Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

  • Shop
  • Subscribe to BMG
  • Contact
  • Log In
  • Front Page
  • All Posts
  • About
  • Rules
  • Events
  • Register on BMG

Harshbarger for U.S. Attorney?

February 17, 2009 By David

Sooner or later, President Obama will get around to replacing the current occupants of the U.S. Attorney offices with his own people.  A columnist over at Mass. Lawyers Weekly suggests that Mike Sullivan’s replacement should be Scott Harshbarger.

Interesting idea.  Harshbarger certainly has the resume for it — Middlesex DA, Massachusetts Attorney General, and head of Common Cause to boot.  But, of course, U.S. Attorneys must be confirmed by the Senate.  Any chance that the Fells Acres controversy could come back to haunt his confirmation hearings?

Please share widely!
fb-share-icon
Tweet
0
0

Filed Under: User Tagged With: harshbarger, obama

Comments

  1. john-beresford-tipton says

    February 17, 2009 at 4:18 pm

    Are the people tired of what passes for law and justice in the Commonwealth?  Why dredge up those that have a history of court manipulation and give them another go?  

    <

    p>Wouldn’t it be a more positive act to clean up the courts rather than spread the dirt around?

  2. ryepower12 says

    February 17, 2009 at 4:29 pm

    who has enormous respect for Harshbarger, at least insofar as his advocacy on the issues. He’s one of the people in this Commonwealth who gets it.

    • edgarthearmenian says

      February 17, 2009 at 7:24 pm

  3. christopher says

    February 17, 2009 at 5:00 pm

    Generally, as part of the advice and consent process, the POTUS first tips off the Senators from the state of a potential nominee to get their reaction.  If Kennedy and Kerry are OK with him, then he’s probably fine.  Just to be clear, this applies to political issues, but not legal issues like paying one’s taxes.

    • david says

      February 17, 2009 at 5:17 pm

      Standard procedure for US Attorneys is for the Senators to inform the President who they’d like to see nominated — especially when, as here, the Senators are of the President’s party.  Kennedy and Kerry will have first shot at deciding who the next MA US Attorney is.

  4. humanservicer says

    February 17, 2009 at 5:51 pm

    I was thinking about the right wing of the Dem. Party that torpedoed Harshbarger’s run gov. 10? years ago and how far they have fallen. Given that Scott was an early supporter of Patricks and how weak the right wing of the party has become, I think he has good shot at the job. What’s happened to the conservative dems who sided with Celluch. 10 years ago and helped him eke out a victory:

    <

    p>Finneran (admitted felon)
    Bulger  (Retired)
    Glodis  (living w/ his parents)
    SEIU 254 (dissolved)
    NAGE  (lost more members than any union in MA history)
    Ray Flynn (who?)

    <

    p>Looks like it light opposition now.

    <

    p>

  5. davemb says

    February 17, 2009 at 6:48 pm

    As the guy in charge, he bears responsibility for the irresponsible prosecution and for the lack of any remorse or apology when the rationale for the case, if not the legal grounding of the conviction, fell apart.

    <

    p>So what’s his excuse?  How personally involved was he in the case?  Is it largely a matter of remaining loyal to the subordinates who actually made the calls?  Or do you think he really believes the Amiraults were guilty, of some sort of abuse if not the specifics recounted by the child witnesses?

    <

    p>Jack McCoy on Law & Order will dismiss a case against someone he believes to be innocent maybe 99% of the time.  (He let the Whitey Bulger analog confess to a murder that they knew had really been done by his academic twin brother.  But there at least they knew as well that “Whitey” had offed an innocent cabbie in a crime they couldn’t get him for.)

    <

    p>I wish I had more confidence that real DA’s were as interested in the truth.

  6. rupert115 says

    February 18, 2009 at 11:27 am

    Harshbarger would be an excellent choice, imho. I’ve always admired his strength in taking on issues even when it wasn’t politically popular.

    <

    p>If I was a crooked, high-ranking politician (ahh, but I repeat myself đŸ˜‰ his appointment would certainly make me nervous. I don’t think Harshbarger would shy away from rooting our corruption, wherever it led.

    <

    p>I don’t know whether he’d be confirmed, but he’s certainly qualified, frankly he’s a bit overqualified. If he gets it I’d be thrilled.

    <

    p>

Recommended Posts

  • No posts liked yet.

Recent User Posts

Predictions Open Thread

December 22, 2022 By jconway

This is why I love Joe Biden

December 21, 2022 By fredrichlariccia

Garland’s Word

December 19, 2022 By terrymcginty

Some Parting Thoughts

December 19, 2022 By jconway

Beware the latest grift

December 16, 2022 By fredrichlariccia

Thank you, Blue Mass Group!

December 15, 2022 By methuenprogressive

Recent Comments

  • blueeyes on Beware the latest griftSo where to, then??
  • Christopher on Some Parting ThoughtsI've enjoyed our discussions as well (but we have yet to…
  • Christopher on Beware the latest griftI can't imagine anyone of our ilk not already on Twitter…
  • blueeyes on Beware the latest griftI will miss this site. Where are people going? Twitter?…
  • chrismatth on A valedictoryI joined BMG late - 13 years ago next month and three da…
  • SomervilleTom on Geopolitics of FusionEVERY un-designed, un-built, and un-tested technology is…
  • Charley on the MTA on A valedictoryThat’s a great idea, and I’ll be there on Sunday. It’s a…

Archive

@bluemassgroup on Twitter

Twitter feed is not available at the moment.

From our sponsors




Google Calendar







Search

Archives

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter




Copyright © 2025 Owned and operated by BMG Media Empire LLC. Read the terms of use. Some rights reserved.