Eric Holder: 'Yeah, I'm interested' in White House bid

[left-of-center2012]

Source: The Hill

Former Attorney General Eric Holder told a group of Cincinnati Democrats that he's interested in running for president, CNN reported Sunday. The network reported that City Councilman Wendell Young asked Holder on Friday if he has "any interest in being president.

"Am I interested (in) it? Yeah, I'm interested," Holder responded. He previously told CNN that he believes the right candidate should be able to inspire people, have the vision for the job, the physical and mental capacity for the job and have the right experience. "I think that I am OK when it comes to those five criteria where I set up," Holder told CNN last week.

"But there is a personal component to it as well," he added. "People say it, but it really is true. It is a familial thing: I have kids; I have got a wife who is going to help be a part of this decision. That is for next year." Holder reportedly said he won't decide until next year on a potential 2020 campaign.

Holder has previously said he's open to a potential 2020 White House run. He further raised speculation that he'd enter the race when he visited New Hampshire last month for the annual Politics and Eggs breakfast.



Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/399406-eric-holder-yeah-im-interested-in-white-house-bid

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?itok=zkVH8pQk

[hibbing]

1. I'll pass n/t

[mucifer]

2. I won't vote for him in the primary. That's for sure!

He was constantly letting the billionaires off the hook.

[tonyt53]

3. He has the charisma and personality of a rock. Smart man, but no prez potential.

[7962]

16. Its a shame it matters, but it does.

charisma goes a long way

[Honeycombe8]

35. I don't think that's a shame. People skills are necessary for the job (as we are seeing!).

That's not the only thing. But the candidate has to inspire, enthuse, work well with our allies, have the power of persuasion.

[7962]

41. I was thinking more along the lines of appearances. Your points are right.

I think Scott Brown won his senate term on his looks. A lot of people, male & female, can be swayed by a good looking candidate who ALSO has the charisma!

[Honeycombe8]

49. I see. Yes, appearance matters in everything...even income.

Attractive people get hired for jobs more often, get paid more, etc.

I read an article once that explained the physical attributes that most of our Presidents have had. All I remember is TALL (we've had very few Presidents shorter than average, and most have been tall), symmetrical features, attractive, pleasant voice.

When you think of it, that's the type of person that is viewed as a leader. If you were trapped in the jungle with a group, and you had a little nerdy guy with a high voice say "Follow me. I'll get us out of here," and you had a tall Tarzan like man with a low pitched pleasant authoritative voice say, "Follow me. I'll get us out of here," most people would follow the big man.

I have an interest in anthropology and prehistory. I think having these attributes probably stems from way back, when it was the case that the leader was more often the big male with the pleasant voice and the good people skills. That's the way it is among primates, too. So while humans can rise above such things, it's still there. Our natural instincts.

Trump is tall and was handsome in his day, and has a nice voice when not booming hate remarks. But that shows that those traits don't necessarily mean someone is a good leader. He is missing smarts and people skills, as well as basic compassion. He is lacking. If we were in the caveman days, the other guys in the tribe would have turned on him by now.

[dameatball]

52. Some people probably think rump has charisma. I don't. I guess it is in the eye of the beholder.

Not arguing with you, just making an observation. For instance, I don't think AdamSchiff has much charisma, but I would vote for him.

But I know you are referring to general public perception and I can see that also.

Ha......Schiff/Holder2020 or Holder/Schiff2020...…."No charisma, no collusion"

[Fiendish Thingy]

4. No. Fucking. Way.

He was an undistinguished AG, and if he declares, he won't make it to New Hampshire.

[Wellstone ruled]

54. He did not serve our Country well at all.

Allowed Voting rights to be taken away,allowed Wall Street to rape a pillage America.

[Gothmog]

56. AG Holder is doing a great job rebuilding the Voting Rights Section

AG Holder did a great job at the DOJ Here is a good report on the damage done by the bushies to the civil rights and voting rights divisions of the DOJ http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/03/us/politics/03rights.html?_r=0

The 180-page report, obtained by The New York Times, is densely packed with statistics about civil rights enforcement by the division’s sections. The accountability office also examined a sampling of matters that were closed without further action, finding several cases — including the curtailed voter intimidation inquiry — in which supervisors rejected the recommendations of career lawyers to go forward.

The report represents a comprehensive review of the division’s litigation activity in the Bush administration. When compared with the Clinton administration, its findings show a significant drop in the enforcement of several major antidiscrimination and voting rights laws. For example, lawsuits brought by the division to enforce laws prohibiting race or sex discrimination in employment fell from about 11 per year under President Bill Clinton to about 6 per year under President George W. Bush.

The study also found a sharp decline in enforcement of a section of the Voting Rights Act that prohibits electoral rules with discriminatory effects, from more than four cases a year under Mr. Clinton to fewer than two cases a year under Mr. Bush.

Joseph Rich, a civil rights lawyer who has been invited by Democrats to testify and was among those given an early copy of the report, said it provided hard data that the division was politicized in the Bush years.

The report “confirms the types of problems we have been discussing for several years, particularly with respect to the enforcement record of the Bush administration,” said Mr. Rich, who spent 37 years in the Civil Rights Division and led its voting rights section.

[3Hotdogs]

7. Not one prosecution of banksters. Balls to him.

[laserhaas]

40. I can personally testify about his - Too Big to Jail - works

A tool for those who rule

[moreland01]

8. I would . . .

take him over ANY republican. That's for sure!

