The new U.S. Attorney for eastern Pennsylvania is Laurie Magid, who took over as Acting U.S. Attorney last July when Republican Patrick Meehan resigned to prepare to run for Pennsylvania governor.

Attorney General Eric Holder, Obama's far-left appointee, made the decision to promote Magid last week, but it was announced this week.

Conventional wisdom was that Meehan's replacement would be somebody more in line with Holder and Obama, not a Republican holdover.

Perhaps this was part of the deal Arlen Specter made for his vote on the stimulus bill?

It's rare for a new administration to retain U.S. Attorneys or promote someone tied to a Republican administration.

Magid, the mother of three, joined the Department of Justice in 2001 during the Bush Administration.

The Philadelphia resident also served five years on the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing during the administration of Gov. Tom Ridge.

This has nothing to do with her qualifications, but U.S. Attorneys serve at the whim of the president and the posts are often awarded for political reasons. That's why I suspect Specter is involved.

Her biography is posted at the U.S. Attorney's Web site.