This will serve as a liveblog/comment thread for the Holder Debate. Live coverage is currently available online at CSPAN2...
FYI, the Judiciary Committee vote was 17-2.
I'm leaving after Feinstein's speech, so my live blog will not be updated in the body. Thanks for the comments!
Here are the parameters:
3 hours for debate, will run out at 6:15 PM EST, at which time the vote is expected.
Speakers so far:
Leahy (D-VT): Holder is extremely well qualified and will bring DOJ back to where we all want it to be. He will not be beholden to Karl Rove or anyone like that.
Projected Vote: Yes
Specter (R-PA): Gave a long-winded speech about the history of the AG position and Senate authority. Spoke about his concerns related to Holder on the Rich pardon but stated that he believes that Holder is well qualified. He feels insulted that anyone asked Holder to forego Bush prosecutions.
Projected Vote: Yes
Coburn (R-OK): Really, really doesn't like Holder. Gave a whole litany of reasons, starting with Rich and concluding with a bunch of random assertions on gun control.
Projected Vote: No.
Leahy (D-VT): Chimed back in with the fact that Coburn's state opposes gun laws that common sense states support...
Burris (D-IL): Gave some strange bizarre story about the history of AA lawyers and that Holder will be a great step forward in American justice. Lord knows he is Blago's pick. He is crazy....
Projected Vote: Yes.
Dorgan (D-ND): States that Holder is very qualified and will help restore the DOJ. Says torture is wrong, damn straight Dorgan...
Projected Vote: Yes
Cornyn (R-TX): Referred to the AG as the US Attorney (moran). He is experienced but he was part of Clinton, scary! All about the pardons. You should f-ing talk about illegal actions Cornyn. Also, Holder hates the 2nd amendment. According to Cornyn, apparently the last 8 years didn't happen but the Clinton era did. Holder is also apparently the equivalent of a Puerto Rican terrorist. Now he's going into the need for torture, invoking 9/11 like a good wingnut. Trying to quote Holder, said "Al Qaeda prisoners don't qualify as Prisoners of W...um, priosners of war."
Projected Vote: No.
Klobuchar (D-MN): Holder knows what we need to do and he is the right guy to do it. Basically called Cornyn an idiot. Smacked Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-Of course) upside the head for appointing a political buddy to a similar job in MN...
Projected Vote: Yes.
Bunning (R-KY): Can't support him because even though he's qualified but judgment is lacking (and yours isn't?) due to pardons. Joins Cornyn in comparing Holder to PR terrorists for some reason. Oh yeah and he's hitting the 2nd amendment too...
Projected Vote: No.
Feinstein (D-CA): Bunning is an idiot, Holder is the most qualified AG nominee ever.
Projected Vote: Yes.
Debate below!