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Obamas Attorney General Eric Holder Leaves Office (Good Riddance)
by Dave Lindorff
CommonDreams
....
A corporate lawyer with the Wall Street law firm Covington & Burling, Holder will be remembered for his timid defense of civil rights; his overseeing and even encouragement of the massive militarization of the nations police forces; his anti-First Amendment efforts to pursue not just whistleblowers but the journalists who use them; threatening both with jail and in fact jailing a number of them (particularly in the case of whistleblower extraordinaire Edward Snowden, and WikiLeaks journalist Julian Assange, both of whom reportedly face U.S. treason charges); and his weak enforcement of environmental protection laws.
But Holder, who came into his position as the nations top law enforcement officer in early 2009 at the start of the Obama administration and at the height of the financial crisis, will be best remembered for his overt announcement that there would be no attempt to prosecute the criminals at the top of the nations top banks, whose brazen crimes of theft, deceit, fraud and perjury during the Bush/Cheney years and beyond sank not just the U.S. but the global economy into a crisis which is still with us.
Holder not only did not make any effort to put Wall Streets banking titans behind bars for their epic crimes, he did not even make them step down from their exalted and absurdly highly compensated executive positions when his office reached negotiated settlements with the banks in civil cases involving those crimescivil cases that almost always allowed the banks to settle without even having to admit their guilt. (His ludicrous excuse: punishing these criminal executive might jeopardize the banks stocks and hurt innocent shareholders!) Nor was this legal benevalence limited to purely financial crimes. Banks like Citicorp and HSBC, which were found to have knowingly laundered millionseven billionsof dollars in drug money for drug cartels, were also allowed by Holder to escape with petty fines, and no prosecution of a single bank executive....
....
The illegal and unconstitutional wars continue in Iraq and Afghanistan, and are now being expanded into Africa and Syria and, at least by proxy, but most dangerously, to Ukraine. Civil liberties are under attack at least as severely as they were back in the McCarthy period, with whistleblowers being jailed, the president asserting the unfettered right to order the killing without trial of American citizens, and a spying system in place run by the National Security Agency that is monitoring and storing, by its own admission, virtually all electronic communications of the American people. The government is also as closed and secret in its operation as it has been since 1974, when it was broadened following the Watergate and Cointelpro scandals, and is certainly less transparent and open than it was even under Bush/Cheney. The Obama administration has also done little to nothing about tackling carbon emissions despite the presidents lies to the contrary in his address to the UN.
In all of this extraordinary list of treachery and cowardice, Holder has played his sycophantic role as a defender of corporate America, of white privilege, and of Washington power. He has been both the John Ashcroft and the Alberto Gonzalez of the Obama administration. (Actually, that comparison is unfair to John Ashcroft, who at least was a man of convictionrepellent as some of those convictions may have been. In Holders case, we have a man not of principle, but who is simply a corporate lawyer, ready to do his clients bidding, however sordid and corrupt.)
(more at link)
Response to woo me with science (Original post)
Post removed
whatchamacallit
(15,558 posts)FlatStanley
(327 posts)raindaddy
(1,370 posts)It's not only acceptable to think and act like a moderate Republican and call yourself a Democrat it's become mandatory.
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)Wow you purged the party?
leftstreet
(36,112 posts)Gross
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)And 5 count em 5 Arab nations disagree with your "illegal war" assessment. So WHO is out of touch with reality you or them?
leftstreet
(36,112 posts)VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)And doesnt address at all Belgiun France and Denmark...
But its ALL about oil right because Pres. Obama == GWB RIGHT?
leftstreet
(36,112 posts)VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)It proves my point.....you are on the wrong side of history
Besides i wasnt the subject change to the war now was I?
leftstreet
(36,112 posts)I asked you, in your capacity as an expert on 'moderate Democrats,' if they approve of illegal wars
You said, 'but, but Belgium!'
