Eric Holder on the Hot Seat
Testifying about Fast and Furious now. Watch here.
UPDATE: Holder guzzles some cheap whine:
“You guys need to — you guys need to stop this,” Holder told a reporter for the conservative Daily Caller website, which has been gathering calls for the attorney general’s resignation from lawmakers, presidential candidates and even governors. “This is not an organic thing that’s just happening. … You guys are behind this,” the attorney general complained, pointing his finger at reporter Neil Munro.
Mmm, that’s good responsibility takin’!
I have it on good authority that Tucker Carlson personally hands out firearms to the Zetas. He is such a beloved figure amongst Mexican cartels that any bow-tied man entering Mexico is immediately swarmed by groups of locals yelling: “Guns! Guns!”
It is on the TV in the background, I’m going to leave the room. I don’t know if my head or stomach will explode first. I have listened to Obama lie enough, I can’t take another one. Mercy and grace on those who need to do this.
They’re also going after Kagan’s involvement with health care legislation.
I will eat my words and apologize if it can later be shown that my lack of confidence is unwarranted.
MD in Philly (41d33b) — 12/8/2011 @ 7:16 amHow many times is the AG allowed to flat out lie to Congress?
JD (318f81) — 12/8/2011 @ 7:17 amHe will not even answer directly whether he is or is not using legal reasons to base refusal to release certain documents.
MD in Philly (41d33b) — 12/8/2011 @ 7:19 amThe answer, JD, is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind.
Trying to pin down a specific answer that has content in it is like trying to capture the wind.
MD in Philly (41d33b) — 12/8/2011 @ 7:20 am‘Are his lips moving’ well there’s the answer,
narciso (87e966) — 12/8/2011 @ 7:22 amEric Holder should be taxed.
Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 12/8/2011 @ 7:37 amI had thought based both on history and common sense that Holder would resign or be thrown under the bus by Obama before this day of testimony ever came. Guess not. I fear that means there is so much more criminality in the Justice Dept. being hidden that they are unwilling and afraid to have even a new Dem AG come in and see it. Regardless–this will ultimately not end well for Holder. Do you think he knows that yet? There is no way he keeps his cabinet post in an election year with the senate up for grabs.
elissa (92b57f) — 12/8/2011 @ 8:00 amNow we have even CBS reporting that the operation was intended to provide cover for additional gun control proposals.
SPQR (26be8b) — 12/8/2011 @ 8:07 amShut the front door!
Really?
Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 12/8/2011 @ 8:08 amIn light of the Zetas, the continued supplying of the Mexican military, is an even larger problem, than mere F&F.
narciso (87e966) — 12/8/2011 @ 8:09 amObama’s White House is playing for time. They know Holder is toast but want to put off his resignation till after the election. Valerie Jarrett is already working on a short list for a replacement.
ropelight (34c447) — 12/8/2011 @ 8:12 amYes, he is a fierce enemy, they know him as ‘El Corbatado’ sarc.
narciso (87e966) — 12/8/2011 @ 8:21 amMichael Moore is the 1%
Obama’s wealthy cronies are the 1%
Them OWSers are duped.
Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 12/8/2011 @ 8:28 amAs my old drill sergeant might have said to Eric Holder, “You little peckerwood, I know you’re “sorry” but that’s no excuse.” Holder is a sorry specimen indeed.
Comanche Voter (0e06a9) — 12/8/2011 @ 8:30 amhe’s a fascist and he turned the ATF into his personal SS I think
and you know what that is?
shameful indeed
happyfeet (3c92a1) — 12/8/2011 @ 8:38 amMichael Barone coined the term “gangster government” early in the Obama term as an indictment of the Chicago roots of the President’s inner-circle;
AD-RtR/OS! (7a577b) — 12/8/2011 @ 8:43 amit would be nice if some of these folks had the level of charm, integrity, and honesty, displayed by Al “Scarface” Capone, and Charles “Lucky” Luciano.
