Gang of 14.
Posted on 02/10/2008 2:00:24 PM PST by newbie2008
At CPAC, Senator John McCain promised:
I intend to nominate judges who have proven themselves worthy of our trust that they take as their sole responsibility the enforcement of laws made by the people’s elected representatives, judges of the character and quality of Justices Roberts and Alito, judges who can be relied upon to respect the values of the people whose rights, laws and property they are sworn to defend.
This promise was absolutely critical if McCain was to win over conservatives.
To be sure, Presidents all too often break campaign promises. Remember George Bush 41’s “read my lips” pledge on taxes?
In the new media environment, however, it’s getting easier to hold a President’s feet to the fire. Remember George Bush 43’s aborted nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court?
Those of us who waged war against Miers succeeded in part because in the 2000 campaign Bush had explicitly promised to nominate justices in the mold of Scalia and Thomas. We demanded that Bush keep that promise and, as it became clear that Miers was made from a different mold, we kept up a stead drum beat of criticism. In the end, we won. Miers was forced to withdraw and Samuel Alito became the newest member of the Supreme Court.
If a President McCain were to nominate a David Souter clone, the right’s netroots would have a collective conniption fit that would make the Miers fight look like pattycake. We might not win, but we’d at least bleed McCain of enough political capital to give even Warren Rudman second thoughts.
His promises are drek, just ask anyone who’s been near politics the last 30 years.
Well, that should take care of that concern. He sounded very clear about his intentions.
Ok, wait JM says that judges like Justices Roberts and Alito are to conservative, is now telling us that he appoint judges like them.
What am I missing here?
And why should I believe him?
He has a history of working with Democrats instad of us. There is no way the Dimmycrap Congress will approve judges like that, so McVain won’t even try.
Further, he said that he wouldn’t appoint judges like Alito, according to John Fund, Novak, and other reporters. Now, when he nees conservatives, he suddenly says he would.
But McCain was the leader of the Gang of 14 that stopped Republicans from being able to force through severl of President Bush’s more conservatives, strict constructionist judges — the very kind who would be most likely to vote to overturn McCain-Feingold, his signature legislative achievement, if give the opportunity.
And remember, justices like Souter, Stevens, Blackmun, Warren, Brennan, and so many others of their ilk were Republican appointees. Republicans of the same ilk as McCain.
OTOH, if Hitlery or B. Hussein should appoint radicals, the Republicans in the Senate will filibuster them.
So eitehr way, you’re going to get namby-pamby, middle of the road justices, not the kind of strict constructionists that we need.
Anyone who believes that McCain will gie us justices like that is in my opinion extrememly naive.
Campaign promises we know will be broken. McCain is courting the conservative vote. What else could he say?
He is still in the senate, if he wanted to offer peace to the conservatives he would introduce meaningful legislation imposing stiff fines on those that harbor or hire illegals, and increase security on the border. I would feel much better about voting for him if he did this.
Sorry, but McLame’s promises don’t mean dick, to me. His record is plain for all to see, despite his current rhetoric.
And, the sheeple trying to spin his words and record otherwise, or demanding conservatives close ranks around him are way out of line. One might even say...over the edge.
This is not the right man for the job.
When you were in the majority GOP Senate in the early Bush years why did so many of the Federal Judges awaiting to be confirmed get mucked up and withheld by the minority ‘Rat Dems who you colluded often with Sen. McCain’t? Your promise on judges rings hollow.
And I promise to vote for him as soon as I fly to the poling place on my pig.
If thats the case he’d have to nominate judges who would overturn the majority of his legislation.
Gang of 14.
Sorry to disappoint you, but you should have paid attention to his CPAC speech regarding the border.
He specifically said that he will "secure our borders first," meaning that there is a second part to his immigration plan: the reintroduction of the McCain/Kennedy amnesty bill.
That rotten bill will resurface when/if he's president and he will sign it...you can bet the GOP on it.
“judges of the character and quality of Justices Roberts and Alito”
Sorry, no sale. Character and quality are weasel words. Under that definition, well esteemed liberal judges could qualify.
Explicit promises coupled with key endorsements regarding judges and amnesty will go a long way toward solidifying my support for the GOP ticket. Some will reject McCain no matter what but that only works as part of an elect Hillary, the-worse-the-better strategy and I’m just not inclined to go that route.
