a black attorney general? Did you bitch and moan when Bush had a Latino Attorney General?

I don't recall.

[DaneMcCloud]

It's your - you're = you are. Dipshit.

Oh wow, that really hurts coming from a racist piece of shit like you.

[DaneMcCloud]

Are you in between classes right now?

Did you even attend college, genius?

[SportsRacer]

Did you even attend college, genius?

College is for elitists, remember?

[DaneMcCloud]

College is for elitists, remember?

My bad

[Ari Chi3fs]

My post was very underappreciated. You humorless bastards.




TAGS: Puff Puff Pass Punt was hilarious

[Bootlegged]

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hAYe7MT5BxM&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hAYe7MT5BxM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[Chief Henry]

I believe that you don't know how to spell.

Therefore, how can I take anything you "say" seriously?

Ah, that's right.

I don't.

I could give .02 if you take me seriously. I'm not loosing any sleep because of it either.

[DaneMcCloud]

I could give .02 if you take me seriously. I'm not loosing any sleep because of it either.

I didn't figure you were intelligent enough to take it under advisement.

[DaneMcCloud]

<object width="425" height="344">


<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hAYe7MT5BxM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></object> (http://%3Cobject%20width=%22425%22%20height=%22344%22%3E%3Cparam%20name=%22movie%22%20value=%22http://www.youtube.com/v/hAYe7MT5BxM&hl=en&fs=1%22%3E%3C/param%3E%3Cparam%20name=%22allowFullScreen%22%20value=%22true%22%3E%3C/param%3E%3Cparam%20name=%22allowscriptaccess%22%20value=%22always%22%3E%3C/param%3E%3Cembed%20src=%22http://www.youtube.com/v/hAYe7MT5BxM&hl=en&fs=1%22%20type=%22application/x-shockwave-flash%22%20allowscriptaccess=%22always%22%20allowfullscreen=%22true%22%20width=%22425%22%20height=%2 2344%22%3E%3C/embed%3E%3C/object%3E)

That's great, racist.

And, it's pointless and irrelevant.

Next?

[Chief Henry]

I didn't figure you were intelligent enough to take it under advisement.

Advisement from you is worthless. I'm intelligent to know that advice from you is not worth beans.

Look, I've got no problem with a black Attorney General. What I do have problem with is people using the race :cuss: card every time some one disagrees with Barry or any of his cronies. That's what happened on this thread again.

[DaneMcCloud]

Advisement from you is worthless. I'm intelligent to know that advice from you is not worth beans.



ROFL

This from the biggest dumbshit in all of Iowa.

Priceless.

:rolleyes:

[Chief Henry]

ROFL

This from the biggest dumbshit in all of Iowa.

Priceless.

:rolleyes:

:stupid:

Ignorance and loathing is very becoming on you.

[Adept Havelock]

:stupid:

Ignorance and loathing is very becoming on you.

ROFL

Check a mirror.

[vailpass]

There goes the neighborhood.

[Chief Henry]

ROFL

Check a mirror.


Check a mirror. Your telling that to me. ROFL


Have a good evening Sir.

[Bootlegged]

That's great, racist.

And, it's pointless and irrelevant.

Next?

I AM DANE McCloud. RACIST POLICE!

[banyon]

I didn't realize that as a black person, Obama had met the quota and wasn't allowed to have any more black persons in his Cabinet.

[Bootlegged]

I didn't realize that as a black person, Obama had met the quota and wasn't allowed to have any more black persons in his Cabinet.

I'm sure there are lots of things you haven't realized.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Heckuva job, darkie.

[Adept Havelock]

I didn't realize that as a black person, Obama had met the quota and wasn't allowed to have any more black persons in his Cabinet.

.

[banyon]

I'm sure there are lots of things you haven't realized.

Wow, that's insightful. You truly have a gift.

[Chiefnj2]

Look, I've got no problem with a black Attorney General. What I do have problem with is people using the race :cuss: card every time some one disagrees with Barry or any of his cronies. That's what happened on this thread again.


If you are not joking, you must be retarded. People responding to this thread used the race card? Did you read the thread starter? You may have missed it, but the race card was played in the initial thread. The black power fist may have been a hint.

[Sully]

The creation of this thread was just a matter of time.
But it is full of the funny. Thanks for that, boot.

