Who Would Obama Pick for Attorney General?

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Fri May 09, 2008 at 07:05:00 AM EST
Tags: Barack Obama, Artur Davis (all tags)

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According to Matt Stoller and The Washingtonian, Barack Obama is likely to pick Congressman Artur Davis of Alabama for Attorney General. Checking Davis' website, I found this:

From 1994 to 1998, Congressman Davis established a 98 percent conviction rate as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama fighting white-collar criminals and the scourge of drugs and violence on our streets and in our neighborhoods. From 1998 until his election to Congress, Congressman Davis worked as a litigator in private practice.

On issues, in 2006, NORML rated him -20,indicating a "hard-on-drugs" stance. The National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA) rated him at 88 for being tough on crime.

Great, just what we need, another drug warrior. Politically, he's a centrist. His website notes:

He is the co-chair of the centrist New Democrat Caucus.

He voted for the bankruptcy reform bill. This article in The Black Commentator makes him out to be a corporate shill.

More...

He also voted for class action reform (as did Obama, by the way, breaking with progressive Democrats), the Real ID act, the marriage amendment and the bill banning partial-birth abortions. And he voted yes on removing the need for a FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad. He voted yes on continuing military recruitment on college campuses.

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Who Would Obama Pick for Attorney General? | 74 comments (74 topical)

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Makes sense (5.00 / 0) (#1)
by Fredster on Fri May 09, 2008 at 01:11:33 AM EST

Since our Katrina-induced exile to AL I've seen him all over the tee-vee here in the B'ham area. He was a big organizer in getting Obama here in the Birmingham area and he's limited promotion-wise. With Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby as Senators there's no way (and also because it's Alabama) that he's going to the upper body.

I thank Obama (5.00 / 0) (#3)
by AnninCA on Fri May 09, 2008 at 01:17:04 AM EST

for one thing. I truly wasn't sure if I was liberal, moderate, conservative......I really didn't know. May sound silly, but I honestly am just a real person with a variety of reactions.

Obama has truly helped me locate myself on the map. I'm a lot more liberal than I realized.

My son, Gen-Xer, has always said that. But I'm like also this rabid Southern belle type, too, who is horribly judgmental about rudeness. It makes me nuts when people boo, for example. Tacky, tacky, tacky.

It's the same to me as leaving your pumpking out to melt. Or your Christmas lights on past January.

Obama (5.00 / 5) (#24)
by cal1942 on Fri May 09, 2008 at 01:58:33 AM EST

is a neoliberal. A modern variant of the classical liberal. In other words, a conservative.

The neoliberal supports "free" trade and some believe that the "free" market solves every conceivable problem.

Obama's economics team consists of free market, free trade ideologues. His Conservative leanings on economic matters have stuck out like a sore thumb from the start. Hell, by comparison, he practically makes Hillary look like a Socialist.

IMO you can't describe yourself as a liberal if you're an economic conservative.

Industrial workers are suspicious of him with good reason.

IMO the biggest joke of this campaign is some "liberals" supporting Obama. And they call us low information voters.

But there's always something to divide us and I have to disagree on the following subject:

It is not rude to leave Christmas lights on into January. Ever hear of the yule log? Burns from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6 (Epiphany). The Twelve Days of Christmas.

When I was a kid my family's version (no fireplace) was to leave the tree up, lit every night, until Jan. 6.


I did note (none / 0) (#27)
by AnninCA on Fri May 09, 2008 at 02:04:01 AM EST

that I'm a "belle" with stupid judgments, didn't I? I'm the joke of my own famiy for my judgments on this.

But to the real heart of your message?

Thanks. I'm honstly trying to catch up here with what is and isn't liberal/progressive.

I was super-active politically in my 20s. Then I had a baby. I just got busy making money and raising a kid. That's the truth.

I feel like I've stepped into the twilight zone. So many things I assumed are, clearly, not to be assumed.

So I appreciate the explanation of the neo-whatever.


Post modernist (5.00 / 3) (#28)
by Stellaaa on Fri May 09, 2008 at 02:05:31 AM EST

I like to watch the pumpkin deconstruct.


: I really must protest (5.00 / 1) (#33)
by AnninCA on Fri May 09, 2008 at 02:16:17 AM EST

Melting pumpkins are as offensive to me as pseudo-liberals.
I stand firm. :)

: I really must protest (none / 0) (#34)
by AnninCA on Fri May 09, 2008 at 02:16:18 AM EST

Melting pumpkins are as offensive to me as pseudo-liberals.
I stand firm. :)

how ??? (none / 0) (#63)
by AgreeToDisagree on Fri May 09, 2008 at 08:55:48 AM EST

In other words, a conservative.

how do you explain his voting record - the most liberal in the senate?