Every liberal I know who was heard about fast and furious is planning on voting 3rd party. So, at least there’s that silver lining.
Ghost (6f9de7) — 12/8/2011 @ 8:53 amEric Holder reminds me of a black Yanni without the awesome hair.
Discuss.
EC (dda60e) — 12/8/2011 @ 9:01 amI could listen to yanni without bursting into fits of rage.
Ghost (6f9de7) — 12/8/2011 @ 9:06 amSome have dubbed him, Stedman, for his similarity,
narciso (87e966) — 12/8/2011 @ 9:09 amand the smooth veneer.
Eric Holder reminds me of Stedman Graham.
Discuss.
Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 12/8/2011 @ 9:09 amMitt Romney and Chris Christie are part of the 1%?
Isn’t Michael Moore part of the 1% you frickin dupes?
Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 12/8/2011 @ 9:12 amNot to mention, Miley Cyrus, some of the Who, and
narciso (87e966) — 12/8/2011 @ 9:15 amArianna Huffington, it’s a pose,
#21. Dennis Miller refers to Holder simple as “Stedman.”
PC14 (738e3d) — 12/8/2011 @ 9:16 amYeah, don’t mess with Tucker Carlson.
How appalling. This administration’s ‘error’ (at best) has led to 300 murders (at least) and they say it’s all really being created by media daring to ask about it?
Unbelievable. Why anybody put Holder in this position, given his record, is beyond me. The guy is a scandal maker, but he’s done far worse this time.
Dustin (cb3719) — 12/8/2011 @ 9:40 amWhy are the left always insulted as regressive by the same new yawkers who want us to regress into a 3rd world country?
Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 12/8/2011 @ 9:40 amI meant the south
PIMF.
Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 12/8/2011 @ 9:41 amAnd for those watching this:
What a treat Sheila Jackson Lee is. Just marvel at how seriously she takes the duty of oversight. I’m pretty sure I could make any sane person loath her just with video of this hearing.
We’re not talking about a post office, Lee. This is literally a matter of life and death you’re trying to stymie.
Dustin (cb3719) — 12/8/2011 @ 10:00 amAren’t you glad she’s a Yale grad.
narciso (87e966) — 12/8/2011 @ 10:02 amNo she isn’t. Is she?
/googles
BA from Yale in Poli Sci.
Wow.
I’ve met several ivy leaguers. Actually pretty much all of them were well adjusted and smart, too. If my only exposure to it was C-Span, I’d be convinced it was some kind of school for retards.
Dustin (cb3719) — 12/8/2011 @ 10:09 amSheila Jackoff Lee needs a good brain surgeon.
Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 12/8/2011 @ 10:12 amWhy yes, Mr. Holder. You are a victim. You closed your eyes to illegal gun sales to Mexican smugglers of death dealing drugs into the United States. Guns that were used to kill 300 people including two Border Patrol officers. Why? Why? Why? For the noble purpose to restrict the right of American citizens to own firearms. F*** Heller and McDonald. You were 100% right, sir, you are a true
nk (cd8f6b) — 12/8/2011 @ 10:23 amAmericanAfrican-American hero.We do not want Mr. Holder to resign. We want him and his record as an Obama appointee thoroughly investigated and laid bare to the light of day. If he did resign, do we think he would be replaced by anyone better?
MD in Philly (41d33b) — 12/8/2011 @ 10:58 amCharlie Gibson has never heard of Operation Fast and Furious.
What are you all talking about?
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 12/8/2011 @ 11:14 amWhat we need to do is defund Holder’s gun-carrying bodyguards/chaufeurs and see how loud he screams.
nk (cd8f6b) — 12/8/2011 @ 11:22 am“We do not want Mr. Holder to resign. We want him and his record as an Obama appointee thoroughly investigated and laid bare to the light of day.”
MD – I readily admit to wanting the scandal to stretch into 2012 and expose as many Obama cockroaches as possible.