That made to sense to me other than a change of subject. You wanted to talk about the coalition of the (latest) willing. I thought you wanted to discuss just how willing they are
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)That it is Illegal since many not so Consevatve coumtries are electing to join us in what you call illegal
leftstreet
(36,112 posts)You funneh
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)When nations like Denmark and Belgium disagree with you......you are not facing the facts...and I find THAT funny
Fantastic Anarchist
(7,309 posts)raindaddy
(1,370 posts)Isn't that what you're doing when you suggest someone is "outing themselves" because you think the source of the post is too liberal?
I noticed you had nothing to add as far as the content of the post... So what exactly are you trying to communicate other than you have some vague problem with the source? Maybe you could "out yourself" and suggest what specifically you didn't agree with and then there could be a real discussion.
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)Nothing on DU but bash ALL democrats not named Elizabeth Warren...who ironically used to be a republican...but is a darling of the fringe left. .
Do you really stand by a contention that there is no one here that means to disrupt the Democratic party not advance it.
cali
(114,904 posts)conservative dems waxing indignant about Warren.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)by Ron Paul supporters.
raindaddy
(1,370 posts)Just not in the direction many of us want... Sounds like as a "moderate" democrat you like the corporate, Wall Street friendly direction the party has taken. So you spend your time disrupting those of us who would like to see the party get back to its traditional roots.
If you had a legitimate claim that the article in question was disrupting or bashing you would've made some specific points. Your only point seems to be that in your version of the Dem party there's no room for criticism...
FlatStanley
(327 posts)My take on CD is that it is fairly harsh on the Democratic Party. I think the original comment was to suggest that referencing CD meant you weren't a true Democrat.
My koolaid reference was to highlight how difficult can sometimes be to not fawn over all Democratic politicians and appointments.
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)Its the bash Democrats from the far Left that feeds the meme that is the rightwing bailiwick that both parties are the same and THAT meme depresses turnout. I think we should be loud and proud of our acheivements
FlatStanley
(327 posts)And identifying failures is not bashing from the left. And while some might think this is feeding into a Republican meme, certainly accepting center right policies fits into a Republican governing philosophy which is far more harmful than a meme.
FSogol
(45,527 posts)they put into bashing our side.
And to the Holder haters, need a list of the bankers he prosecuted? Check here and click on any month of any year he was AG:
http://www.stopfraud.gov/news-index.html
FlatStanley
(327 posts)emulatorloo
(44,184 posts)YouBetterBelieve it was a pretty good example of that.
Pot stirrers and Rove/Koch operatives pretending to be leftists. Constant attacks on Democrats, never or rarely saying negative things about Republicans.
FlatStanley
(327 posts)Pushing DLC/DCCC/Third Way Democrats? They ever so gently keeping nudging the party to the right because, you know, the lesser evil theory.
emulatorloo
(44,184 posts)Last edited Sun Sep 28, 2014, 01:48 PM - Edit history (2)
I think you over-estimate the influence of DLC/Third way here.
And I guarantee you Karl Rove and the Koch brothers have a lot of money to buy disruptors. Dems don't have that kind of cash.
"the lesser evil" isn't a 'theory.' It is a way to describe the decisions a voter has to make in every election.
Even if my rep was more conservative than he is, adding another deranged teabagger to the House who wants to kill social security, end the minimum wage, and make abortion illegal is not an option for us.
FlatStanley
(327 posts)But the idea of Rove funding Republican Lite seems entirely reasonable.
As for wrestling with the lesser of two, I don't have that problem. I don't use binary thinking. I vote the candidate that reflects my philosophy. In 2008 I thought that candidate was the President. In 2012 I thought that candidate was Jill Stein.
I'm hoping in 2016 that candidate will be Bernie Sanders. I know that camdidate won't be Hillary.
My only reason to vote Hillary will be as an opportunity for a female President. But
That is the ONLY reason. And it might not be sufficient for me.
treestar
(82,383 posts)You'll be stuck on the fringes. Where Jill Stein, whoever that is, is. The rest of the citizenry doesn't care about your philosophy.
