GOP Plans 'Marathon' On Judges. Debate to Spotlight Blocked Nominees

Washington Post ^ | Saturday, November 8, 2003; Page A01 | By Mike Allen

[.cnI redruM]

A brewing rebellion by conservative activists has prompted Senate Republican leaders to plan to devote at least 30 straight hours of debate next week to their bid to confirm a handful of judicial nominees being blocked by Democrats. The Republicans are bringing in food and cots for the "Justice for Judges Marathon," scheduled for Wednesday night through Friday morning.

Despite the showiness, neither side expects the spectacle to change a single vote or resolve the bitter impasse. Like previous acts in the high-decibel fight over the lifetime judgeships, the planned all-nighter is unlikely to stir the typical voter's attention or concern, according to pollsters and lawmakers.

[.cnI redruM]

It's about time they counter-filibustered the Dems. Let them be exposed for the cowards and criminals they all are!

[livius]

This article is a riot - heavily editorialized, predicting failure from the start, etc. However, it's still good to see that the Republicans are at least trying.

Now the important thing is to make sure that the major media actually reports it. The fact that the WashPost was already downplaying it and announcing that it would be of no interest to the voters indicates to me that they plan to ignore the whole event as much as possible. (Similar to their "Memogate" tactics).

[blanknoone]

Republican Senators are in desperate need of a spine transplant. The cowards have a scheduled end to forcing an actual filibuster. If they had any testicular fortitude they would make the dims filibuster it until they gave up and had a vote...and Bush would get his nominees appointed.

The battle for the judiciary is one of the most important fights for the soul of this country...and republicans are simply not fighting it. The dims are...and are therefore winning.

[spokeshave]

Well....I see some signs of calcification in the back area.....

1. The GOP PUNISHED the rats for voting against the health and education bill by stripping $180M of dem pork out of the bill.

2....Started up the nuclear bomb development.

3. Closed out the security committee until the memo writer is identified.

[.cnI redruM]

The Mississippi election may have made Frist recalculate how he looked at the judges issue. I think the whole Pickering affair effected that election.

[San Jacinto]

Of course, no one should get the idea that the talk a thon will get anyone confirmed on the Courts. A true 24/7 filibuster would not do it either, for reasons frequently explained here on FR. However, this is the right thing to do for publicizing the issue for next year's elections.

The Pubs don't have 60 votes to cut off debate and they are not going to get 60 votes, now or in the future.

Right now, the Pubs don't have 51 votes to invoke the controversial Nuclear Option. They probably will not get those 51 with the current make up of the Senate, because Chaffee, Snowe, and a couple of other NE RINOs won't go for it.

However, after next year's elections, going Nuclear should not be far fetched after we pick up new seats in FL, GA, LA, & SC. 2005 could be a real good year for Judges. Including SCOTUS. Reelection of Dubya in '04 along with a passel of new senators could help America for the next 30 or 40 years.

[jdege]

Republicans contend that this is the first time in the nation's history that filibusters have been used to block votes on federal court nominees. "It can't be tolerated. It won't be tolerated," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.).

Unfortunately, it's not he who has the choice of tolerating it, or not. It's the voters.

I don't see the GOP picking up 10 seats in the Senate, in 2004. Five, sure. Six, maybe. But not ten.

So post 2004 is going to be more divisive, not less.

Has anybody looked at what seats are in the running in 2006?

[JustAnAmerican]

"Senate Republican leaders to plan to devote at least 30 straight hours of debate next week."

Ewww, thirty whole hours. Thats 1.25 days, this really ought to make the Dims give in.[/sarcasm]

If the Republicans were really serious it would be 24/7 until the Dims said uncle, once again brass is not in the these Republican's dictionarys.

[San Jacinto]

....they would make the dims filibuster it until they gave up and had a vote

That would never happen. It is way to easy to keep the filibuster going. It only takes 2 or 3 senators working in shifts to keep it going. It takes 51 constantly on hand to defeat a quorum call.

Anyone who does nort understand the implications of what I just said should study up on the issue before they throw around the old "spineless" charge.

Having said that, I DO support constantly pushing this issue to the forefront. Getting those Judges is vitally important. The elections in'04 are key to doing so.

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

I heard a GOP senator say this on the Laura Ingram show.

Boy, if I had of blinked I would have missed it.

Be interesting to see how much press this gets, I wouldn't be surprised if the answer is VERY LITTLE.

Anyone know what the GOP plan is to get some judges appointed?

[LisaFab]

Bush and Republicans, meanwhile, may irritate rather than please their most conservative backers by promoting controversial judges who cannot win confirmation even in a GOP-controlled Congress. Some of those activists are accusing Senate GOP leaders of going too easy on the Democratic minority, a prime reason for next week's talkathon.