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 12/8/2011 @ 11:27 amWashington Examiner:
Karl (f07e38) — 12/8/2011 @ 11:48 amHow many times is the AG allowed to flat out lie to Congress?
Comment by JD — 12/8/2011 @ 7:17 am
— Take the number of questions he has been asked during congressional hearings and multiply by a factor of two (for double-talk).
Icy (c4524c) — 12/8/2011 @ 11:56 amSheila Jackoff Lee needs a good brain surgeon.
Comment by Dohbiden — 12/8/2011 @ 10:12 am
— No surgeon is that good.
Icy (c4524c) — 12/8/2011 @ 11:57 amOff topic, but there has been another shooting at Va Tech. 2 dead, and the gunman is still at large. or so the reports are saying right now. You know by now not to trust breaking news accounts like this. When Gabby giffords was shot, first that judge was dead, then he was alive, then he was dead.
Aaron Worthing (e7d72e) — 12/8/2011 @ 12:01 pmShortly after noon, a Virginia Tech police officer made a routine traffic stop in the Coliseum parking lot near McComas Hall, and the officer was shot and killed, school spokesman Mark Owczarski said. There were witnesses to the shooting, he said.
Icy (c4524c) — 12/8/2011 @ 12:11 pmThe shooter fled on foot toward a parking lot called “the Cage.” At that lot, a second person was found dead, Owczarski said.
Impeach him. I’m serious. The House has a duty to impeach Holder.
Milhouse (d7842d) — 12/8/2011 @ 12:58 pmWe now know that the ATF and this administration was brazenly lying about the contribution of guns smuggled across the border from US dealers to Mexican crime. Brazenly lying. The bulk of illegal firearms in Mexico do not come from US dealers sales in the US to straw buyers.
They come from US government sponsored sales to the Mexican government being then diverted to the drug cartels in Mexico.
We now have confirmed was was intuitively obvious, that the Fast and Furious operation had no legitimate law enforcement purpose. That its goal was to put traceable firearms into drug cartel hands that could then be the showpiece “proof” of the need for more gun control laws in the US. The result was that the US government supplied firearms to the Mexican cartel in violation of US law and resulted in hundreds of deaths that we know of.
These are impeachable offenses.
SPQR (26be8b) — 12/8/2011 @ 1:41 pmLeftys aren’t truly progressives or truly liberals.
Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 12/8/2011 @ 1:49 pmIt’s more important, historically, that we make an example out of him. At least that’s my opinion. He needs to be impeached now, rather than milked. I mean, both would be ideal, actually.
But if he’s not impeached, that sets the stage for the next crook.
Dustin (cb3719) — 12/8/2011 @ 3:06 pmRemember the raking of the coals they put Gonzalez through, over for not dotting the i’s on the dismissing of the 6 US Attorneys
narciso (87e966) — 12/8/2011 @ 3:45 pmNo kidding, Narciso.
Dustin (cb3719) — 12/8/2011 @ 4:12 pmI’m OK with impeaching. I’m not for artifically stretching anything out, I just don’t want him to make a quiet exit, like Sen. Dodd, Congressman Frank, previous heads of Fannie/Freddie…
MD in Philly (41d33b) — 12/8/2011 @ 6:20 pmimpeach like a banshee!
happyfeet (3c92a1) — 12/8/2011 @ 6:22 pmThe DOJ’s treatment of Sheryl Atkinson back in October revealed their bloodstained hands. She was the only MSM reporter hammering this story non-stop, and they couldn’t have that and tried to stop her. The truth will out. And it’s just horrifying.
Impeach Holder.
Dana (4eca6e) — 12/8/2011 @ 7:19 pmBecause I can’t believe he actually said this:
Rep. James Sensenbrenner asked Holder: “Tell me what’s the difference between lying and misleading Congress, in this context?”