FlatStanley
(327 posts)She ran a national campaign. It's disconcerting l you never heard of her. Perhaps you should look beyond the candidates fed you by the oligarchs. Unless you find that kind of "democracy" easier. I stay out here on the fringe, with people who actually care about the future.
treestar
(82,383 posts)The point was why spend more time bashing them than Republicans?
FlatStanley
(327 posts)Just not my cup of tea.
treestar
(82,383 posts)Unless you want to quit and join another party.
It's a coalition like all political groups are.
treestar
(82,383 posts)who never do bash Republicans.
FlatStanley
(327 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)cali
(114,904 posts)long before YOU became a member.
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)Not a Common Dreamer!
cali
(114,904 posts)there is no such thing as a "common dreamer". Common Dreams is a well respected source here, Vanill. Whine about it as much as you want; hell alert on it.
You're a total partisan. And your views seem to be very much those of the conservative wing of the democratic party. It takes all kinds.
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)And Idealists now aren't there?
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)is not a respectable source any more than Ann Coulter or Paul Craig Roberts.
He endorsed Ron Paul.
LondonReign2
(5,213 posts)geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)are certainly not liberals.
LondonReign2
(5,213 posts)because while I have it book marked I admit I haven't yet read it, so I offered to comment one way or another.
My remark to the poster I addressed was simply that that one can call themselves anything, but that doesn't make it so. Weeeeee! I'm the King of England!
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)Now, can you point to anything in the article that is not true? THAT is how you prove that a source is not credible.
Until you can do that, this article describes Holder's term as AG perferctly.
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)I am shaking!
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)term as AG. Glad he's going, but not too hopeful that we will get anyone who isn't, as he was, a Friend of Wall St.
Autumn
(45,120 posts)VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)Perhaps you should have....because her dmshow last night said the exact opposite of this garbage...
I am a Liberal....just not Far Left Fringe.....which is what Common Dreams represents.
Autumn
(45,120 posts)VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)Perhaps you should watch her instead...
Autumn
(45,120 posts)and DU
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)Whatever feeds you preconceived narrative...if thats what you need
Autumn
(45,120 posts)sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)incorrect there since I received no response to my request just another ad hom.
But if you watch the 'Corporate Media' you will be better informed!
Autumn
(45,120 posts)of high praise and adoration. I may be wrong but that's the only problem I can see with it.
FarPoint
(12,443 posts)I watched Rachel Maddows last night where she reviewed Eric Holders service. He deserves the respect from our Party. He earned it! He has mine. We do not have all the inside details... Not by a long shot. We are all too familiar with the GOP 24/7 obstruction campaign and blayton racism on the side. So, with that note..Thank You Mr. Holder for your service.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)of others. The same attitude of those that blindly followed Bush now shows up in the Democratic Party. To overlook the disaster that follows Holder, as described above, because he is a Democrat and that "we don't have all the inside details.." is just plain denial.
The lower classes in this country are in a free fall and I beg you to fight for fair and honest representation. Holder will go back thru the revolving door and get high-fives plus a lucrative job from those he refused to regulate to the detriment of the 99%. He is not a friend of the 99%.
sendero
(28,552 posts)..... said my friend. The level of pernicious mediocrity that is acceptable around here is unbelievable.
Holder was a zero. He did 10% of the things he should have done. Heckuva job Holdie would be totally appropriate.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)untold damage. Sending medical marijuana dispensers to prison for long terms was mean and underhanded. Punishing those that need medical help while not punishing those that profited from millions of Americans losing their homes, THEIR HOMES.
leftstreet
(36,112 posts)Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)woo me with science
(32,139 posts)It's too bad this administration was OBSTRUCTED from getting rid of all those Bush/Cheney policies!!!!!11!1
It's too bad that all his appointees and his entire administration keep doing exactly the opposite of what Obama clearly wants to do!!!!1111
You gotta stay loose with the excuses.