[Maxheader]

29. Yes indeedy..

[question everything]

36. And I will take him over Gillibrand and Harris (nt)

[ooky]

48. Yup. My vote is going to the candidate with the "D" after their name.

Period.

[Wolf Frankula]

9. He'd be better than tRump

But then almost anyone would.

Wolf

[oberliner]

10. Primary season at DU is going to be interesting

[INdemo]

11. yep.... the bashing has already begun

[dflprincess]

12. Saying you won't support someone in the primaries

And staring why you won't support them is not "bashing".

[tinrobot]

13. I'm wondering if there will be too many primary candidates in 2020.

Too many GOP candidates certainly helped Trump stand out from the noise in '16. I don't think he would have won so easily if he had fewer opponents.

2020 will certainly be interesting for Democrats.

[demmiblue]

14. No thank you...

but I have no problem with him running.

Thank dog, this time we will have numerous candidates who will gain national exposure and spread the Dem message. I'm sure the debate schedule will look a lot different, as well (a positive, again, in spreading the Dem message).

[7962]

15. Nope. Move along, Eric.

There are a LOT of folks with a MUCH better chance ahead of you

[msongs]

17. his massive list of substantial accomplishments should serve him well lol nt

[Autumn]

19. Why? What does he bring to the table?

[NurseJackie]

22. I like his demeanor and he seems a lot more trustworthy than some who are expected to announce.

What does he bring to the table?

I like his demeanor and he seems a lot more trustworthy than some who are expected to announce. He's respectful of the party and of the process. He doesn't insult others. That's a BIG plus for me.

[Autumn]

31. I just can't wait to see him in a debate against Kamala Harris

[Honeycombe8]

34. I don't favor her as a candidate.

She was unethical in joining to get rid of Franken to clear the way for her & others to run, IMO. There really was no basis to get the leadership to insist he resign, esp since he had done so much good and was a strong, articulate voice in the hearings. Which IMO was the problem for them.

[Autumn]

38. I agree there was no reason for any of that. Unfortunately they

all joined in on that bullshit. And we are all the poorer for that. Franken was the strongest voice we had.

[George II]

23. He's a Democrat.

[Autumn]

26. And a steller AG eh?

[zanana1]

45. It's funny how Democrats demand perfection from their candidates.

The only qualification Republicans need is experience on a reality show.

[BannonsLiver]

50. Well some of us don't.

Others are sanctimonious and are quick to blame anyone connected with the Obama admin because they didn't get their magic unicorn pony.

Holder was a good AG. People can piss and moan about what he didnt do all they want. It doesn't mean a GD thing. Like a fart in a windstorm.

[zipplewrath]

51. Not much of a Presidential resume

What he accomplished doesn't speak much to his capacity as president. What he didn't accomplish speaks volumes.

[JustAnotherGen]

20. Excellent!

Looks like we are going to have a pretty wide field of candidates! Whoever ends up with the nomination will have a great set of ideas to pull from.

[George II]

27. I just hope that this time around all of those who aren't successful rally around the nominee.

[NurseJackie]

46. If history is any indicator or predictor, I wouldn't count on it.

I just hope that this time around all of those who aren't successful rally around the nominee.

If history is any indicator or predictor, I wouldn't count on it.

What I'm trying to say is that we need to double our GOTV efforts especially in key states. We can't count on the Sarandons of the world (and other like-minded "destroy-to-rebuild" philosophy voters).

[JustAnotherGen]

53. Me too!

I also hope they all run as - This Is Me.

I.E. No attacks. Work together to advance Democratic and Liberal ideas.

Holder ticks off the racial justice, adherence to the constitution, and law and order items.

[dameatball]

21. I would consider him. No favorite for me at this time.

[Joe Bacon]

24. No thanks!

He let all those Wall Street crooks off the hook.

And now he just shoots off a lot of hot air about voter suppression now but when he was Attorney General he did nothing at all.

[Scruffy1]

25. Meah. Former Wall Street Lawyer.

I don't really hold that aginst him but as AG I thought he was pretty spineless. Still allin all a decent man. The main problen is he has no electoral experience to my knowledge. Still if he got nomination i would vote for him.

[vi5]

28. Tim Geithner or Arne Duncan not available?

Hard pass.

[saidsimplesimon]

30. I am focused on the midterms.

It is a shame that due to the demands of funding presidential campaigns candidates must begin fund raising years before an election.

Democrats have a really large pool of qualified candidates. The first hurdle is getting on the ballot and winning the primary.

[zanana1]

44. Intelligent reply.

Thank you. I would love someone like Bernie, but if that's not possible, any tried and true Democrat will do.

[democratisphere]

32. Not!

[Honeycombe8]

33. Well, that's a surprise. I'd need to know more about him. Interesting. nt

[TexasBushwhacker]

37. Run for Congress

Enough with the leap frogging to the highest office in the land.

[Ferrets are Cool]

39. Nope

[7962]

42. I'm curious who everyone thinks would be the front runners as of now?

[zanana1]

43. If a dog ran as a Democrat...

I'd vote for him over Trump.

[WhiteTara]

47. No. He's not the right person for the time.

[awesomerwb1]

55. Holder has no chance

Is this his ego talking?

Having "ran for candidate for President of the US" on one's resume might add a few extra million to his lifetime income maybe?

[Raine]

57. Ugh, NO way in hell!