Does this paragraph make any sense at all?

[deport]

Anyone know what the GOP plan is to get some judges appointed?

---

There have been 168 of President Bush's nominees confirmed since Jan. 2001..... There are 7 on the Senate floor at this time with three of them being held up by the democrat filibuster... Frist hasn't scheduled the other four for action yet apparently.

Their plan on the filibustered nominees apparently is to hope that some of the democrats will finally vote with them on cloture.... Hope and a couple of dollars may buy them a cup of coffee at the Senate cafeteria.....

[cars for sale]

I've posted this on umteen "like" threads in the last 30 hours but all this was on C=SPAN(ing for democrats)

Frist,Lyndsey Graham,Kay Bailry Breck and Arlen
Majic bullet laid it out book chapter and verse.

end of the day a 50+1 wins and 3 or 4 legally
and constitutionally WILL BE CONFIRMED

this is fact

[deport]

Does this paragraph make any sense at all?

---

Yep says right wingers are ticked off and therefore the Repubs are going to hold a talkabout next week to try and appease them......

[deport]

end of the day a 50+1 wins and 3 or 4 legally
and constitutionally WILL BE CONFIRMED

---

You reckon the pubs have the nads to make that ruling by the chair and make it stick?

[cars for sale]

it is in fact written...shoulda seen Lindsey lay out the constitutional laws and spector lay out plan A and plan B.
Then Santorum said enuf. It was pure bliss

[deport]

I don't doubt that it is written as you say, but what I'm questioning is the nads of the pubs to pull it off and make it stick.... I know they can get a ruling by the Senate President which is sustainable by a 51 vote majority and it rules, but will they is the real question.....

I hope they will do it but time will tell......

[Cicero]

It's a step in the right direction. If they want to make a campaign issue of Democrat obstructionism, they have to show the Democrats obstructing.

But it's too little too late, a sop thrown to the conservatives. They shouldn't pass a single measure or allow a single piece of pork for Democrats until these judges are allowed a proper vote.

As for conservatives complaining that the candidates are too conservative, thereby provoking the Democrats to dig in, that's nonsense. The more conservative the better. The last time the Republicans compromised, we got Justice Souter.

[NeoCaveman]

Has anybody looked at what seats are in the running in 2006?

2000 was a very good year for Democrats in the Senate as a result (and this happens to which ever party wins the close ones) they have a lot of week first termers up in 2006.
This list, while not 100% complete, includes Maria Cantwell (WA) Debbie Stabenau(sp?) (MI) And the Neslons of FL and NE. Oh and how can I forget Hillary Rodman Clinton AR-IL-NY.

Once we get to 2008 the trends are against us for the same reason they are against the Dems in 2006.

[LisaFab]

Bush and Republicans, meanwhile, may irritate rather than please their most conservative backers by promoting controversial judges who cannot win confirmation even in a GOP-controlled Congress.

How in the heck is promoting "controversial" (read, conservative) judges ticking off conservative backers? I'm ticked off by the Dems using extra-constitutional means to block the nominess and somewhat miffed at the Pubs inability to deal with it. This all-nighter is a start, but the only real change must come from the people (in the form of pressure and votes), who might start paying attention if this session receives any press.

[montag813]

This article is a riot - heavily editorialized, predicting failure from the start, etc. However, it's still good to see that the Republicans are at least trying.

This plan is ludicrous. Just a show for the "conservative activists" mentioned in the article. If they were going to really do it, they wouldn't put out a press release first. Conservatives must press ahead to remove traitors like Arlen Specter and fill our ranks with true believers like Sax Chambliss, Jim Inhofe and Jeff Sessions. Then we will fight for REAL.

[pogo101]

Be interesting to see how much press this gets, I wouldn't be surprised if the answer is VERY LITTLE.

Or, it will get press, but nearly all of the "What about Iraq and the economy? Nearly all Bush's judge's have been confirmed," etc., variety.

[Leto]

Correct me if I am wrong, 24/7 fillibusters have never lasted more than an day of two. They wouldn't last a week. Also this would cause a lot of pain for Edwards, Liverman, Kerry, to be in Wash rather than campaigning.

Besides this would keep the Senate from legislating for awhile,,, a good thing for the most part. ;-)

[blanknoone]

The senators need to do their duty to the country and the Constitution.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

30 hours hell!! Shut down all senate business and make it a true fillibuster, fight the dims to the bloody end and play every race and gender card in the book against the 8a$tards.

