The Senate on Tuesday voted 55-44 to end debate on William Barr’s attorney general nomination and proceed with a confirmation vote, The New York Times and other outlets reported, moving Barr one step closer to his probable confirmation.
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Suspect Republicans will try to move quickly. Whitaker proved (unsurprisingly) to be not up to Senate scrutiny.
Pegged the meter again, Yertle…
Who were the Democrats voting for him?
Is it too much to ask to at least name the Democrats that voted yes?
It was never in any doubt Barr could not win the AG job. He’s iffy, to put it diplomatically, on issues related to presidential authority. His lobbying for the AG job was unseemly, given his excellent reputation.
However, I admit to mixed feelings about Barr. He’s probably the best we’ll see in an AG for the Trump regime. Unless I’m completely wrong about him, I see no reason for Barr to destroy his personal reputation as a complete Trump henchman. Moreover, his friendship with Mueller tells he he won’t fire him.
The only risk from Barr is he either limits the investigation to Trump Russia (which means other DOJ offices can take it over) or asks Mueller to wrapt it up sooner or later.
There is a possible good side. It’s not out of the bounds of reality that Barr will try to restore some of the DOJ’s reputation and commitment to the law.
Anyway, this is my thinking.