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)plausible reason Holder kissed the boots of Wall Street was what happened when Enron was dismantled. Had a Aurthur Anderson Branch office as a client at the time. Some fourteen hundred people dumped in the street and this branch only did business in the upper mid west. All of these folks did not have anything to do will Enron but they still got whacked. Could this have been a contributing factor in not touching the Lords and Ladies of the Dollar? Just my observation.
TheKentuckian
(25,029 posts)deregulated and dishonest markets, and won't even begin to consider entertaining the thought of government jobs programs?
Please.
Pure rationalization to blaze a path to excusing the unexcusable pushed by the shady fucks that want to rob and pillage with impunity then mimicked by the naive and the overly optimistic to give themselves a narrative that allows them to swallow shit that does not even begin to compute without the aid of suspension of disbelief.
zeemike
(18,998 posts)He will get his seat on the board of directors and a position in a major company with a multi million sining bonus...reward for a job well done.
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)comes with a first-class separation package.
dmosh42
(2,217 posts)woo me with science
(32,139 posts)http://www.cnbc.com//id/41257962
dmosh42
(2,217 posts)MohRokTah
(15,429 posts)randome
(34,845 posts)All the cool kids are doing it!
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font][hr]
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)who also is a cheerleader for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
This is what I would expect from him. And I expect those who share his outlook to lap his nonsense up.
P.S. Holder has the best civil rights record of any AG since WWII. And that includes RFK's tenure.
Bobbie Jo
(14,341 posts)Egnever
(21,506 posts)99Forever
(14,524 posts)Thanks for never being kept from speaking the truth.
geretogo
(1,281 posts)move out side the cocoon he would have been shot or impeached . It does not matter who is AG
he or she would have no more power than Wall ST. and the oligarchs allow the AG or
the president to have . That's pretty obvious to me .
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)are usually selected, nurtured, and funded by the corporate class based on their willingness and capability of serving the machine.
Obama was making speeches to select groups about slashing social programs as early as 2006. They just didn't publicize that part of his past when he started running as the "Hope and Change" candidate:
Obama on cutting Social Security: "This is not a bloodless process..." "Too many of us have been interested in defending programs as written in 1938":
More here: Obama and the Hamiltonian Democrats: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1540315
And Eric Holder was selected by Obama for Attorney General after already having "gotten Chiquita execs off with a hand slap for paying $1.7 million to rightwing death squads in Colombia, to slaughter 4,000 union leaders and workers":
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x9608
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022768630
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=125x260319
.
TheKentuckian
(25,029 posts)Either sharpen your pitchfork and light your torch or hold officials accountable without your curve for a fantasy.
Why this close to an election are you proclaiming our votes to be null and void, just a prop piece in a play put on by our true rulers?
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)Oh dear.....really???
http://www.counterpunch.org/2011/12/27/why-the-establishment-is-terrified-of-ron-paul
Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)and you choose to repeat it on Dem web site. Nice.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025588642#post33 with post after post stating that those talking points are nobe being used on DU, yet here we are....WTF?
Response to woo me with science (Original post)
1000words This message was self-deleted by its author.
Rex
(65,616 posts)carolinayellowdog
(3,247 posts)who are both addicted to the site and overwhelmed by hatred for it. I can only see 20 of 76 replies.
Rex
(65,616 posts)and pretend it is over X, Y or Z. Seen it done before on DU1 and DU2, boring and predictable. They know they will get a huge thread, because some of us like this place and will complain that they are just stirring the shit.
QC
(26,371 posts)just so that they can announce over and over how worthless is that site where they apparently spend 18-20 hours a day.
Weird.
great white snark
(2,646 posts)Sorry contributors to Common Dreams but Mr. Holder was never going to raize Wall St. or personally execute GWB for past crimes.
3rdwaydem
(277 posts)Teamster Jeff
(1,598 posts)ucrdem
(15,512 posts)Holder focused on civil rights, voting rights, and other issues that "left libertarians" apparently never noticed. And did an outstanding job. He'll be very hard to replace.