Yeah right.
I’m not a McCain supporter, but I do hate to dampen any enthusiasm that might be taken from this pledge. The reality is the Dems. now control the Senate, and almost no one thinks the Republicans will regain control in 2008. Most think more seats will be lost. So, a time or two I posted this simple, but helpful: President McCain’s SCOTUS Nominee Worksheet:
Column 3: Candidate’s McCain would like to nominate.
Column 2: Candidates Patrick Leahy and Teddy Kennedy will
allow out of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
If no matches, work with Column 2.
The Dems. will never allow confirmation of another nominee similar to Roberts and Alito because one more conservative justice and the balance of the court will be tilted conservative, and they’d be the youngest justices, also.
I doubt they’d approve a nominee perceived as a swing voter, so much is at stake. McCain would have to meet with Leahy and Kennedy and other Dems. and get someone approved in advance to have any hope of confirmation.
The most critical thing for Republicans now is to work hard on winning back the House and Senate. There will be no more conservative justices until we at least win back the Senate.
Dozens of conservative Bush lower court appointees are now being held up in the Judiciary Committee, and the Dems have no intention of approving them.
Another consideration, if a Dem. becomes president, do the Senate Republicans yet have the spine to fight their ultra-lib nominees, with the filibuster if necessary (since the Dems. started that tradition and used it effectively against Bush). Or would we have more Ruth Bader Ginsburgs receiving 90+ votes for confirmation, and some Republicans bragging about how they worked with a Dem. president?
The only problem with that is what good is a serial liar’s word. But I suppose some of those that he has repeatedly spit in their faces, pi$$ed on and sh!! on over the years are desparate for something to cling to.
Here’s part of the problem: “. . .nominate judges who have proven themselves worthy of our trust that they take as their sole responsibility the enforcement of laws . . “
It is not the role of the Supreme Court to enforce laws; the constitution says that the executive branch is the law enforcement branch, the congress is the legislative branch and the court is to interpret the constitution.
Aparently John McCain needs a refresher course on the constitution.
Promising to “nominate” and being able to get them “confirmed” are two different things.
He must think we’re stuuuuuuupid.
His friends and soul mates, the ‘RATS in Congress, will never allow ANY Reagan conservatives to be voted on, much less confirmed.
Oh! Oh! A McCain promise. Worth about twice as much as a Clinton promise. Of course, for those not educated in public schools...2 x 0 is still 0. Bite me, McCain. Go to your community bath with Ted Kennedy. May he drive you in an Oldsmobile.
I’m of the opinion McCain views himself as the Great Compromiser for the Good of Us All ... I don’t trust that he will follow through on any stand or position. Everything in his mind is subject to compromise.
McCain is not a conservative. He is a liberal, but even worst, he is a member of the Washington, DC political elite who has come out of the closet to present himself as mainstream.
“OTOH, if Hitlery or B. Hussein should appoint radicals, the Republicans in the Senate will filibuster them.”
My concern is that there may not be enough Republicans in the Senate left to filibuster, especially considering some of the RINOs. I sincerely hope we won’t lose any and actually gain some; however, we’re defending a lot more seats than the Dims this year, and, if Obama is the Dim nominee, he’s going to have a HUGH turnout and a lot of Dims will be riding on his coattails.
“OTOH, if Hitlery or B. Hussein should appoint radicals, the Republicans in the Senate will filibuster them.”
My concern is that there may not be enough Republicans in the Senate left to filibuster, especially considering some of the RINOs. I sincerely hope we won’t lose any and actually gain some; however, we’re defending a lot more seats than the Dims this year, and, if Obama is the Dim nominee, he’s going to have a HUGH turnout and a lot of Dims will be riding on his coattails. Just my HO.
Unless he signs a promise in blood his time as long since come and gone to act accordingly.
If he had sabotaged the judge nominations with his gang of 14 he would have a lot more credibility.
George Bush felt the heat of conservatives and backed down from his Meirs nomination. Do you remember who was supporting Meirs at the time. John Sidney McCain.
Did you ever hear the interview John McCain had with Michael Reagan regarding Warren Rudman and his vetting of David Souter. McCain defended Rudman and Souter as fine men. He exploded on Reagan for even asking that question. McCain lost all control and vented his hair-trigger rage and hatred on Reagan and abruptly stormed out of the studio.
