Holder recused himself…
…from the decision about the AP phone records, but he can’t remember when. Or how. And he didn’t do it in writing, which is exceedingly odd (meaning “suspicious”).
Will Holder finally get his well-deserved place under that bus? And if so—what difference will it make? He’s done plenty of damage already. And Obama will just replace him with someone equally willing to do the same things as Holder.
There’s long been speculation about Holder’s imminent leavetaking, and so far I have always said ain’t gonna happen. I said it in this post in 2010, and I said it in this post in 2012, and gave my reasons both times.
Those reasons still hold; nothing has changed in the proxy mind/meld relationship between Holder and Obama. But in the 2012 post I added:
I suppose Obama might sacrifice [Holder] if it becomes necessary for strategic reasons (after all, he’s been known to do such a thing). If the decisions they both support because so unpopular Obama feels the need to disassociate himself from Holder and use him as scapegoat, it will happen. But this would only occur in the most extreme of situations…
Has that extreme situation finally arrived? I wouldn’t bet on it, but I think it’s at least possible now, whereas before I felt very very confident that Holder was staying.
Speaking of mind-melds with Obama, here’s another funny bit from Jon Stewart about Obama’s know-nothing stance, much like Holder’s (or perhaps Holder’s is like Obama’s). When Jon Stewart is mocking Obama this way, you know there’s trouble in the Obama administration. The part I’m talking about begins at 2:20, where I’ve started the tape, and ends around 4:24, with a great line about how Obama might have learned about the killing of Bin Laden:
[ADDENDUM: A lot more, here. The AG can’t “informally” recuse himself; it must be done in writing and notice given.]
Stewart can be very funny. And on the mark. Good to see him raising the competence issues. “The WH will start reading their e-mails and having meetings now.” Or “Me talk reluctantly one day.” Ouch!
I really got a belly laugh out of the Prince Harry schtick. Carry on John Oliver!
Holder’s ‘I, uh, don’t remember’ is a sure sign that they’ve run out of ways to spin the issue. It’s the unofficial equivalent of taking the fifth.
Stewart, MSNBC host Chris Matthews, and increasing numbers of media suddenly criticizing President Obama is indicative of two realities; even the MSM recognizes that Obama’s administration is in real trouble and the MSM’s primary motivation is now denying association with Obama. The rats are abandoning ship, a case of everyman for himself.
A couple of goodfellas.
Never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-TemfMIxrk
Did you catch the bit about “it must have been Friday since I [Obama] was praying at the mosque”?! Are the lefties really going to go there? Nah…
My husband was watching the German news channel today and said that even they were becoming critical of Obama. Maybe they read Dama Milbank’s piece in WaPo.
Yes.
…and my first thought was “jeezus, these guys must really be pissed”.
…followed by “get in line, plebes, get in line”.
davisbr and Paul in Boston:
I interpreted the Friday/mosque joke differently.
I saw that as Stewart telling his viewers he’s also mocking the right at the same time—putting in some jokes about stuff that’s obviously over-the-top ridiculous (in his and their opinion), in order to show his viewers that not all the charges of the right are really true, that some are preposterous despite the fact that some of the right’s paranoia has been validated.
Of course, he’s skating on think ice here and dangerously close to a certain line. But I think most of his viewers get what he’s getting at.
2 observations from the Stewart clip:
1. Don’t sleep on the Millenials (or Gen Y, or whatever they’re called), Prince Harry and Prince William’s generation. Yes, they hold the PC convictions of their generation, but they’re also more capable, critical, and grounded than older generations credit them. They’re growing up as adults with some formative stuff in the backdrop – social media, 9/11, Iraq, Afghanistan, BDS, recession, stunning betrayals by venerated institutions, and now the coming apart of Obama. We’re aren’t doing them any favors, but they’re clear-eyed, and I believe they’ll impress us when it’s their turn at the helm.
2. … and I forgot my 2nd observation. If it pops up in mind later, I’ll note it here.
I’ll substitute, for now, that while Obama is losing his pop cultural cache, this would be a a good opportunity window for the Right to lay the groundwork to the public for a viable *positive affirmative* alternative vision of America on the Right’s terms distinct from what Obama and the Dems have given. This vision need not come from GOP leaders. It can rise up and spread from grassroots.
Eric:
I think you may be right about the Millennials. A few weeks ago I wrote about the book The Fourth Turning, which was written in the 1990s when some of them were in infancy and some not even born yet.
Without going into great detail, the authors have a cyclical theory of history, and say that their most recent analogue is the World War II generation. Think about it: That generation was born into a prosperous society, grew up during the Depression, and ended up fighting WWII.
Today they are widely called the Greatest Generation. I don’t, even though my father was a member. Personally, I reserve that term for the Founding Fathers.
Holder is too black to fail unless a minority takes his place.
neo-neocon:
Witnessing the regime change he has favored, he clearly does not favor all classes of Muslims. He seems to prefer the Caliphate or imperial variant. The kind that spreads their religion through the sword without respect for national boundaries.
http://www.hark.com/clips/stcglgpcfd-i-know-nothing
I saw on the Twitters somewhere that it was illegal for Holder to recuse himself not in writing, basically.
OH, that’s what that last link said. Sorry!
Sgt. Hans Schultz: Perfect comment. I.Know.Nothing!