ROFL

[splatbass]

watch the pc police come screaming to this thread to denounce the "racist, bigot, pillowbiters" to quote dirk diggler.


You complaining that he chose a black man isn't racist? What is it then?

[frazod]

College is for elitists, remember?

I only attended for a semester before I ran out of money and went in the service. But since the jackboots seem to think I'm a liberal elitist now, can I get an honorary degree? I could hang it on the wall in between the hammer and the sickle.

[Adept Havelock]

I only attended for a semester before I ran out of money and went in the service. But since the jackboots seem to think I'm a liberal elitist now, can I get an honorary degree? I could hang it on the wall in between the hammer and the sickle.

Sure thing! :thumb:

Just remember the school motto: Nolite te bastardes carborundorum

[frazod]

Cool! LMAO

[RJ]

Of course, if Obama doesn't select any black cabinet members he'll be insulted and ridiculed by the same people who would insult and ridicule him if he does select black cabinet members. The same will be true of women, hispanics, etc.

So basically - WGAF what those people think? They're going to bitch regardless.

[J Diddy]

If you are not joking, you must be retarded. People responding to this thread used the race card? Did you read the thread starter? You may have missed it, but the race card was played in the initial thread. The black power fist may have been a hint.


Whatever. Just because he put a black fist picture in the OP, Just because he put black power, just because he said "I suppose this is just a coincidence", just because he said that in response to the guy being black(and qualified too) that's no reason to call racist.

Especially since bootlegged is like the keifer sutherland in time to kill, getting his own clan in clanton, mississippi.

[Logical]

Are you a racist?

Or an asshole?

Or both?I know he can be an asshole, who cannot? However I must admit I have seen racist leanings this year. Sort of sad.

[Logical]

Really? You were so nice - it's amazing that your small brain can't comprehend irony.You really are reminding me of Tom in this thread, congratulations, now I consider you a racist, bigot, prick. Just exercising my free speech.:evil:

[Logical]

In a way; ****er Jim takes lecture notes for me.I missed the class today massah.:spock:

[Jenson71]

I missed the class today massah.:spock:

To the whipping post then.

[Logical]

Advisement from you is worthless. I'm intelligent to know that advice from you is not worth beans.

Look, I've got no problem with a black Attorney General. What I do have problem with is people using the race :cuss: card every time some one disagrees with Barry or any of his cronies. That's what happened on this thread again.

OK other than misusing a word contextually and creating a sentence fragment that makes little sense. I wonder why the new AG nominee is not qualified other than we know he is black thus far. Seems his degrees, work history and previous appointments in government all would provide for excellent qualifications. Can you provide other background that says otherwise?

[Ultra Peanut]

snoopys balls

[Adept Havelock]

OK other than misusing a word contextually and creating a sentence fragment that makes little sense. I wonder why the new AG nominee is not qualified other than we know he is black thus far. Seems his degrees, work history and previous appointments in government all would provide for excellent qualifications. Can you provide other background that says otherwise?

The Senate approved his appointment as Deputy AG in 1997 100-0. :shrug:

I wonder what disqualified him in the eyes of Chief Henry?

Oh, right...he was appointed by a guy with a -D after his name. :doh!:

[Earthling]

I wonder why the new AG nominee is not qualified other than we know he is black thus far. Seems his degrees, work history and previous appointments in government all would provide for excellent qualifications. Can you provide other background that says otherwise?

Aha..The crux of the argument at last! Hmmmm...No responses? I guess there was no other reason then ?? :rolleyes:

[memyselfI]

The Senate approved his appointment as Deputy AG in 1997 100-0. :shrug:

I wonder what disqualified him in the eyes of Chief Henry?

Oh, right...he was appointed by a guy with a -D after his name. :doh!:

Let see, he has ties to Ken Starr, WACO, and Mark Rich.

The Mo things change, the mo d same.

[SHTSPRAYER]

Back to the future. When do the CHICOM's start getting full access to our nuclear facilities again?

[dirk digler]

Let see, he has ties to Ken Starr, WACO, and Mark Rich.

The Mo things change, the mo d same.

I am sure you will like his positions. Also this guy isn't a Clintonite he was a very early supporter of Obama as are the other people that Obama has picked so far.

Like Obama, Holder has said the United States must reverse "the disastrous course" set by the Bush administration in the struggle against terrorism by closing the detention center at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba that now holds about 250 prisoners.

