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‘You Guys Are Behind This’: Eric Holder Says Daily Caller Pushing For His Resignation

POSTED BY: AURAPTOR
UPDATED: Friday, December 2, 2011 12:04
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Thursday, December 1, 2011 12:49 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!



Looks as if Holder is starting to get a bit snippy w/ the press...

Quote:

Attorney General Eric Holder on Tuesday told a reporter with the conservative news website The Daily Caller that the news organization was ginning up calls for him to resign over ATF’s botched Operation Fast and Furious.

The reporter approached Holder after an event at the White House on the federal government’s efforts to combat counterfeit goods.

“You guys need to… you guys need to stop this,” TPM heard Holder tell the reporter. “There’s not an organic thing happening, you guys are behind this.”

The Daily Caller has been calling up offices on Capitol Hill to solicit the opinions of Republicans on whether Holder should resign over the operation — which let guns flow across the border. While there’s been no evidence that Holder knew about the flawed strategy of letting guns “walk” in order to learn where they would end up, some Republicans have called on him to resign.

The Daily Caller’s first report on their canvass of Capitol Hill was about just four members of Congress who were on board with calling for Holder’s resignation. When they got to eight, they declared it evidence his “tenure in the Obama administration may be coming to an end.” Over time, the number has grown above 50. Holder still has the support of the White House and there’s no indication his resignation is coming anytime soon.

As TPM has been reporting, problems with “gun walking” in ATF’s Phoenix office predate the Obama administration.

[Correction: A previous version of this story related a word of Holder’s quote that TPM misheard. It has been corrected.



* The fast and furious program was started in the fall of 2009, and is not some carry over from previous administrations.



" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Thursday, December 1, 2011 4:24 AM

DREAMTROVE


The Obama team is a disaster. I'm assuming he's going to be reelected, so is there any chance to pressure him to hire some competent folk for the next term? The list of people I'd like to see replaced is getting quite long.

That's what a ship is, you know - it's not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that's what a ship needs.

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Thursday, December 1, 2011 6:28 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


But in Obama's mind, they're extremely competent.

This IS Obama's America.

Expose the corruption, pay the price. It's the Chicago way.


" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Thursday, December 1, 2011 7:19 AM

1KIKI

Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.


"In this operation, which began in the fall of 2009 ..."

And WHO was president then?

This is just another Bush mess - like Iraq, Afghanistan and the economy.

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Thursday, December 1, 2011 8:02 AM

STORYMARK


Quote:

Originally posted by 1kiki:
"In this operation, which began in the fall of 2009 ..."

And WHO was president then?




There ya go again, expecting Rappy to recognize a fact. Good luck.

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"

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Thursday, December 1, 2011 8:42 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up


Quote:

Originally posted by 1kiki:
"In this operation, which began in the fall of 2009 ..."

And WHO was president then?




Barack Obama. He was inaugurated on January 20, 2009.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inauguration_of_Barack_Obama



"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Thursday, December 1, 2011 8:43 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up


Quote:

Originally posted by Storymark:
Quote:

Originally posted by 1kiki:
"In this operation, which began in the fall of 2009 ..."

And WHO was president then?




There ya go again, expecting Rappy to recognize a fact. Good luck.




he does a better job than you, apparently, of recognizing that January 20, 2009 comes before fall of 2009.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Thursday, December 1, 2011 9:28 AM

1KIKI

Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.


You know, you're absolutely right.

OTOH - How long does it take to set up a large operation like that? How much time between proposal and consideration? How much planning? How much legal sign-off? How much marshaling of resources and personnel?

And what about the 2007 precedent under Bush - Wide Receiver?

Looking at all the administrative time-lag, in the end I suspect we'll find that the people who authorized the Fast and Furious were in the Bush administration, the same people who authorized the identical Wide Receiver operation back in 2007.

But you've worked in government. You know about the slow, slow grinding of gears - the idea, the approval, the sign-off by many, the planning, the budgeting, the budget approval, the release of money, the acquisitions requested, approved, purchased, paid for, transferred, the jiggering of org charts and personnel.