I knew it (5.00 / 3) (#7)
by otherlisa on Fri May 09, 2008 at 01:22:54 AM EST

Every little bit of evidence I've managed to glean about what Obama would do as President adds up to a centrist with weak core principles who will service the needs of the corporate class at the expense of working people, the environment, and all those other non-New Democrat ("now with Creativity!") types.

This is yet another confirmation.

Here's my big question (5.00 / 3) (#12)
by AnninCA on Fri May 09, 2008 at 01:26:34 AM EST

I agree with you. I also see all these supposed "progressives" and supposed "educated" people going for it.

It's so obvious.

What gives?

I just don't get it.


You got me (none / 0) (#16)
by otherlisa on Fri May 09, 2008 at 01:39:03 AM EST

All my "Progressive" friends are on the Obama-wagon. Some of them have sorta logical reasons - they don't think he's great, but they are all about the "Movement" and the "Process" and feel that Obama will be somewhat indebted to the people who help put him in the White House.

That's the part where I really shake my head. It's one thing to not pay attention and buy the rhetoric, that he's the Great Liberal Hope and Hillary is the She-Demon of Babylon. But if you actually know who he is, why would you expect him to change?


Process (5.00 / 6) (#32)
by cal1942 on Fri May 09, 2008 at 02:15:15 AM EST

""Movement" and the "Process"

What's amazing is that these people actually think that policy magically drops out of the sky because of the "process." They couldn't be more wrong if they made a concious effort.

I believe that his support is part Clinton Derangement Syndrome. Part economic conservatism. Part snob animus towards industrial workers and part simply because he's new. And many more parts just as revolting as those.

That he's went anywhere at all in this race could be the subject of quite a revealing study. A study of our decline as a nation.


I am a "high-information" (5.00 / 2) (#38)
by AnninCA on Fri May 09, 2008 at 02:24:11 AM EST

person. Proably a lot more than his demographic.

However, I do wish to put forth a unifying idea here.

The same fears I saw growing the the 70s and 80s among industrial workers is now growing among white-collar, college educated workers.

Let's get real. The average 4-year college grad is on the firing line job-wise. This is the Stran Steel story of this decade. Their jobs are being outsourced as fast as the blue-collar worker of previous decades.

I have no explanation for why I saw what was coming, but I can tell you: I was right.

I say this, too. Without a middle-class? Whether you work in a cubicle or a factory?

America is truly gone.

If the "creative" class honestly imagines that they have much to offer?

Go read the contributers to Huffington Post.

Honestly, 90% is hack stuff. Poorly thought out. Poorly written.

We have no real creative class to offer the world right now.

That's fantasy.

We either rebuild the middle class, or we go down the tubes.

BTW......I honestly don't care. I'll be dead.


college education means less (5.00 / 3) (#43)
by bigbay on Fri May 09, 2008 at 02:59:55 AM EST

what passes for college graduate writing now, would have been high school graduate level 30 years ago.


: I Agree bigbay (5.00 / 1) (#47)
by cal1942 on Fri May 09, 2008 at 03:40:15 AM EST

The quality we see today is poor by comparison.
In high school we were actually prepared to go to college with stringent basic course requirements and high standards.
I was dumbstruck when I asked a college bound nephew to tell me about his high school senior thesis. He didn't know what I was talking about. That was a little over 30 years ago.

OK (none / 0) (#18)
by AnninCA on Fri May 09, 2008 at 01:50:19 AM EST

Then I'm back to my original thinking. I think a lot of them were raised by Republicans. I really do.

My Gen-X son knew that Hillary wasn't the she-devil, but he was raised Democrat during "the scorching." I bet you bucks that many who are confused were raised in Republican households and bought the smears.

My own Gen-Xer voted for Hillary, but has since fallen prey to "unite the party, omigod" mantra.

However, I had to chuckle the other day. He said, "I saw McCain debate. Omigod...so not a problem." LOL*

I did, indeed, say......"told you so." :)


: Yeah (none / 0) (#48)
by cal1942 on Fri May 09, 2008 at 03:53:25 AM EST

Among the 'creative class" are KOS, former Republican and free trade advocate, Josh Marshall, DLCer, free trade advocate and I read somewhere former Republican, Aravosis, former Republican.
Of the Obama supporters I know, a number came from GOP families.