[pabianice]

Thirty whole hours. Big deal. The Repubs ought to make everyone in the Senate go to SERE School. Nothing like a week of eating cactus, diarrhea, insect bites, sleeping on the ground in 30 degree nights, baking in the 130 degree day, pulling prickly pear cactus spines out of your tounge, and getting the crap kicked out of you in the POW compound.

[blanknoone]

Anyone who does nort understand the implications of what I just said should study up on the issue before they throw around the old "spineless" charge.

You are right...they may not be spineless...they may just be too lazy to do the work it would take. How many wars would America have won if her soldiers took the position, "But, Sir, taking that hill is going to be Haaaaaard!"

Besides, methinks that an actual dem filibuster would collapse under the public spotlight in fairly short (ie sustainable) order. Even if no one knew their two day stunt was only going to last a couple of days, it would have been a much bigger press story, and a few of the teetering dems would might very well have caved before the 2 days were up.

[Zeppo]

Why isn't the RNC using political advertising dollars right now in a few states where senators might not be so secure of their reelection chances? Show pictures of the held-up nominees - Estrada, Brown (soon to be), Pickering, others - give a web address with info about them and about the Demo/Commie obstruction, and tell viewers that their senator blankety-blank is keeping these qualified people from serving due to political gamesmanship. There needs to be some downside for the Demo/Commie senators in their home states, and a few conservative letter writers will not be enough.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

"I don't doubt that it is written as you say, but what I'm questioning is the nads of the pubs to pull it off and make it stick.... "

I am with you, I don't think Frist and company have the minerals for a thrust at the jugular.

The democRAT liberal true believers possess an innate killer instinct from birth, they are the true, "NATURAL BORN KILLERS". "

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

"Anyone who does nort understand the implications of what I just said should study up on the issue before they throw around the old "spineless" charge."

You could not be more wrong. Reverse the players and the democRATS would filibuster it to the very end, and win.

Pubbies don't have what it takes for dirty street fighting tactics, they liken themselves unto graceful ballet dancers with a few karate and judo moves.

And a street wise democRAT punk would wipe the pavement with them with just one swift kick in the pubbie family jewels and a quick slap to the mammary glands for the fair gender.

This is war, and the democRATS understand this premise, call it politics if one likes, but war by any other name, is still war.

[deport]

somewhat miffed at the Pubs inability to deal with it.

---

Ding ding..... that's what I think they were trying to infer

[San Jacinto]

I think deport got it right.The scenario is--

1. A conservative is nominated
2. A minority of dims block him/her
3. Some conservatives blame the "spineless" Republicans

Of course, the soultion can't be to stop nominating the conservatives. The solution is to change the Senate rule so that we can stop the filibuster. We apparently need 3 or 4 more hard core Republicans in the Senate to offset our 4 RINOs in order for this "nuclear option" to be employed.

[Angelwood]

This session will need people to be at the Senate -- in the Gallery and outside or inside bringing supplies to show the Senate Republicans that they have support and help keep them focused on the task at hand. Details will be forthcoming -- still in the planning stages. But from Wednesday evening until Friday morning, people who are fed up with the obstructionist tactics of the Democrats in the Senate (and elsewhere) need to be on hand for support, a vigil, press conferences, etc. for the whole 30 hours or more that it takes.

[SouthCarolinaKit]

I just do not understand how DemocRATs can get away with this CATHOLICS NEED NOT APPLY policy in selection of judges.
Nor do I understand how any Catholic can vote for any Democrat. They must not care about either their God, his rules, or their country.

[skinkinthegrass]

It's about time they counter-filibustered the Dems. Let them be exposed for the cowards and criminals they all are!

w/ due regards...from this-time to that-time, unlimited is the key...make "Swimmer" Ted Kennedy - 'dry out' - no time limit.

[skinkinthegrass]

The Pubs don't have 60 votes to cut off debate and they are not going to get 60 votes, now or in the future.

...fine, Recess appoint the judges...like Bork or some strict constit. law/tax-cutting judges, keep it up...make the 'RATS scream bloody hell...no let up.

[zbigreddogz]

Cantwell may have won by a wisker, but she toppled the last major statewide republican standing in doing so. I'm from washington, and I honestly don't know anybody in the state that can beat her, except, of course, Jennifer Dunn, who has made it pretty clear that she's a lifer in the house by saying no to both the governor's race and no to running against Patty Murray, who she would crush if she ran most likely.

I honestly don't know of anybody else who would beat her unless there is some strange 94 like tidalwave.

[zbigreddogz]

Oh, and Hillary is only vulnerable if Gulianni runs. Let's just hope he doesn't wimp out and run for Governor. Pataki for Gov in 06!

[Bob J]

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