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Thursday, December 1, 2011 10:12 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up


Quote:

Originally posted by 1kiki:
You know, you're absolutely right.

OTOH - How long does it take to set up a large operation like that? How much time between proposal and consideration? How much planning? How much legal sign-off? How much marshaling of resources and personnel?



Per Wikipedia, the discussions started in late October of 2009, and ATF agents were tracking gun purchases by November 2009, so not long. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATF_gunwalking_scandal


Quote:

And what about the 2007 precedent under Bush - Wide Receiver?


What about it? You can't fire Bush's Attorney General. Also, two wrongs don't make a right.


Quote:

Looking at all the administrative time-lag, in the end I suspect we'll find that the people who authorized the Fast and Furious were in the Bush administration, the same people who authorized the identical Wide Receiver operation back in 2007.


Nope. Fast and Furious wasn't even in planning until October of 2009. All the actions of Fast and Furious happened on Holder's watch, and under his oversight. Seems he should bear some responsibility for them.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Thursday, December 1, 2011 10:34 AM

1KIKI

Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.


Bill Newell worked in the Arizona ATF during the Bush administration and was a major figure in two 'gunwalking' operations "Wide Receiver" (2006 - 2007) and "Too Hot to Handle" (2007) conceived as a part of a major 'gunwalking' strategy called "Project Gunrunner" hatched in 2005 by the ATF.

By YOUR OWN LINK, upper level Obama administration officials did not discuss or approve of any 'gunwalking' operations. The Wiki entry indicates "Fast and Furious" was conceived and carried out by Newell, as per the SOP he had used under the previous administration.

If the project had official backing and approval, it would have taken far longer as the 2005 "Project Gunrunner" plan to 2006 "Wide Receiver" operation timeline indicates.

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Thursday, December 1, 2011 10:42 AM

STORYMARK


Quote:

Originally posted by Geezer:
Quote:

Originally posted by Storymark:
Quote:

Originally posted by 1kiki:
"In this operation, which began in the fall of 2009 ..."

And WHO was president then?




There ya go again, expecting Rappy to recognize a fact. Good luck.




he does a better job than you, apparently, of recognizing that January 20, 2009 comes before fall of 2009.

"Keep the Shiny side up"



Yeah, ya got me. My eagerness to poke the monkey got the best of me.

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"

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Thursday, December 1, 2011 10:49 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up


Quote:

Originally posted by 1kiki:
Bill Newell worked in the Arizona ATF during the Bush administration and was a major figure in two 'gunwalking' operations "Wide Receiver" (2006 - 2007) and "Too Hot to Handle" (2007) conceived as a part of a major 'gunwalking' strategy called "Project Gunrunner" hatched in 2005 by the ATF.



Yes. He's a civil servant. They often stay on the job after changes in administrations. I worked for the Feds spanning presidents from Johnson to Bush II.

Quote:

By your own link, upper level Obama administration officials did not discuss or approve of any 'gunwalking' operations.

And apparently the "upper level Obama administration officials" provided absolutely no oversight. They just said 'do something about this gun problem' and didn't follow up, request progress reports, look at expense and time usage, or much of anything.

Not sure why you're trying so hard to defend Holder and the Justice Department when they so obviously dropped the ball on this, particularly on a oversight level.

You know if this had come out during the Bush administartion, you'd be howling for heads to roll.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Thursday, December 1, 2011 11:08 AM

1KIKI

Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.


Considering that "Project Gunrunner" was a plan OFFICIALLY conceived of, green-lighted by, and implemented during the Bush administration, I think blaming Bush and his administration would have been appropriate, don't you?

You seem to want to pretend that the two situations under the two administrations are identical and 'blame' should be equal. But they're not.

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Thursday, December 1, 2011 11:17 AM

RIONAEIRE

Beir bua agus beannacht


I've decided it was all intentional, the BATF let it happen because if badguys don't have guns then the BATF is out of a job. That's what I think.