Has anyone forgotten who the leader of the gang of 14 was? John McCain is a die-hard hater of conservatives, the free enterprise system, the first amendment and strict-constructionist judges.
How anyone could think of voting for him and placing nuclear weapons and the security of our country in his hands is amazing. The man is always a mere flash-point away from unleashing his seething hatred, rage and anger on anyone who disagrees with him. If you do any fact checking you will find the targets of his monstrous rages are always conservatives. Have you ever heard him fire an obscene vulgar-filled tirade on Kennedy, Feingold, or Hillary? When was the last time he called Hillary a fu**ing a**hole? Answer: Never. In fact one of the last things he said about Hillary is that she would make a great President.
Some of you believe John McCain is a Reagan Republican. You are embarrassing yourself with such thoughts.
Look!
I’m to the right of Ailla the Hun, but asking McCain to promise to select Judges that will never get out of committee, isn’t very sound political strategery.
Just so no one forgets, McCain is still in the US Senate. How hard is he working to get the nominees of President Bush approved by the Senate?
Bush pushes Senate to OK 180 nominees: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080209/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush
‘Intend’, wasn’t that Senator Craig’s promise to quit his office? The RNC beltway insiders had better keep their eyes on what we’re saying cuz I don’t see it going away anytime soon. Same hollow ring as Jorge’s ‘the people need to know’.
“He is still in the senate”
Exactly! Please see my post: Three US Senators Seek the White House - No Free Pass
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1966708/posts
McCain Makes a Promise About Judges
...but first he needs to clear it with the Gang of 14.
If he can come through on the Supreme Court, I will support that stand. (I’m between a rock and a hard place on this)
“Just so no one forgets, McCain is still in the US Senate. How hard is he working to get the nominees of President Bush approved by the Senate?”
Yep, he has ten more months to demonstrate how he “got the message” on immigration, too.
“If he can come through on the Supreme Court, I will support that stand. (I’m between a rock and a hard place on this)”:
But he can’t as long as the Dems. have a majority (expected to increase) in the Senate and on the Senate Judiciary Committee. As long as that’s the case, he’ll be seeking the approval of Leahy and Kennedy.l
I don’t understand why the advice of the Senate magically became the approval of the Senate. That escapes me.
“I intend to nominate judges who have proven themselves worthy of our trust that they take as their sole responsibility the enforcement of laws made by the people’s elected representatives...”
That statement sends a chill up my spine. McCain-Feingold was a law made by the peoples’ elected representatives, and it’s unConstitutional as h*ll.
SCOTUS’ job is to uphold the Constitution, not every crazy idea that comes out of the Congress. McCain DOESN’T GET IT.
See the 2nd A. in the middle column of the following page in the Congressional Globe, a precursor to the Congressional Record.
http://tinyurl.com/y3ne4nNote that the above page is dated more than two years after the ratification of the 14th Amendment. So Bingham was actually reassuring his congressional colleagues on the scope and purpose of the ratified 14th Amendment.
The bottom line is that John McCain and the Democrats have to lead the Article V state majority to amend the Constitution to repeal the 2nd A. if they want to take our guns away.
Uh, excuse me, people. Judges don’t enforce laws.
I think he needs to read that Constitution a couple hundred more times. Maybe it will sink in.
Oh, and my answer is STILL:
NO WAY IN HECK WILL I VOTE FOR MCCAIN!!
You are embarassing yourself with strawman arguments.
If McCain is the GOP nominee, are you sure that withholding your support from him will be of net benefit to America? If so, are you capable of explaining why you believe this?
Listing your reasons for hating McCain and hurling unintelligent invective at those who are capable of expressing something other than hatred for McCain are doing nothing for conservatism.
“I don’t understand why the advice of the Senate magically became the approval of the Senate. That escapes me.”
I agree, but I guess it says advice and consent. But that has become approval of the Judiciary Committee, or no vote in the full Senate is even allowed. I think the committee should hold hearings and make a recommendation to the full Senate, but not have the power to deny a vote.
Not sure when it became that way, but nobody will want to give up that power now. But the Republicans never even used it to block SCOTUS nominees. They need to start whenever they can get back in the majority.
No Sale!
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