While speculation has buzzed over Secretary of State Clinton it now seems that the next US Attorney General will be Eric Holder. Holder, who would be the first African American AG, served as deputy to Janet Reno during the Clinton years. Holder has also been on the unofficial short list for appointment to the Supreme Court so it is possible his stay at the Justice Department would be relatively short.

As you might expect of a former Clinton and potential Obama Justice Department pick, Holder has a center-left judicial philosophy but from what I have been able to read on the net he does not seem to be out of the mainstream.

Indeed some of the more liberal blogs like Daily Kos seem upset over the prospect of his nomination because he does not support legalization of drugs and prostitution.

Just as many of the Bush nominees were too conservative for me I suspect that some of the Obama picks will be too liberal. But if he manages to keep to reasonably mainstream picks like Clinton and Holder I think I will be happier than I was with choices like Ashcroft.