Holder’s response is a bit Clintonian. “Well, if you want to have this legal conversation, it all has to do with your state of mind and whether or not you had the requisite intent to come up with something that would be considered perjury or a lie,” Holder said.
Dana (4eca6e) — 12/8/2011 @ 7:22 pmI still wonder how two sensible, level-headed people like Victoria Toensing and Joseph DiGenova could ever give Holder their “Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval” back when he was nominated.
Colonel Haiku (687f10) — 12/8/2011 @ 7:23 pmThis is the most politicized Justice Department there has been in my lifetime and it needs to be cleaned out, top to bottom.
The fish rots – and stinks – from the head.
Colonel Haiku (687f10) — 12/8/2011 @ 7:26 pmIt’s actually vintage George Costanza, but you’re right it doesn’t make any sense.
narciso (87e966) — 12/8/2011 @ 7:32 pmBut then again, what can you expect from a guy who worked for a law firm that specialized in defending al-Qaeda personnel and challenging the existence of the Guantanamo Bay facility?
Colonel Haiku (687f10) — 12/8/2011 @ 7:36 pmRe #50
As Icy said above, Holder does better than 100% lying. He manages to obfuriate multiple times for each question.
He must be really talented, though. I don’t think I could begin to do that vacuous-speak for more than 5 seconds without getting confused or laughing out loud or both.
Every time I read that quote, Dana, I dislike Holder more and more. It’s like the blurb I saw this morning, he refuses to admit they’ve been stalling in handing over records, and when asked if he is withholding out of a legal principle or not (executive privilege) he doesn’t answer.
I am reminded of those who told Alexander that if he could untie the Gordian Knot they would surrender. He cut it in half to “cut the nonsense”. I hope something as dramatic can happen to Holder.
Did Atkinson finally surface again with another story on this?
Toensig…I watched her testimony before Waxman. Sometimes it is hard not to give in to the idea that there isn’t somebody behind the scenes pulling the strings because so much doesn’t make sense.
MD in Philly (41d33b) — 12/8/2011 @ 8:12 pmStedman deserves to go to jail forever.
Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 12/8/2011 @ 8:19 pmHolder: “The buck stops over there, somewhere . . . deep in the weeds . . . “
Icy (c4524c) — 12/8/2011 @ 8:26 pmI think this was the latest;
http://bigjournalism.com/jjmnolte/2011/12/07/credit-where-its-due-cbs-news-sharyl-attkisson-reports-fast-and-furious-docs-reveal-gun-control-push/
Yes, as a partner at Covington and Burling, his firm
narciso (87e966) — 12/8/2011 @ 8:33 pmrepresented a whole host of Yemeni ‘activists,’ most of the last few have not been released recently
I swear if we have trolls who call themselves conservatives while spewing la raza talking points i will scream.
Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 12/8/2011 @ 8:34 pmAnd yes the brainless sheeple who cheer on 4 more years of Obama deserve what they get.
Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 12/8/2011 @ 8:37 pmThanks narciso. the last i heard she had “disappeard”.
Perhaps the main question about impeaching Holder is to do him first or second:
http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2011/12/obama-rejected-numerous-proposals-to-retrieve-lost-us-drone-officials-confirm-authenticity-of-irania.html
On the good side, even Sen. Collins of Miane is getting fed up with the current administration:
MD in Philly (41d33b) — 12/8/2011 @ 8:38 pmhttp://www.blackfive.net/main/2011/12/fort-hood-massacre-nothing-more-than-workplace-violence-per-dod.html
Sheryl Atkinson has a good update on the proceedings, written December 8th. This is rather interesting…was gun walking used to tighten regulations…no reply.
Documents obtained by CBS News show that officials discussed using dealers’ sales, including those encouraged by the ATF to justify a new gun regulation called “Demand Letter 3.” That would require some U.S. gun shops to report the sale of multiple rifles or “long guns.” Demand Letter 3 was so named because it would be the third ATF program demanding gun dealers report tracing information.
