# Eric Holder Resigning **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 25, 2014, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-holder-resigning/699539 "2014-09-25T16:36:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-holder-resigning/699539/1 "2014-09-25T16:36:32Z")
" Eric Holder, who served as the public face of the Obama administration’s legal fight against terrorism and weighed in on issues of racial fairness, is resigning after six years on the job. He is the nation’s first black attorney general." [http://www.sfgate.com/news/politics/article/Official-says-Holder-resigning-as-attorney-general-5780101.php](http://www.sfgate.com/news/politics/article/Official-says-Holder-resigning-as-attorney-general-5780101.php) Good riddance. One of the worst attorney generals we have had. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-holder-resigning/699539/2 "2014-09-25T16:37:01Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Good riddance. One of the worst attorney generals we have had. John Ashcroft would like to have a word with you. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-holder-resigning/699539/3 "2014-09-25T16:41:44Z")
So would John Mitchell. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-holder-resigning/699539/4 "2014-09-25T16:43:22Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by PastTense View Post > Good riddance. One of the worst attorney generals we have had. I thought he was pretty good. What’s the beef with Holder? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-holder-resigning/699539/5 "2014-09-25T16:47:43Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > …Good riddance. One of the worst attorney generals we have had. Where’s Ed Meese when you need him? ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-holder-resigning/699539/6 "2014-09-25T16:58:42Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-holder-resigning/699539/7 "2014-09-25T17:00:19Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I thought he was pretty good. What’s the beef with Holder? He’s just not the right _sort_, know what I mean? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-holder-resigning/699539/8 "2014-09-25T17:01:20Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Where’s Ed Meese when you need him? Arguing with Alberto Gonzales over who really was the worst AG. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-holder-resigning/699539/9 "2014-09-25T17:05:34Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I thought he was pretty good. What’s the beef with Holder? There was a massive amount of financial crime which resulted in the financial catastrophes and bank bailouts at the end of the Bush and beginning of the Obama administration. Holder prosecuted virtually none of it. ---
**Author:** ![JesterX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/439d5e/32.png) [@JesterX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JesterX)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-holder-resigning/699539/10 "2014-09-25T17:05:55Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > " Eric Holder, who served as the public face of the Obama administration’s legal fight against terrorism and weighed in on issues of racial fairness, is resigning after six years on the job. He is the nation’s first black attorney general." > [http://www.sfgate.com/news/politics/article/Official-says-Holder-resigning-as-attorney-general-5780101.php](http://www.sfgate.com/news/politics/article/Official-says-Holder-resigning-as-attorney-general-5780101.php) > > Good riddance. One of the worst attorney generals we have had. Except for all the other before him. ---
**Author:** ![JesterX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/439d5e/32.png) [@JesterX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JesterX)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-holder-resigning/699539/11 "2014-09-25T17:15:47Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > There was a massive amount of financial crime which resulted in the financial catastrophes and bank bailouts at the end of the Bush and beginning of the Obama administration. > > Holder prosecuted virtually none of it. It’s doubtful the next AG is going to take those on. Holder’s on record as saying he felt prosecuting banks would’ve hurt the economy. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-holder-resigning/699539/12 "2014-09-25T17:34:22Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > There was a massive amount of financial crime which resulted in the financial catastrophes and bank bailouts at the end of the Bush and beginning of the Obama administration. > > Holder prosecuted virtually none of it. No AG would have prosecuted the banks. If they’re too big to fail, they’re too big to sue to death. If a nominee says he would prosecute the banks, he’s doomed to be rejected. ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-holder-resigning/699539/13 "2014-09-25T17:45:48Z")
Fast & Furious, spying on reporters, not enforcing immigration law (and SUING states that would), the piss-poor defense of Obamacare, suing states with voter ID laws, and otherwise politicizing every issue and not giving a rat’s ass about the actual law he is sworn to protect. Other than these things, he was a _great_ Attorney General. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-holder-resigning/699539/14 "2014-09-25T17:49:32Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > Fast & Furious Non-scandal that was initiated by his predecessor. > [@](#): > > spying on reporters Cite? > [@](#): > > not enforcing immigration law (and SUING states that would) Cite? > [@](#): > > the piss-poor defense of Obamacare That’s handled by the Solicitor General, not the AG. > [@](#): > > suing states with voter ID laws In other words, _doing his job_ by going after lawmakers who are violating the Constitution. > [@](#): > > and otherwise politicizing every issue BREAKING NEWS: Politician treates political issues politically. Film at 11. [QUOTE and not giving a rat’s ass about the actual law he is sworn to protect. [/QUOTE] And which law would that be? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-holder-resigning/699539/15 "2014-09-25T17:55:23Z")
I think we can all agree, though, that he’s still one of the worst. If you made a list of all the worst US attorneys general, I’ll bet he’d be in the top 100. Probably even in the top 50. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-holder-resigning/699539/16 "2014-09-25T17:59:41Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I think we can all agree, though, that he’s still one of the worst. If you made a list of all the worst US attorneys general, I’ll bet he’d be in the top 100. Probably even in the top 50. You think he’s bad now, just wait until you see who President Grax the Unmerciful appoints in 2256. ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-holder-resigning/699539/17 "2014-09-25T18:02:56Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Non-scandal that was initiated by his predecessor. The government allows the sale of firearms to drug cartels, which later turn up in dozens of crime scenes including the killing of Americans, and you say “non-scandal?” I think that’s all I needed to see from you. You can find your own cites for the others. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-holder-resigning/699539/18 "2014-09-25T18:03:32Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > suing states with voter ID laws Yeah, why should the Attorney General being concerned with whether or not people can vote? > [@](#): > > politicizing every issue You guys, I just died laughing. But I’ll come back from the dead to say that while I thought a few years ago that he should’ve quit over Fast and Furious - which turned out to be less scandalous than I thought - his work on sentencing reform and civil rights is tremendously meaningful, and so is his recent work with regard to policing and community relations. All of that would represent a huge improvement to the justice system. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-holder-resigning/699539/19 "2014-09-25T18:08:13Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > spying on reporters > > > [@Smapti](#): > > > > Cite? I think he might be referring to the Justice Department’s widespread seizing of reporter’s telephone records? [Cite from Mother Jones](http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/05/associated-press-phone-records-spying-journalists) > [@](#): > > Federal regulations require that the **attorney general personally** approve such a move, ensure the request is narrow and necessary, and notify the news organization about the request—in advance whenever possible. In this case, however, the Justice Department seems to have used an indiscriminate vacuum-cleaner approach—seeking information (from phone companies) about a wide range of phone numbers used by AP reporters—and it only notified AP after the fact. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-holder-resigning/699539/20 "2014-09-25T18:08:20Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > The government allows the sale of firearms to drug cartels, which later turn up in dozens of crime scenes including the killing of Americans, and you say “non-scandal?” And if that was _in any way at all_ an accurate description of what happened, it might be an actual scandal. Of course, it wasn’t, and what _did_ happen happened years before Holder took office and was in no way caused by anything he did. > [@](#): > > You can find your own cites for the others. So you have none, then. Good to know. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-holder-resigning/699539.md?page=2)