I loved someone's idea that the BATF should be a store for men to go hang out at while their wives are shopping, it would be way more popular as that than what it is now.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

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Thursday, December 1, 2011 3:29 PM

DREAMTROVE


Oh come on, y'all know that Obama is not the opposite of Bush. He said so himself.

That's what a ship is, you know - it's not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that's what a ship needs.

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Thursday, December 1, 2011 3:30 PM

DREAMTROVE


Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:
But in Obama's mind, they're extremely competent.

This IS Obama's America.

Expose the corruption, pay the price. It's the Chicago way.


" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "



To be fair, I think it's not really Obama's first choice for a cabinet. A lot of powerful dems including hillary pressured him on a lot of choices.


That's what a ship is, you know - it's not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that's what a ship needs.

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Thursday, December 1, 2011 5:10 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Quote:

Originally posted by 1kiki:
"In this operation, which began in the fall of 2009 ..."

And WHO was president then?



Obama.

Any more stupid questions ?



"The world is a dangerous place. Not because of the people who are evil; but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein

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Thursday, December 1, 2011 6:27 PM

1KIKI

Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.


What about "Wide Receiver" (2006 - 2007) and "Too Hot to Handle" (2007)? Was that ALSO Obama?

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Thursday, December 1, 2011 6:40 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Quote:

Originally posted by 1kiki:
What about "Wide Receiver" (2006 - 2007) and "Too Hot to Handle" (2007)? Was that ALSO Obama?



No. Different operations, not as poorly planned, how many dead federal agents ?

This sad attempt to equivocate F and F to anything else... pathetic.


" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Thursday, December 1, 2011 7:25 PM

1KIKI

Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.


And lots and lots of guns disappeared into Mexico with no way to trace them - talk about good planning!

Meanwhile, every lost gun under those two operations can be directly blamed on the Bush administration. While Fast and Furious looks to be the rogue operation of a Bush alumnus.

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Thursday, December 1, 2011 7:43 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!



Bush is 100% blameless for F and F.

Just deal w/ it. This is totally an Obama administration disaster, and they're now caught, trying to cover it up, punish those who brought it to light, and there's 2 dead US agents,and how who knows how many dead civilians, and for what ?

A purely political stunt, to placate the anti-gun crowd, and phony up this claim that guns kill people, not blood thirsty drug cartel members ?



"The world is a dangerous place. Not because of the people who are evil; but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein

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Friday, December 2, 2011 3:36 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up


Quote:

Originally posted by 1kiki:
Considering that "Project Gunrunner" was a plan OFFICIALLY conceived of, green-lighted by, and implemented during the Bush administration, I think blaming Bush and his administration would have been appropriate, don't you?


Sure. It was a stupid idea, and the Bush Justice Department should have taken a hit for it. Just as the Obama Justice Department should take a hit for continuing it.

Quote:

You seem to want to pretend that the two situations under the two administrations are identical and 'blame' should be equal. But they're not.


True. Many more guns were lost in Mexico under Fast and Furious, were found associated with killings in Mexico, and showed up in Arizona where a Border Patrol agent was killed.

Both the Bush and Obama Justice Departments screwed the pooch on this whole operation, and saying that the Bush folks started it does not excuse the Obama folks from failing to recognize why it was cancelled in 2007, or in condoning its resurrection, continuation and expansion.

Once again, I'm not really sure why you want to ignore the obvious errors that Holder's organization made.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Friday, December 2, 2011 3:43 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!



Geezer ,

It fits the pattern, does it not ?

Bush over spent, so he's to blame. Obama spent far more than Bush, it's not Obama's fault. Blame Bush.

Bush administration had a ill conceived idea to track guns going across the border. The program gets shut down.

Obama revises and expands on the cancelled program, agents get killed, it's Bush's fault.




"The world is a dangerous place. Not because of the people who are evil; but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - Albert Einstein

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Friday, December 2, 2011 4:55 AM

1KIKI

Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.


"... or in condoning its resurrection, continuation and expansion."

