Republicans Picking a Fight Over Holder

Senate Republicans seem to have settled on attorney-general-designate Eric Holder as their main target for a tough confirmation hearing. Thanks to his liberal leanings and his role in the Clinton administration—especially the controversial 11th-hour Marc Rich pardon—Holder will get a grilling in the Judiciary Committee. Ranking Republican Arlen Specter tells the AP: “This guy has serious questions to answer. I'm not flexing political muscles.”

Politico notes that because Joe Biden’s spot on Judiciary is empty, a party-line vote would produce a nine-nine tie. Committee chairman Pat Leahy is confident that the GOP is all talk, and serious Republicans will come around. Says Leahy, “It could be a nine-nine tie, but I’ve had (Republican) senators tell me privately that of course they’re going to vote for Eric Holder.”