Posted on 05/20/2010 9:38:43 AM PDT by jazusamo
No doubt, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is a smart man: a former federal judge, U.S. attorney, Columbia University graduate, the first black American to serve as attorney general.
But sometimes you have to wonder if hes politically tone deaf.
There have been the well publicized gaffes and missteps over terror trials in New York City federal courts, the Mirandizing of terrorists and his declaration that Arizonas new immigration law is unconstitutional, despite his not having read the law.
But what is most galling to Virginians Central Virginians, especially is his inexplicable behavior and stony silence in the ongoing saga of convicted killer Jens Soering. Soering is serving two life terms for the brutal 1985 killings of Derek and Nancy Haysom of Bedford County, one of the most infamous crimes in modern Virginia history.
Days before he left office in January, former Gov. Timothy M. Kaine formally requested that the federal government take custody of Soering, the son of a powerful German diplomat, and transfer him to a German prison, where he would be eligible for parole in just two years.
Reaction was swift and predictable. The House of Delegates and State Senate voted unanimously to oppose the transfer request. Within days after taking the oath of office, Gov. Bob McDonnell wrote Holder on Jan. 19 to inform him that, as the commonwealths new chief executive, he was revoking his predecessors request.
And there the matter has sat. State Sen. Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg, and Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Sixth District, have been closely monitoring the case for any developments.
As weeks dragged into months with nary a word from Holders office, Goodlatte, the vice ranking member of the Judiciary Committee in the House of Representatives, had had enough.
Last week during the committees May 13 oversight hearing of the Justice Department, Goodlatte questioned Holder about the status of Soering transfer request.
The attorney generals answer? He was waiting to determine the official position of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Excuse us? Unanimous action by the General Assembly, the oldest legislative body in North America, and an official letter from the governor of the commonwealth arent enough?
What doesnt Attorney General Holder understand?
That must have been Gov. McDonnells reaction, too, as he sent yet another official letter to the attorney general on May 17, restating his revocation of the Kaine transfer request.
Soering was convicted of state crimes by a jury of his peers in a state court. He is serving his sentence, in state custody, in a state prison. And thats where he should stay. Period.
Reading the governors letter from Monday, its hard not to notice his frustration with Holder and the Justice Department. Just what does the attorney general not understand?
This is not a federal matter. The position of the Commonwealth is clear, McDonnell wrote last week. It is important that any consideration of a transfer be officially terminated and that the matter be put to rest.
We couldnt agree more.
It’s hard to figure out who is the bigger moron - Holder or the jerk who appointed him.
I believe it’s about a toss up.
Action.
At.
Work.
For.
You.
EEOC hire.
Sheer incompetence or willful ignorance? Or both? I’m thinking it’s sheer incompetence. This clown has no business being AG.
...AMEN!!...Holder is EOC all the way.
Quick question: WTF was Kaine thinking? I’m sure there has been extensive reporting on this, but the decision to transfer is so obviously against the interests of VA and in the interest of the criminal, it raises considerable questions of propriety. Anybody check Kaine’s bank accounts lately?
Holder is a dip$hit. I wonder how he makes it through the day.
“No doubt, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is a smart man:...”
The article lost me after the first sentence.
He ain't nothin but a LAP DOG.
.
Doug, you want to take it from here?
Oh really! Holder's actions sure don't reflect INTELLIGENCE at all. He seems like the typical affirmative action dolt that we are accustomed to seeing coming from the Affirmative Action Community. IMHO!
They both make me toss up my lunch.
I think it’s safe to say Kaine wasn’t thinking or he was pressured by the Obama Administraion because of the German government, I’d guess the latter.
Amen to that!
What’s the big deal. There isn’t much for holder to do. The request was withdrawn and it is solely a state matter. If Holder sjould at some point attempt to remove him from control of the state, the state can simply say FO.
Agreed on his lack of intelligence and I believe he’s one of the educated idiots that Dr. Sowell writes about from time to time.
Please add Tim Kaine to your growing list of jerks/morons.
It seems months before Gov. McDonnell informed Holder of the change and instead of acknowledging it he now says he’s waiting for Virginia to make up its mind.
I would think the Governor expected an answer and probably requested one or they wouldn’t have been waiting for one but I’m no legal beagle.
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