Eric Holder - Attorney General.
Holder, formerly a Deputy Attorney General under President Clinton, is another Washington insider that Obama has added to his team of change and fresh-thinking. Also a graduate of Columbia (undergrad and law), Holder is well respected among both parties with the exception of the one dark mark on his resume. In the final day of the Clinton presidency, he played a significant role in the controversial pardoning of fugitive financier Mark Rich, an event that he has taken significant criticism for. However, supporters point to his lifelong devotion to non-partisan integrity, noting that he actually pushed Attorney General Janet Reno to expand Kenneth Starr's investigation to include Monica Lewinsky - a move that led directly to the impeachment of a Democratic president.
But don't doubt his radical, liberal credentials. As a freshman at Columbia College, he joined an uprising that successfully invaded the R.O.T.C. headquarters on campus armed with pillows and sheets. Of course, he'll now be the person in charge of prosecuting anyone who did something like that.
Let's not forget that Eric Holder will become the first African-American attorney general in U.S. history. This would be big news if a much larger racial barrier hadn't just been broken - Obama appointing African Americans to his administration almost seems like an afterthought, while for all past presidents there has been an enormous focus on racial diversity.
--> And speaking of racial barriers, a hearty, bi-partisan congratulations is in order for Congressman-elect Anh "Joe" Cao (R-LA). Aided by low turnout and an embattled Democratic incumbent who was literally caught with $90,000 stuffed in his freezer, Cao became the first American of Vietnamese descent (actually fled the Communists when he was eight) to win a seat in Congress. He considers himself a moderate, and seems open to rational argument; we couldn't be prouder. (Also a plus to have a cute kid.)
--> And speaking of corrupt Democratic congressmen and Columbia University (see how this comes full circle), the news just keeps getting worse for Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY), one of the most senior members of the Democratic caucus and representative of Columbia and the surrounding areas. Apparently, Rangel has spent the last 4 years directing $80,000 in campaign money to his son's internet company in order to design two websites that were reportedly so poorly made that they should have cost no more than $100. Rangel has not had the best year of his career so far, and it probably won't be very long before he loses his gavel.
That's all for tonight. Some juicy stuff for you tomorrow or Wednesday.
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