This is not going to be much of a diary, but there is no open thread and this is important news.
After much wailing and gnashing of teeth – the Holder nomination makes it out of committee by a large margin. No word yet as to who the two hold outs are. The margin pretty much guarantees no floor fight in the Senate – but I would not be surprised if somebody puts a secret hold on the floor vote to delay it a couple of days. Long live "the rule of law."
Update: I don't know were I have been, but I just now read this: Holder will be the first African American AG.
Update 2: Here's a shocker (not). The two who voted 'no'? They were Sens. John Cornyn (TX) and Tom Coburn (OK).
Update 3: Just to clarify - this is just the committee vote. He will not get the AG nod until the entire Senate votes. I do not have a date for that, but if it comes in soon, I will update. However, the clear majority coming out of the committee is an indication that he will most likely be confirmed without a fuss.
Update 4: Apparently, Spector is being his usual hot air full of crap self. He wrote a scathing editorial in the Philadelphia Inquirer only to turn around and vote for Holder.
Update 5: Here is a list of Judiciary Committee members. All voted.
Pat Leahy (D-VT) (Chair) - Aye
Herb Kohl (D-WI) - Aye
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) - Aye
Russ Feingold (D-WI) - Aye
Chuck Schumer (D-NY) - Aye
Dick Durbin (D-IL) - Aye
Ben Cardin (D-MD) - Aye
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) - Aye
Ron Wyden (D-OR) - Aye
Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) - Aye
Ed Kaufman (D-DE)- Aye
Arlen Specter (R-PA) - Aye (Blowhard)
Orrin Hatch (R-UT) - Aye
Chuck Grassley (R-IA) - Aye
Jon Kyl (R-AZ) - Aye!
Jeff Sessions (R-AL) - Aye!!!
Lindsey Graham (R-SC)- Aye
John Cornyn (R-TX) - Nay
Tom Coburn (R-OK) - Nay
Updat FINAL:
According to the Washington Times (not a great source, I know), Senator Kit Bond (Who is not on the Judiciary Committee) is claiming that he has received assurances that Holder will not prosecute torture cases:
I believe he will look forward to keep the nation safe and not look backwards to prosecute intelligence operators who were fighting terror and kept our country safe since 9-11.
If this is true, I am very disappointed.