“There’s plenty of evidence showing that this administration planned to use the tragedies of Fast and Furious as rationale to further their goals of a long gun reporting requirement. But, we’ve learned from our investigation that reporting multiple long gun sales would do nothing to stop the flow of firearms to known straw purchasers because many Federal Firearms Dealers are already voluntarily reporting suspicious transactions. It’s pretty clear that the problem isn’t lack of burdensome reporting requirements,” Grassley said.
Grassley and Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., wrote Holder a letter in July asking if officials in his agency discussed how “Fast and Furious could be used to justify additional regulatory authorities.” So far, they have not received a response.
Justice Department officials also wouldn’t comment to CBS News on whether gun-walking was used to support tighter regulations.
Dana (4eca6e) — 12/8/2011 @ 8:41 pmI swear if we have trolls who call themselves conservatives while spewing la raza talking points i will scream.
So what’s new?… you screaming, I mean.
Colonel Haiku (687f10) — 12/8/2011 @ 9:03 pmI know water is wet, but how wet exactly;
http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2011/12/08/the-la-times-always-in-baracks-corner/#comments
narciso (87e966) — 12/8/2011 @ 9:05 pmhe’s walkin’ the guns
justa walkin’ the guns
if ya don’t know how to do it
he’ll show you how to walk the guns
– Rufus Steadman
Colonel Haiku (687f10) — 12/8/2011 @ 9:07 pmHas Holder closed Guantanamo Bay yet?
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 12/8/2011 @ 9:12 pmWhen is Holder starting KSM’s trial in New York City?
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 12/8/2011 @ 9:13 pmIf catholics don’t believe in gay marriage than why do they have gay priests then?
That is because Catholics don’t have a pair to stand by their convictions.
Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 12/8/2011 @ 9:19 pmAnd Stedman is a piece of trash.
Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 12/8/2011 @ 9:19 pmI’m sorry for going off topic but this admins catholic bashing is appalling.
Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 12/8/2011 @ 9:32 pmGay priests are NOT married, Doh.
Icy (c4524c) — 12/8/2011 @ 9:33 pm– Rufus Steadman
— Excellent, Colonel!
Icy (c4524c) — 12/8/2011 @ 9:35 pmHas Holder closed Guantanamo Bay yet?
— Let me check . . . um, er, uuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhh . . . No.
When is Holder starting KSM’s trial in New York City?
Icy (c4524c) — 12/8/2011 @ 9:43 pm— Hey, he hasn’t finished closing Guantanamo Bay yet, and now you want him to get SOMETHING ELSE done? Geez, you’re a demanding little cuss!
Sheila Jackson Lee should be reported to the U.N.
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 12/8/2011 @ 10:04 pmOh sorry.
Like I said I go off-topic sometimes and if it bothers you than I won’t do it.
By the way Senor Stedman is a few fries short of a happy meal.
Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 12/8/2011 @ 10:04 pmStedman Graham is innocent even if proven guilty in the dems mind.
Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 12/8/2011 @ 10:46 pmComment by elissa — 12/8/2011 @ 8:00 am
I had thought based both on history and common sense that Holder would resign or be thrown under the bus by Obama before this day of testimony ever came. Guess not. I fear that means there is so much more criminality in the Justice Dept. being hidden that they are unwilling and afraid to have even a new Dem AG come in and see it.
Not criminality, politics where politics is not supposed to be. It is possible some of that may actually be illegal.
We saw politics just now in the Department of Health and Human Services (the morning after pill)
We saw politics in the Keystone Pipeline decision (where at different times the Administration seems to have tilted things both ways – Rush Limbaugh said yesterday maybe he is after campaign contributions from people on both sides of that issue)
We see politics, unusual politics, at the National Labor Relations Board.
We see political games being played with proposed legislation.
Holder is politically loyal so Obama (or his political experts) would want to keep him there. There might be some decision he would want him to make or not make.
