Biden's Reminiscent Goodbye To The Senate
From CBS News' Director of Political Coverage Steve Chaggaris
With so much going on in the nation's capital today that looks forward – confirmation hearings, economic stimulus negotiations, inaugural planning – it's all too easy to overlook the history made in the Senate today.
Vice President-elect Joe Biden, who officially stepped down from his Senate seat today after 36 years (the 12th longest-serving Senator in U.S. history, tied with former Sens. Warren Magnuson, D-Wash., and Claiborne Pell, D-R.I., who died earlier this month), took to the floor of the Senate to deliver a "farewell" to his colleagues (Biden will still spend some time in the Senate; one of the Constitutional duties of the VP is to serve as President of the Senate).
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With so much going on in the nation's capital today that looks forward – confirmation hearings, economic stimulus negotiations, inaugural planning – it's all too easy to overlook the history made in the Senate today.
Vice President-elect Joe Biden, who officially stepped down from his Senate seat today after 36 years (the 12th longest-serving Senator in U.S. history, tied with former Sens. Warren Magnuson, D-Wash., and Claiborne Pell, D-R.I., who died earlier this month), took to the floor of the Senate to deliver a "farewell" to his colleagues (Biden will still spend some time in the Senate; one of the Constitutional duties of the VP is to serve as President of the Senate).
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Holder Lays Down Markers on Torture and Gitmo
(AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)
Holder also refused to concede that any U.S. officers or officials who engaged in such practices, or who authorized them, ought to be granted immunity from prosecution for engaging in such odious conduct. The declaration, which drew no immediate response from Committee members, stands in stark contrast to the legal positions (and confirmation candor) offered by Holder's immediate predecessors at the Justice Department.
Holder then faced sharp questioning over his role in the pardon given to fugitive financier (and Clinton donor) Marc Rich by President Bill Clinton during the final hours of his administration. Holder told the Committee that he had made mistakes in handling the Rich matter—that he would have consulted more with prosecutors and others before signing off on the controversial pardon—but Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), the ranking Republican member of the Committee, suggested that it was incredible to think that such a bright and experienced public official as Holder—who even in 2001 had a ton of government experience—would make such an obvious mistake. Expect more on this line of questioning this afternoon when the hearing resumes.
The questioning then turned to the U.S. Attorney scandal that rocked the Justice Department during the reign of Alberto Gonzales. "I have shown that I have the ability, and frankly the guts, to be independent from the people" who put me in power, Holder said. "I will be the people's lawyer." And Holder told Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) that he "would not hesitate to resign" as Attorney General if he reached an intractable point with the President and the White House. He is aware, he reassured Committee members, that the Attorney General slot is different from other cabinet level positions because of the need to adhere to the Constitution and rule of law over the partisan needs of any given White House.
On the topic of Guantanamo Bay, Holder confirmed that the notorious prison base will be closed (at which point some in the gallery clapped and cheered). He said that a substantial number of detainees could be sent to other countries, some would be able to be tried in our civilian courts, and that others would fit into a more complex category of prisoners. On this topic, then, Holder offered nothing much different from what current White House officials have pledged and promised over the past few years. Hopefully, Holder will be pressed on this issue to describe how some of these detainees will be prosecuted and how others, like 9-11 masterminds Ramzi Binalshibh and Khalid Sheik Mohammed, will be treated since they clearly cannot be tried in public given their crimes and search for martyrdom.
Photos Of The President At The Supreme Court
Last night photos of President-elect Barack Obama and the Vice-President-elect Joe Biden's visit to the Supreme Court – which we reported on here – were released. Check them out:
President-elect Barack Obama signs a guest book as Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. looks on during a visit to the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. on Weds. Jan. 14, 2009. Painting is of William Howard Taft, the only man to serve as President and Chief Justice.
President-elect Barack Obama walks with the Supreme Court Justices during a visit to the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. on Weds. Jan. 14, 2009.
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(Pete Souza/Obama Transition Team)
(Pete Souza/Obama Transition Team)
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CBS News Exclusive: Secret Service Director Assesses the Shoe-Throwing Incident in Baghdad
From CBS News' White House Correspondent Mark Knoller
Did the U.S. Secret Service react quickly enough when that Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at Pres. Bush last month in Baghdad?
"In looking at our reaction, in looking at where our agents were staged, looking at that event – I am satisfied that our people did everything that they could do," says Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan.
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Did the U.S. Secret Service react quickly enough when that Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at Pres. Bush last month in Baghdad?
( )
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Holder Pledges Humility and Vigilance
(CBS)
Holder told the Committee that he "cherishes" the Justice Department and will work in the coming years to "restore" its "credibility" and independence, to "reinvigorate" its "traditional missions" of fighting domestic crime, and to "use every available tactic" under the Constitution to defeat terrorists at home and abroad.