Problem is... (none / 0) (#76)
by stefystef on Fri May 09, 2008 at 10:15:20 AM EST

Obama is NOT a progressive liberal. He's a centrist.
He co-oped John Edwards' platform and his populace stance and put the racial spin on it and knocked everyone out using undercover tactics and getting the media to promote him while doing little to nothing.

What is pitiful is all these "progressive" liberals think they finally have a champion, but it's all lies. Obama just hides behind the liberal mask, but that's not who he is.

Just from some of the people who he cut loose during this campaign tells me that he is really an opportunist who will use anyone to get what he wants. He uses his aloofness as "coolness", but that will only impress the "creative" crowd who, themselves, are aloof snobs.

This is NOT translate in November.


what gives (none / 0) (#66)
by Kathy on Fri May 09, 2008 at 09:01:56 AM EST

is "progressives" have money now, and they like it, and they want to hold onto it. It's called having your cake and eating it, too.

I remember when I got my first check and had to pay almost half of it in taxes. I grumbled, "dang tax and spend liberals!" all the way to the post office.

Don't y'all see how perfect Obama is? He'll assuage your white guilt, heal the world, talk the progressive talk, all while being a republican.


Wow (5.00 / 4) (#10)
by phat on Fri May 09, 2008 at 01:23:26 AM EST

This guy is a terrible choice for Attorney General.

Is this what we have to look forward to?

Ah well...

I don't put too much stock (5.00 / 1) (#13)
by andgarden on Fri May 09, 2008 at 01:30:12 AM EST

into Stoller's speculation.

The point he makes about Daschle is quote concerning, though. It has some basis, I think.


Daschle and Obama (5.00 / 1) (#41)
by cal1942 on Fri May 09, 2008 at 02:45:55 AM EST

are close.

Obama's top Senate aide is Pete Rouse formerly of Daschle's staff.

For more insight try on this WAPOST article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/26/AR2007082601446_pf.html


Yep (none / 0) (#23)
by phat on Fri May 09, 2008 at 01:57:48 AM EST

Daschle?

Wow.

When I looked at the candidates at the beginning of the primaries I saw a great cabinet.

Now I'm worried.

Daschle?


Dick Daley made it possible for him (5.00 / 5) (#31)
by andgarden on Fri May 09, 2008 at 02:12:37 AM EST

to be a Senator. Tom Daschle got him the seed money to run for President.

Owned and Operated.


: Yes, he is owned and operated (5.00 / 1) (#56)
by chancellor on Fri May 09, 2008 at 06:54:41 AM EST

I've lived in Illinois all my life, and I can tell you that no city Democrat gets anywhere without being a product of the Chicago machine. There is also a strong state Dem party, of which Durbin, a real progressive, is part of, but Obama wouldn't have advanced in the city without the blessing of the machine and all the negatives that connotes. Obama's legislative emphasis in Illinois was not on the broad issues that effect most of us here. He is most definitely not a bread-and-butter Democrat.

And so it begins (5.00 / 6) (#15)
by ChrisM on Fri May 09, 2008 at 01:38:51 AM EST

Is anyone really surprised by this?

BO never pretended to be progressive. It's only the so-called "progressive" blogosphere that convinced itself that he is.

: this is far from fact (none / 0) (#65)
by AgreeToDisagree on Fri May 09, 2008 at 08:59:21 AM EST

amazing how quickly everyone here takes the Post article as the way it is. I imagine names will be floated for months but w/ little bearing on decision.

Ok, you made me look (5.00 / 4) (#17)
by Stellaaa on Fri May 09, 2008 at 01:43:50 AM EST

The way these people write about Obama I repeat, it's really scary. It's really political pornography to have alleged critical thinkers write things like:

In terms of the 'Iron Law of Institutions', the Obama campaign is masterful. From top to bottom, they have destroyed their opponents within the party, stolen out from under them their base, and persuaded a whole set of individuals from blog readers to people in the pews to ignore intermediaries and believe in Barack as a pure vessel of change

Gawd (5.00 / 3) (#22)
by Steve M on Fri May 09, 2008 at 01:57:00 AM EST

Stoller writes as if it's all Obama's party starting now and the whole thing is going to be remade in his image. Total political cluelessness. Even if we grant him the nomination (heh), you ain't nothin' until you win. I don't recall us being the John Kerry Party or the Michael Dukakis Party at any point.