Holder let Clinton do what he wanted about the pardons and tried ti make the process look normal.
Regardless–this will ultimately not end well for Holder. Do you think he knows that yet? There is no way he keeps his cabinet post in an election year with the senate up for grabs.
Unless there’s near criminality, he stays there till the election.
Sammy Finkelman (b17872) — 12/9/2011 @ 8:15 amI didn’t stop the italics at the right place again! You have to scroll down to see the preview.
Here it is, the right way:
Comment by elissa — 12/8/2011 @ 8:00 am
I had thought based both on history and common sense that Holder would resign or be thrown under the bus by Obama before this day of testimony ever came. Guess not. I fear that means there is so much more criminality in the Justice Dept. being hidden that they are unwilling and afraid to have even a new Dem AG come in and see it.
Not criminality, politics where politics is not supposed to be. It is possible some of that may actually be illegal.
We saw politics just now in the Department of Health and Human Services (the morning after pill)
We saw politics in the Keystone Pipeline decision (where at different times the Administration seems to have tilted things both ways – Rush Limbaugh said yesterday maybe he is after campaign contributions from people on both sides of that issue)
We see politics, unusual politics, at the National Labor Relations Board.
We see political games being played with proposed legislation.
Holder is politically loyal so Obama (or his political experts) would want to keep him there. There might be some decision he would want him to make or not make.
Holder let Clinton do what he wanted about the pardons and tried to make the process look normal.
Regardless–this will ultimately not end well for Holder. Do you think he knows that yet? There is no way he keeps his cabinet post in an election year with the senate up for grabs.
Unless there’s near criminality, he stays there till the election.
Sammy Finkelman (b17872) — 12/9/2011 @ 8:17 am“Unless there’s near criminality, he stays there till the election.”
Sammy – At a minimum, I think the perjury will get him. His opening statement about directing the IG to look into Terry’s death in February and his directive to ATF Agents in early March conflict with his testimony in May about having learned the details of FF only a few weeks earlier.
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 12/9/2011 @ 8:25 amThe threshold for impeachment is not criminality. Gross maladministration is enough.
The real Milhouse (ea66e3) — 12/9/2011 @ 1:13 pmDammit. This is why I never do the sock puppet thing.
Milhouse (ea66e3) — 12/9/2011 @ 1:13 pmI think you’re right. I also think they would weasel out of this by claiming they made an honest mistake.
I don’t understand why it’s not perjury if a Democrat’s testimony is a ‘mistake’ and they are a democrat, but a non Democrat must be meticulous or they will be Scooter Libby’d.
Dustin (cb3719) — 12/9/2011 @ 1:30 pmSammy–sure it’s politics at Justice–like everywhere else in this administration. But even accepting that as a given, isn’t DOJ supposed to be just a little bit more tidy and circumspect and professional than say the NLRB or HHS or EPA?
elissa (9d9d19) — 12/9/2011 @ 1:45 pmElissa, that’s hopefully how it will play out. I mean, they couldn’t keep track of an operation that killed 300 people and armed thousands of criminals in a supposed ally?
That’s a little different from a loan approval.
Dustin (cb3719) — 12/9/2011 @ 1:48 pmIf the left cared about Smog they would call out Iran…..but they don’t apparently.
Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 12/9/2011 @ 1:58 pmRomney accusing others of irrational behavior?
Projection thy name is Romney.
Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 12/9/2011 @ 2:08 pmRick Perry is like Sarah Palin they are both so dumb…………………….the left call them conniving anti-muslim bigots.
Can’t have it both ways leftys.
And yes Palin will run in 2016 and when she wins and doesn’t act like you ultra leftys say she does your lefty heads will explode
Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 12/9/2011 @ 2:10 pmemail Eric holder here and tell to step down like i did and please pass his email around to everyone Thanks AskDOJ@usdoj.gov
respect1 (12e7ed) — 12/10/2011 @ 3:41 am