Holder also has said the United States must stop sending individuals to nations that engage in torture, must cease warrantless domestic surveillance and must declare without qualification the United States does not torture people.

[memyselfI]

I am sure you will like his positions. Also this guy isn't a Clintonite he was a very early supporter of Obama as are the other people that Obama has picked so far.

He has some good positions and he has some very bad ones. His ties to Mark Rich and Ken Starr are two of the biggies, IMO.

The larger point is, he's a Clintonite from back in the day. How is this change?

[Chief Henry]

The Senate approved his appointment as Deputy AG in 1997 100-0. :shrug:

I wonder what disqualified him in the eyes of Chief Henry?

Oh, right...he was appointed by a guy with a -D after his name. :doh!:


I didn't say he was NOT qualified...Your reading comprehension needs help.

[dirk digler]

He has some good positions and he has some very bad ones. His ties to Mark Rich and Ken Starr are two of the biggies, IMO.

The larger point is, he's a Clintonite from back in the day. How is this change?

Edit: I was wrong. Mr. Holder had given a "neutral, leaning towards favorable" opinion of the pardon that led directly to the pardoning of Mr. Rich on Mr. Clinton's last day in office.

I think Obama in certain positions is looking for experienced smart people that know their way around DC so they don't have the same problems Clinton did his first couple of years.

[memyselfI]

Edit: I was wrong.
I think Obama in certain positions is looking for experienced smart people that know their way around DC so they don't have the same problems Clinton did his first couple of years.

You are wrong and if those ties weren't bad enough then his ties to Chiquita Banana and defense of their funding death squads is unconscionable.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dan-kovalik/lawyer-for-chiquita-in-co_b_141919.html

The mo things change...

[penchief]

Let see, he has ties to Ken Starr, WACO, and Mark Rich.

The Mo things change, the mo d same.

Yeah, right.

Again, competence and qualifications alone will equate to a big change.

Protecting the constitution instead of seeking ways to subvert it will be another big change.

Maybe you would prefer someone without the experience, the qualifications, or the track-record to fix the devastation left behind in the fascist wake of the Bush Administration and its spineless lackey, Alberto Gonzalez.

[Bootlegged]

I'm sure he was the most qualified guy - he wasn't picked because of his skin color or Bush-hatred.

[penchief]

I'm sure he was the most qualified guy - he wasn't picked because of his skin color or Bush-hatred.

What makes you think he would have been picked because of his skin color?

And what would hating Bush have to do with anyone's qualifications to be AG?

Has anyone ever told you that you don't make a whole lot of sense?

[penchief]

I'm sure he was the most qualified guy - he wasn't picked because of his skin color or Bush-hatred.

New Rule: Anyone who thought Alberto Gonzalez was qualified to be AG cannot question the qualifications of any other AG nominees.

I'm almost certain Bush chose Gonzalez because he thought it was kewl that his initials were A.G.

[memyselfI]

Yeah, right.

Again, competence and qualifications alone will equate to a big change.

Protecting the constitution instead of seeking ways to subvert it will be another big change.

Maybe you would prefer someone without the experience, the qualifications, or the track-record to fix the devastation left behind in the fascist wake of the Bush Administration and its spineless lackey, Alberto Gonzalez.

BS. You know I've been a leading opponent to Bush and Gonzalez on these boards. Don't start acting like the past didn't happen. My view is Holder's associations going in are troubling.

Defending Chiquita Banana is probably the worst.

[Calcountry]

Obama is picking 80% Clinton retreads including Clinton herself at state, That's the change we need.

We are the change we have been waiting for.

[penchief]

BS. You know I've been a leading opponent to Bush and Gonzalez on these boards. Don't start acting like the past didn't happen. My view is Holder's associations going in are troubling.

Defending Chiquita Banana is probably the worst.

Everything about this administration is troubling to you. You wouldn't admit it even if they did something good. I don't know what you expect from Obama but it sure seems like you are being very unreasonable. Certainly, you are holding him to a higher standard than you were holding anyone else to prior to the democratic primary, including Hillary, Edwards, or Gore.

Edwards, now that would have been change we can believe in.

[Jenson71]

On this day, 145 years ago, Lincoln read the Gettysburg Address.

