Posted on 01/06/2006 6:23:54 AM PST by prairiebreeze
Sen. Harry Reid's office says news reports that Reid will delay a committee vote on Judge Samuel Alito are "inaccurate."
Jim Manley, a spokesman for the Senate minority leader, issued a statement Thursday, saying, "No decision has been made regarding a Senate Judiciary Committee rule that permits any committee member to request a one-week postponement of a committee vote."
Reports surfaced on Thursday that Reid had told Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist that Democrats would delay the committee vote. As word spread, Judge Alito's supporters offered an angry response.
Fidelis, a pro-life, Catholic advocacy group, accused Reid of launching a "soft filibuster" of Judge Alito's nomination.
"This may be an attempt by Senator Reid to test the waters for a full-blown filibuster of Judge Alito's nomination on the Senate floor," warned Fidelis President Joseph Cella.
The Associated Press, quoting Senate leadership aides, reported on Thursday that Senate Democrats planned to delay the Judiciary Committee's vote on the Alito nomination by at least one week.
Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) has said he hopes to hold a committee vote on Jan. 17, eight days after the start of Alito's confirmation hearings.
But according to the AP report, Senate Minority Leader Reid told Majority Leader Frist that "Democrats will invoke their right to hold the Alito committee vote over for one week." The Associated Press said the aides "spoke on conditions of anonymity because the move had not been announced yet."
"Creating such undignified ill-will even before the hearings began is very unbecoming of the Senate," Fidelis responded.
Alito, who has received the American Bar Association's highest rating, is expected to face a more contentious questioning than Judge John Roberts did prior to his confirmation as Supreme Court chief justice
RAT flip-flop ping?
The RATS are toast on this one. Election year, no Republican in his or her right mind will go against Alito.
Bush has something up his sleeve again. All this is going on while he is with SecStates and defense, getting ready for SOTU and Abramoff. We are going to see the biggest cover up in the history of this government.
Predictions:
1. Deal for DeLay will be charges are dropped in exchange he doesn't get back the chair.
2. Alito will go 95-5. Boxer, Kerry, Kennedy, Feingold and Schumer will vote nay.
3. It will be agreed by both parties that all Abramoff donations will be donated to Katrina relief fund and they will use the "no blood no foul" rule. Anyone up for reelection this year who is over 65 will choose not to run.
4. Bush will go heavy on Iran in SOTU. Talk about removing troops on an as needed basis. Hints he might remove them through Iran. Two days later, Iran comes to the table and takes Russias offer about uranium coming from Russia.
I am sure there is more. Just wanted to start the ball rolling with those.
Sure, their focus groups tell them it's a bad move.
So does Daschle losing. Pickups in 2002 and 2004 on this issue. DeWine's son coming in fourth. Miers.
But the Kennedy's and Schumer's of the world don't care.
Ultimately it comes down to the red state Dems. Reid isn't calling the shot here. The Liberals in the Senate are trying to call the shots, but they aren't able to either. Not on this issue. It comes down to the Democrats that KNOW the issue of judges can cost them their seats in an election year that don't want to follow Daschle out the door.
Possible they will allow a week delay, but block it up to November? No matter the pressure they are receiving from Liberals unlikely. Self preservation usually takes hold.
They are so confused; they don't know what they want from day to day. Bad as the Pubbies are looking these days, the Rats are worse.
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