And even if you win, as Bill Clinton will testify, you hardly become the undisputed master of all things Democratic. That might work if we were the other guys, sure. But we have a big tent in this party, a wide spectrum of opinions, and everyone has their own agenda. The Democratic members of Congress are not going to simultaneously prostrate themselves before Obama and ask how they can serve him. It's like they're prepared to declare his entire 8-year presidency a smashing success based solely on vanquishing Hillary Clinton.


How could a progressive ever (5.00 / 3) (#37)
by Serene1 on Fri May 09, 2008 at 02:23:36 AM EST

consider Reagan a Hero and actually cite america under Reagan as one of the golden years. In fact that hero worship by Obama itself should have shown red flags.


Red flags (5.00 / 2) (#39)
by janarchy on Fri May 09, 2008 at 02:24:48 AM EST

It did. To some of us. I remember John Edwards going ballistic and loving him for it. Unfortunately, the MSM rewrote it as something good and important and more people swallowed the Kool-Aid.


John Edwards just said on the today show that. (none / 0) (#53)
by Maria Garcia on Fri May 09, 2008 at 06:23:06 AM EST

Obama will unite the party. LOL. Okay John, I guess you had to say that.


yeah (none / 0) (#58)
by Ga6thDem on Fri May 09, 2008 at 07:26:42 AM EST

I think he had to say it. Really, is he going to say that Obama won't? LOL! I'm sure Obama will unite the party--what's left of it anyway.


: No matter what happens (none / 0) (#70)
by ineedalife on Fri May 09, 2008 at 09:24:21 AM EST

They will call it united and annoint Obama, the great uniter. Who cares what the numbers say? Until he loses. Then the knives will come out.

A "Pure Vessel of Change"?!?!? (5.00 / 6) (#25)
by otherlisa on Fri May 09, 2008 at 01:59:27 AM EST

I'll tell ya, the ObamaMessiah phenomena was the first thing that really turned me off about him. Remember that Sacramento Bee article, way back when? About how his volunteers were instructed to not talk about policy, but instead to share their personal conversion stories, "how they came to Obama"?

Church and State - separate 'em, people! This sh** is creepy.


You want to know why he lost (5.00 / 3) (#30)
by andgarden on Fri May 09, 2008 at 02:10:57 AM EST

Jews 2:1 in PA? This should give you some insight.

We do NOT like mixing religion with politics.


: Oy. (5.00 / 3) (#35)
by janarchy on Fri May 09, 2008 at 02:21:11 AM EST

No kidding. Personally, I think all Americans should be appalled at the lack of seperation of church and state lately, esp from the Dems.

The messiah thing (none / 0) (#40)
by Serene1 on Fri May 09, 2008 at 02:29:06 AM EST

seems to have worked because today we have no less than nytimes - considered till now the most powerful progressive voice- telling us that votes do not matter and that Hillary should not raise FL & MI issue because that would harm Obama and that nobody least of all Hillary should harm the ONE.


Change (5.00 / 1) (#42)
by cal1942 on Fri May 09, 2008 at 02:59:26 AM EST

It's always knocked me out. When people talk about change they seldom bother to ask about the content of the change.

They have their own idea of what the change consists of and project their content onto the candidate who shouts change without realizing that the candidate doesn't share their vision.


Hmm (5.00 / 3) (#19)
by Steve M on Fri May 09, 2008 at 01:51:09 AM EST

I seem to recall a high-profile committee hearing where Davis was a superstar questioner. I don't remember what the subject was. He at least seems like a sharp guy. Now personally, I say nominate John Edwards so we can see the Republicans totally lose it.

Even more troubling is Stoller's suggestion that Tom Daschle would be the likely Chief of Staff. When will the first Obama supporter wake up and say "hey, it's actually not that awesome that Obama's Chief of Staff would be a DLC centrist lobbyist"? Look for the same people who say Hillary can never be forgiven for her war vote to have no problem with Daschle, even though he's as responsible for the whole fiasco as any Democrat, rolling over for Bush when he demanded the war vote be scheduled right before the election for maximum Republican gain. I mean, he's right there with Mark Penn on the list of people I never want to hear from again. Chief of Staff?!

: Stoller a year ago (none / 0) (#21)
by andgarden on Fri May 09, 2008 at 01:54:45 AM EST

would not have gone for Daschle anywhere near the cabinet.

Hmmm (5.00 / 2) (#26)
by phat on Fri May 09, 2008 at 01:59:36 AM EST

is this party moving to the right?

I would never have predicted this.

Well maybe, a little.

: what makes it so much more disturbing is (5.00 / 4) (#44)