[memyselfI]

Everything about this administration is troubling to you. You wouldn't admit it even if they did something good. I don't know what you expect from Obama but it sure seems like you are being very unreasonable. Certainly, you are holding him to a higher standard than you were holding anyone else to prior to the democratic primary, including Hillary, Edwards, or Gore.

Edwards, now that would have been change we can believe in.

NObama set his own standards he must live or die by them. (Not literally so Bots don't start phoning the Secert Service)

I am not holding him to any standard that he did not set for himself or Himself.

[frazod]

Here's an interesting piece on Holder. I didn't realize he was the guy who prosecuted Rostencrookski.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/brown/1287265,CST-NWS-brown19.article

Guy who got Rosty to plead is moving up

Obama's attorney general pick a very positive sign for Chicago

November 19, 2008

BY MARK BROWN (markbrown@suntimes.com) Sun-Times Columnist
<!-- Article's First Paragraph --> <!-- BlogBurst ContentStart -->
In the summer of 1994, one of this city's most powerful politicians, U.S. Rep. Dan Rostenkowski, was indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with alleged crimes related largely to the operation of his Chicago office.<!--dropend-->

But the indictment was not brought here, nor likely would it ever have been. In fact, one of the key elements of the case, ghost payrolling, wasn't typically even treated as a crime in this jurisdiction at the time, just more fun and games from those naughty boys in the Democratic Machine.

Instead, the Rostenkowski case was made out of Washington by an impressive young prosecutor who picked up the investigation in midstream -- amid much fretting over whether the change from a Republican to a Democratic appointee would cause the case to disappear -- and carried it forcefully over the goal line until he got a guilty plea.

On Tuesday, it was reported that the prosecutor in question, Eric Holder Jr., is President-elect Barack Obama's top choice to be the next U.S. attorney general.

That should be a very positive sign for those who tend to view all political developments through the prism of what it means to the investigation of political corruption here.
I've been hearing from those folks almost daily recently, as there is understandably widespread concern about losing U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald after the handover of power in Washington despite seeming assurances from Obama during the campaign.

Track record of nailing Chicago pols

I get caught up in that sometimes myself, since it would obviously be preferable to keep Fitzgerald in place with so much unfinished business on the table. In fact, his survival is essential without a final resolution of the investigation into former Obama fund-raiser Tony Rezko.

Holder's appointment doesn't change that. Having a tough prosecutor in Washington with a track record of nailing Chicago pols is no substitute for having a tough one here. Just the same, Holder's record suggests he'll have a better appreciation of what Fitzgerald brings to the table and won't play favorites in signing off on politically sensitive cases.

Back in 1994, Rostenkowski was considered one of the most powerful people in Washington as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Official Washington sniffed at the "nickel and dime" case against him. President Bill Clinton let everybody know the Chicago congressman was still his good friend. You can be sure there were people in high places who wanted that case to go away and who made their feelings known.

But it didn't go away, and Holder, then the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, never eased up until Rostenkowski agreed to go to prison.

Knows his way around a courtroom

I never dealt with Holder directly, but I know from my colleagues who observed him up close during that time that he's a real lawyer who knows his way around a courtroom. He had handled big cases before Rostenkowski, serving in the Justice Department's public integrity section from 1976 to 1988, where he was responsible for investigating and prosecuting official corruption. President Ronald Reagan appointed him to a local judgeship in the District in 1988.

Holder would later take the No. 2 position in Clinton's Justice Department, a fact that has contributed to the one glaring blemish to his career -- Clinton's disgraceful last-minute pardon of fugitive Marc Rich. Clinton later pinned his own defense in part on Holder having signed off on the decision. Holder has publicly apologized for dropping the ball on that one.

The Washington reporters say Holder will take his lumps over the Rich matter, but that it isn't seen as fatal to his appointment. By then, Republicans will probably be wanting to live down some last-minute pardons from the Bush administration.

The furor over the Rich pardon ended up overshadowing Clinton's pardon of Rostenkowski, who by then had served his prison time. I don't think we ever knew what advice, if any, Holder gave to Clinton regarding Rosty's pardon. But I don't see that as a big issue, one way or the other. While I disagreed with the decision to pardon Rostenkowski, it didn't change anything.

Holder is the kind of guy we once would have thought ourselves lucky to have as U.S. attorney in Chicago. That ought to be reason for optimism about how he would perform as attorney general.