Frist on Alito Floor Action

National Review Online ^ | 1/13/06 | Ed Whelan

[frankjr]

01/13 09:37 PM]

All of what follows is from a press release from Senate majority leader Frist’s office:

“With the continued uncertainty over whether the minority will keep to a timeframe of voting, up or down, on Judge Alito on Friday, January 20, Senator Frist today made the following announcements to his Senate Republican colleagues on an afternoon conference call:

· Whenever the Judiciary Committee reports out the Alito nomination, the full Senate will begin work on the nominee the next business day.

· If Democrats delay final action past January 20th, he will cancel the recess for the week of January 23rd which he had previously scheduled with the knowledge of Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).

· Until the Senate votes, up or down, on the Alito nomination, he will not act on any other legislative item.

Frist made the following statement regarding his decision:

"Nothing right now is more key than the Senate voting, up or down, on the nomination of Judge Alito. I will keep the Senate at work and focused on the Alito nomination until we are done. Judge Alito, his family and the American people deserve a prompt and fair up or down vote on the Senate floor. When it comes to any delay in Judge Alito’s nomination, a Justice delayed will not be a Justice denied."

[frankjr]

And no Happy Hours for Kennedy until a vote.

[sd-joe]

Balls. Could it be?

[K-oneTexas]

Well ... good. I believe now that the budget is passed (holdovers being DOD and Labor) and continuing resolutions are therefore done. Maybe there is no other business need to be done by the Senate.

National Energy Policy has been snagged for years.

[Coyoteman]

a Justice delayed will not be a Justice denied

Now that's cute!

[68skylark]

Looks like good news. We'll see if he sticks to this script, or if he rolls over when pushed.

[jazusamo]

Sounds like Frist is getting his back up, it's about time. I hope he sticks to his guns.

[Cboldt]

If Democrats delay final action past January 20th, he will cancel the recess for the week of January 23rd which he had previously scheduled ...

Just when is the Senate going to deal with debate and negotiation on the PATRIOT Act? What's with the week off?

[gathersnomoss]

We'll see. I see in my crystal ball.... a waffle in Frists future.

[Flint]

I so hope that when President Bush walks into the joint meeting of Congress for the State of the Nation Address, sitting in the front row with the other Justices will be Justice Alito in his robes.

That will be a proud moment for conservatives and a sharp stick in the eye for the left side of the aisle. Can't wait to see the sour faces.

[upchuck]

Senator Frist is showing off his newly installed pair of teeny, tiny, minature cojones.

[Chuck54]

bttt

[TheBigB]

He's definitely running for Prez.

[Boundless]

> If Democrats delay ... cancel the recess ...

Piss on the State of the Union, dems,
kiss your ski trips goodbye.

[Keith in Iowa]

>>>Balls. Could it be?<<<

Something tells me Frist will wimp out in the end.

I also hope I'm proven wrong on this.

[Arm_Bears]

Did those come with a warranty?

[gov_bean_ counter]

On loan from Hillary.

[Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin]

Good! Don't give them any more time to make up or dig up any more lies or liars...

[hoosierham]

Naw,hers are jumbo.

[dynachrome]

We haven't heard from McVain and his gang of 14 yet.

[SkyPilot]

Apologize for the language, but here is what DU is saying: