No Fireworks but Some Contentiousness as Atty. Gen. Holder Defends Himself in Senate Hearing - There were some moments of contentiousness,  but it was still far short of the big fireworks that were expected when Atty. Gen. Eric Holder Jr. appeared before the Senate Judiciary at the Dirksen Office Building on the Hill to talk about ATF’s controversial Operation Fast and Furious — a program that encouraged Arizona gun dealers to sell to straw purchaser, with hopes of tracing the weapons to the Mexican cartels.  In other words, Holder took a few jab here and there, but didn’t walk away bloodied.