Thank the lord, and administration that understands they are NOT above the law! Refreshing!

If and when we restore faith and credibility to the Dept of Justice, we need to also impose strong structural impediments that make it nearly impossible for any administration to so completely corrupt and politicize it again. Severe and swift punishment to those who did so in the past as a harbinger to those who would contemplate to do so in the future. Holder, I have growing hope, may be the man to do it.

Holder is a pile of baloney; don't be sucked in by empty rhetoric. See this article, and the links in it for a better explanation of why Eric Holder is a horrid choice for AG.

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/11/29/fold-the-holder-nomination/

Simply being better than Ashcroft, Gonzales and Mukasey is a pitifully low bar. We need a much better choice than that.

HOLDER IS AWARE OF OUR LAWS AND TRADITIONS....

The fact that this even has to be said about an Attorney General nominee tells you more about the sorry state of the DOJ than it does about Holder. Same goes for Holder's remarks--always good to hear, but he shouldn't even have to say it.
On a more superficial level, it's really great to see a black president-elect introducing a black attorney general nominee. That loud rumbling sound is Jesse Helms rolling over in his grave--sounds like....victory.

We still need to answer the question about what we're going to do about past crimes and abuses.

The best move for the Obama administration would be to set up an independent, nonpartisan special prosecutor, so that it cannot be claimed that the investigation is political. If new legislation is required to do this, so be it.

The option of not doing anything would be a disaster.

Simply being better than Ashcroft, Gonzales and Mukasey is a pitifully low bar. We need a much better choice than that.

He is much better than the previous three. Much, much better in fact. In order to disqualify him, you're going to have to do better than pointing out one of his slimey former clients. If that's a disqualifier, then the only ones eligible for the job would be lifetime prosecutors.
I would also think that most of the decisions on corporate prosecutions would be made by the various US Attorneys. I need some real evidence that Holder would put the breaks on such prosecutions or would in any way interfere with such prosecutions. So far, I don't see it.

I agree with the sentiments that reversing criminal behavior is only half the job.
Future presidents should see that past violations were dealt with servely.

Even when the president did it, it wasn't legal.

I'll stand by figuring Obama gets nothing from showing his card sin advance. It was Bush who would spew bluster and then do nothing. From the campaign, I can believe Obama says nothing then drops the hammer.

If no progress is seen by May on putting some people in jail, I will remain too weary for outrage.

Alberto Gonzales is hands down the worst AG of my lifetime. I'm not enough of a historian to know if he might be the worst ever. I'm sure there were more evil ones here and there, but could there possibly have been a less competent man?

Allan Snyder above; you are certainly entitled to your opinions. Mine are quite well supported if you read through all the links within the link I provided. I deal with the justice system daily, and I have a pretty decent idea of what is going, and has gone, down in it. Eric Holder was abrasive, divisive and extremely disliked by many within the mid- level and career ranks during his last stint at the DOJ; this is not the kind of personality that is needed to rebuild the ranks and esprit de corps.

Furthermore, as I argued in the link cited, one of the critical tasks will be reeling in big business and finance that have run amok in this country and caused much of the state of affairs we are in; Holder is a charter member of that set, not someone that will get tough as is necessary. You are drinking the kool-aid of a bunch of bloggers that don't know their ass from a hole in the ground when it comes to the real nuts, bolts and reality of the justice system. Looseheadprop at Firedoglake is a former DOJ official that personally attests to the things I have laid out. I practice every day with US Attys, prosecutors and judges in the justice system; this is my honest view.

You are, of course entitled to your own opinion, and I would argue and fight to the death for your right to it; but this is mine from my experience.

According to the TPM Muckraker, which has the full statement, there was also this quote:

"National security concerns are not defined only by the challenges created by terrorists abroad, but also by criminals in our midst, whether they be criminals located on the street or in a boardroom."

Which seems to suggest that he does intend to go after corporate criminals.

"Alberto Gonzales is hands down the worst AG of my lifetime." Posted by: winner

Meese! Of course you might not be old enough to remember.

The folks in the Bush administration engaged in very similar rhetoric. This rhetoric was being spewing while they were breaking our laws and subverting our constitution.

If anyone here expects the democrats to save the day, you'll be sorely disappointed. Far too many people still believe in the democrat vs. republican distraction.