Will Obama Resubmit Dawn Johnsen's Nomination To Head OLC?

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 01:17:21 PM EST
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One of the few good signs from the Obama Administration in the last year was the nomination of Dawn Johnsen to head the Office of Legal Counsel. Republicans, with the help of Obama's favorite Dems - Ben Nelson et al - blocked Johnsen's nomination. In order for Johnsen to become head of OLC, Obama will have to renominate her. bmaz does not believe he will:

The nomination of Dawn Johnsen to be the head of the Office of Legal Counsel at DOJ, a critical post, is now truly dead. If Ms. Johnsen is to serve, she will have to be renominated by Barack Obama and start over. She never got the up or down vote promised as soon as the Senate had done healthcare, she never got an ounce of support from the Administration that nominated her, and a year of her life was taken in what certainly appears to be a cowardly and demeaning political ploy.

If Obama wants to score some point with a disgruntled base, he may want to resubmit AND fight for Dawn Johnsen's nomination to head OLC.

Speaking for me only

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Will Obama Resubmit Dawn Johnsen's Nomination To Head OLC? | 20 comments (20 topical)

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That piece.. (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by TheRealFrank on Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 01:36:40 PM EST

Originally called Harry Reid "Hanoi Harry Reid". I see that has been edited out.

It also reflects the obsession with Rahm Emanuel, since it names and blames him repeatedly, without any explanation on how he was involved in the process.

It could well be that the Obama administration did the wrong thing with the Johnsen nomination, but it is increasingly difficult to take some people at FDL seriously.

Well (none / 0) (#2)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 01:46:58 PM EST

If your obsession is how mean bloggers are, well, yeah.

If you are interested in the issue of Dawn Johnsen, it may not be the first thing that comes to mind.


Not quite sure.. (none / 0) (#3)
by TheRealFrank on Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 01:56:13 PM EST

..what you mean by "it" when you say "it may not be the first thing that comes to mind"?

My point was solely that with some of the language in the original version of that post, combined with the strange rhetoric against Rahm Emanuel that has come from some FDL people lately (amongst other things), it makes it hard for me to use this post as a reference to the actual matter at hand.

The poster may well have a point, but for the reasons I mention above, it's harder to take the post as a source of reliable information.


Yeah, somebody should talk to Rahm's boss (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by lambert on Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 03:35:41 PM EST

Maybe somebody influential at FDL?


: Heh (none / 0) (#8)
by cawaltz on Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 03:42:09 PM EST

I'm torn between deciding whether Jane is playing 11th dimensional chess with the WH(If I go on FOX and say how vexed I am with them then they might pay attention to me. Lord only knows the only people who seem to get attention paid to them by this adminstration are those coming from the right) or if she actually really means she is fed up with the administration and THIS time she is not going to stand for it come hell or highwater. I feel for her though because I understand she is taking a drubbing(and I definitely can relate to that sentiment). It would be funny to see that what comes around actuallly does go around if it weren't the future of our nation at stake.

I think you make my point (none / 0) (#4)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 02:56:50 PM EST

Now if you had never heard of Dawn Johnsen until today, I could see where you were coming from.


i kind of get (5.00 / 3) (#5)
by cpinva on Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 03:25:10 PM EST

the distinct impression that obama doesn't really care about his disgruntled base. if he does, he's keeping those concerns well of out sight.

Plenty of room under the bus! (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by lambert on Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 03:36:51 PM EST

Obama's going to go on the teebee with his own show and make millions even if he loses in 2012. What does he care about the base, gruntled or otherwise? He's made!


Dude (2.66 / 3) (#10)
by Socraticsilence on Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 04:06:30 PM EST

seriously, did Obama kill your puppy-- its hilarious to read you at this point, you're like Bizarro Kos, only unlike Markos you didn't regain your bearings post-primary 08.


Aw, Mr. Hope Enforcer... (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by lambert on Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 04:07:35 PM EST

... can't you take a joke?


A jokes one thing (none / 0) (#13)
by Socraticsilence on Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 04:46:45 PM EST

being one note is another.


: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA (none / 0) (#15)
by lambert on Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 05:28:14 PM EST

That is all.

So (5.00 / 4) (#12)
by TeresaInSnow2 on Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 04:25:52 PM EST

what exactly did he say that wasn't true?


Nominate BTD and wait (5.00 / 1) (#9)
by Ben Masel on Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 03:58:15 PM EST

for Orrin Hatch to offer to confirm Johnsen if the President will pull the BTD nomination.

: heh (5.00 / 1) (#16)
by andgarden on Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 06:18:51 PM EST

: Greenwald (5.00 / 1) (#17)
by oculus on Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 06:30:00 PM EST

Whatever intentions they had (5.00 / 2) (#18)
by oldpro on Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 07:41:24 PM EST

on nominating her in the first place, events have now outrun her suitability for the position...her opinions have already been rejected in reupping the Bush policies on justice and human rights.

Can't you just picture her memos to the president about "a cancer growing on the presidency?" And worse? So can the White House.

She's toast.

Winner, winner! Chicken dinner! (none / 0) (#21)
by Romberry on Mon Dec 28, 2009 at 08:55:10 AM EST

events have now outrun her suitability for the position...her opinions have already been rejected in reupping the Bush policies on justice and human rights.

That is exactly right. Ms. Johnsen was a sop to the liberal base and like every other sop to the base, it served its purpose and is now effectively withdrawn.

Ms. Johnsen's record with respect to the abuses of the Bush administration is now troublesome given that the Obama administration has in most areas not only failed to roll back those abuses but has embraced and even extended them.

This comment at FDL is about as close to the mark as it gets. Had Obama been able to get quick rulings from the courts setting binding precedent that these policies were in fact lawful, then Johnsen could have (maybe) been allowed in as she would be bound by those decisions. But with litigation dragging on and Johnsen holding positions contrary to the Bush (and now Obama) admin on so many of these same issues, getting her through to head the OLC would be problematic at best.


: Thanks...I love chicken. Free range (none / 0) (#22)
by oldpro on Mon Dec 28, 2009 at 02:41:06 PM EST

of course.

I'm sure there is some fine outstanding (none / 0) (#14)
by MO Blue on Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 05:15:07 PM EST

Republican that Obama can nominate for this position. A OLC equivalent of Dana Perion for example.:-)