But it has not yet been shown they did that. >>> BY YOUR OWN LINK <<< it appears to be the work of a rogue ATF member. Perhaps you had better read your own link.

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Friday, December 2, 2011 6:36 AM

NIKI2

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...


Quote:

The first known ATF "gunwalking" operation to Mexican drug cartels, named Operation Wide Receiver, began in early 2006 and ran into 2007. The ATF was informed of a suspicious gun purchase by licensed dealer Mike Detty in Tucson, Arizona. He was then hired as a confidential informant working with the ATF's Tucson office, part of their Phoenix, Arizona field division. With the use of surveillance equipment, ATF agents monitored additional sales by Detty to straw purchasers. With assurance from ATF "that Mexican officials would be conducting surveillance or interdictions when guns got to the other side of the border",[18] Detty would sell a total of about 450 guns during the operation.[17] They were eventually lost as they moved into Mexico.[6][19]

At the time, under the Bush administration Department of Justice (DOJ), no arrests or indictments were made. After President Barack Obama took office in 2009, the DOJ reviewed Wide Receiver and found that guns had been allowed into the hands of suspected gun traffickers. Indictments began in 2010, over three years after Wide Receiver concluded. As of October 4, 2011, nine people had been charged with making false statements in acquisition of firearms and illicit transfer, shipment or delivery of firearms; two of them had pled guilty
Another, smaller probe occurred in 2007 under the same ATF Phoenix field division. It began when the ATF identified Mexican suspects who bought weapons from a Phoenix gun shop over a span of several months.

No charges were filed. William Newell, who was special agent in charge from June 2006 to May 2011, would later play a major role in Operation Fast and Furious. Wiki

Quote:

the Bush Justice Department should have taken a hit for it. Just as the Obama Justice Department should take a hit for continuing it
Yup. Pretty much end of story, as far as I'm concerned. They both screwed the pooch, and whether one was "more bad" than the other is partisan bickering.

As to it having been "one rogue agent", that's both valid and not. Newell certainly knew about the previous program and was involved in the latter one, but that doesn't mean he was solely responsible. Both administrations screwed up; the extent to which each screwed up is a minor matter; it could have been the opposite if the situations were reversed. No charges were filed under the Bush Administration; the Obama Administration is taking the fall for their program. That could have been reversed as well. The salient point is both administrations screwed up, period.



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Friday, December 2, 2011 6:59 AM

1KIKI

Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.


Having worked in government -

I've seen decisions, programs, processes, regulations and even laws determined by political pandering at the top or sheer crass self-interest ($). That said, I have also seen that some underlings do go rogue, working out of sight for an ideological or personal agenda.

The program under Bush definitely came from the top.

But I think the evidence is unclear in Fast and Furious. By all accounts I've read, it's completely possible that the administration found out about it after the fact and had to try to recover some good out of it as best they could.

I don't accept an automatic finger-pointing at the Obama administration b/c the facts are not yet evident.

When the facts do come in I will reassess my position if needed.

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Friday, December 2, 2011 12:04 PM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up


Quote:

Originally posted by 1kiki:
The program under Bush definitely came from the top.



Not per the Wikipedia article. Looks like it was the guys in Phoenix responding to a report for suspicious gun sales. This is not to clear the Justice folks who should have been providing oversight, but nothing seems to indicate orders came from the top.

Quote:

But I think the evidence is unclear in Fast and Furious. By all accounts I've read, it's completely possible that the administration found out about it after the fact and had to try to recover some good out of it as best they could.

I don't accept an automatic finger-pointing at the Obama administration b/c the facts are not yet evident.

When the facts do come in I will reassess my position if needed.



Even when ATF agents were so concerned about Fast and Furious that they contacted the ATF ethics section and the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General, they got no action. They had to go to Sen. Chuck Grassley to get anyone to take notice. This is an egregious failure of oversight and ethics on the part of the DOJ. I don't understand how you can see it any other way. Might it have something to do with it being on the Obama administration's watch?

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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