Before the questioning began, the hearing had the feeling of a coronation and not an inquisition. For example, John Warner, the just-recently-retired Republican senator from Virginia, introduced Holder to his former colleagues, declared his support for the nominee and acknowledged that Holder had made (and then learned from) past mistakes in public office.
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Morning Bulletin – Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009
A roundup of news, schedules, and key stories from CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:
As the Cabinet Turns: It's Attorney General nominee Eric Holder's turn in the spotlight today as Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee (especially Ranking Member Arlen Specter) promise to grill Holder during his confirmation hearing this morning at 9:30am ET.
"The 'payback for the payback,' as one analyst called it, will take the form of Republicans attacking flaws in Holder's resume during the two-day hearing, specifically his role in several politically tinged presidential pardons Clinton issued," reports the Boston Globe's Joseph Williams.
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(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
"The 'payback for the payback,' as one analyst called it, will take the form of Republicans attacking flaws in Holder's resume during the two-day hearing, specifically his role in several politically tinged presidential pardons Clinton issued," reports the Boston Globe's Joseph Williams.
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Senate Committee Backs Clinton
(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
The panel voted 16-1 in favor of Clinton. Louisiana Republican David Vitter was the lone vote against.
The full Senate vote is expected on Tuesday, after the formal nomination paperwork is filed following Barack Obama's swearing-in.
Click here to read more on Clinton's nomination hearing on Tuesday.
George Bush's Farewell Address
Peter Maer is a CBS News White House Correspondent.
Tonight's farewell address will be George W. Bush's final opportunity to put his own imprint on his legacy before he leaves office. The White House says it will be his last major appearance before power transfers to Barack Obama on Inauguration Day.
In the nation's the first farewell address (actually a written message published in newspapers) George Washington issued "warnings from a parting friend." George W. Bush has already offered cautionary advice to Barack Obama. Mr. Bush said, "The most urgent threat he will have to deal with and other presidents will have to deal with is an attack on our homeland."
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Tonight's farewell address will be George W. Bush's final opportunity to put his own imprint on his legacy before he leaves office. The White House says it will be his last major appearance before power transfers to Barack Obama on Inauguration Day.
(CBS)
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CBS News Exclusive: Obama On Gaza, Geithner And The Economy
In an exclusive interview with CBS Evening News Anchor Katie Couric, President-elect Barack Obama talked about key issues facing his administration from day one – including the crisis in Gaza, the confirmation of Treasury Secretary designee Timothy Geithner and his plans for the economy.
Obama's Visit To The Supreme Court
(AP)
No explanation for the absence of Alito, who was in court this morning for arguments.
Kathleen Arberg, the Supreme Court public information officer, told CBS News' Deirdre Hester that Mr. Obama and Biden met with the justices in the West Conference Room, where they shared tea, coffee and light refreshments.
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Senate Goodbyes Thursday
(AP Photo/B.K.Bangash)
Secretary of State designate Hillary Rodham Clinton will also say goodbye Thursday, at 11am E.T. on the Senate floor. She has served as the junior senator from New York since 2001.
And it's in with the new out with the old: CBS News' John Nolen reports that Senate appointee Roland Burris will be sworn in as the junior senator from Illinois at 2pm E.T. Thursday.
Bush Approval Rating Rises To 34 Percent
(AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
While that approval rating is an improvement on the historic lows the president reached this year – CBS News polling in 2008 saw the presidential approval rating hit the low 20s – the president is still leaving office as one of the most unpopular American leaders in recent memory.
Going back to the 1950s, only Richard Nixon and Harry Truman have had lower ratings when they left office; Jimmy Carter's approval rating was also 34 percent. Every other president's approval stood at 49 percent or better. (The most popular presidents when they left office were Bill Clinton, with a 66 percent approval rating, followed by Ronald Reagan and Dwight Eisenhower. Presidents who died in office are not included.)
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Labor Unions Use Hope, Change To Push Agenda
(CBS/AP)
American Rights at Work, a union advocacy group, chaired by former Rep. David Bonior D-Mich., used real workers to star in the ads, which implore lawmakers to pass The Employee Free Choice Act. The ads will run nationwide for the next two weeks.
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Sneak Peek: Exclusive Obama Interview
(CBS)
What follows is excerpts from the interview (and a short video clip) – but be sure to watch the CBS Evening News tonight for more.
Katie Couric: A new Osama bin Laden tape was released. And in it he taunted President Bush.
President-elect Barack Obama: Right.
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Inside The Inauguration Ceremony And Parade Rehearsal
Complete Inaugural Coverage
C-SPAN has posted a nice video providing a behind the scenes look at the run-through for the inauguration ceremony and parade. See the "president" be sworn in below (the speech he offers is probably shorter than what we'll be hearing Monday):
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