Eric Holder Officially Confirmed As Attorney General, 75 to 21

According to Wolf Blitzer on the CNN Situation Room, Eric Holder was just officially confirmed as U.S. Attorney General by the Senate, 75 for to 21 against.  Holder becomes the first African American AG.

Obama Pick Eric Holder’s AG Nomination Approved, GOP Caves In: 17 to 2

Judiciary Panel Approves Holder’s Nomination - The Caucus Blog - NYTimes.com: “The Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday overwhelmingly approved, and sent to the full Senate, the nomination of Eric Holder Jr. to be the nation’s 82nd attorney general.

The committee vote was 17 to 2, with most Republicans supporting the nomination of Mr. Holder to head the Department of Justice. The two Republicans who opposed the nomination were Senator John Cornyn of Texas and Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma.”

- YEAH! Now, Eric Holder and Tony West as Assistant AG for Civil Rights can get to work on making sure human rights laws are followed in America. Meanwhile the GOP has been swooned by Obama. I know their constituents are saying "Give Obama a chance" otherwise they would not have voted so overwhelmingly for Holder.

President-Elect Barack Obama Introduces Foreign Policy Team Today - Video

President-Elect Barack Obama just introduced his Foreign Policy / National Security Team today in Chicago .  At the helm is Vice President-Elect Joe Biden, and the real surprise for some, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton as Secretary of State, then Eric Holder as Attorney General, Susan Rice as Ambassaor to the United Nations, Ret. General Jim Jones as head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, current Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and Arizona Governor Janet Nepolitano as Director of Homeland Security.  


That Clinton is there at all is a testiment to Obama's determination to have a strong voice and a rival in that position.  It's also speaks to the Clinton hunger for power and recognition in the 21st Century.  In other words, to continue to be a relevant player on tbe World scene.  It also marks the return -- however indirectly -- of former President Bill Clinton to the White House.  Say what you will, but this is the first former President to have been returned to the White House to help serve a new President.  It makes Bill within easy access to President Obama and strengthens Obama's hand on the World Stage: he's got someone considered by some to be the "President of The World" on his side.  


Will former-President Clinton upstage his Secretary of State wife?  Well, a little bit, but that will be tempered by the fact that the Clinton's do work as a team -- they're a couple.  The entire "affair" will be fun to watch.  


If you're keeping score regarding these appointments today, we have three women, two African American, and one Republican and all well-qualified.  Not bad for a day's work, President-Elect Obama.