Posted on 02/15/2003 4:51:15 AM PST by conservativecorner
recess(CNSNews.com) - Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist Friday announced that the Senate will recess for the President's Day holiday instead of forcing a vote on the judicial nomination of Miguel Estrada.
Speaking at a Capitol Hill news conference Friday, Frist said he will try to force a vote on the nomination of Estrada to the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals after the recess is over and the Senate reconvenes.
The decision to recess the Senate without a vote contradicts what Frist said earlier this week. "We'll stay as late as they would like tonight and tomorrow night," Frist said Wednesday, according to the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call. "My expectation is that by the end of this week, and before our recess, and possibly into our recess, we expect what all American people expect and deserve; an up-or-down vote on this outstanding candidate."
Democrats have said they will filibuster the vote on Estrada who, in their view, is reticent about his views and under-qualified. Democrats have said they have the votes necessary to block cloture, which normally ends debate in the Senate and leads to a floor vote on any given issue.
Frist said if "judges are going to be filibustered, not based on qualifications, but...partisan politics, it sets a bad precedent for this Congress and future Congresses.
"I'm willing to be patient to give the Democrats the opportunity to make their case before the American people," said Frist. But, he warned, "I'm willing to stay on this Estrada nomination as long as it takes" to get the full Senate to vote on it.
Sen. George Allen (R-Va.), chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, expressed frustration with court vacancies, many of which have been prolonged by partisan wrangling.
"This is like Groundhog Day every day around here, with everyone getting up and saying the same thing," said Allen, referring to the 1993 movie in which characters repeatedly wake up to the same day. The Senate has been at loggerheads over the nomination since it was brought up eight days ago.
"There are 12 judges allocated to this court (the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals); a third of them are unfilled," said Allen. "What you have is justice delayed, which means justice is denied."
But Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) insisted that it's answers, not more debate, that's needed.
"We don't need more time to debate Mr. Estrada's nomination," said Daschle on Feb. 13. "We need answers from Mr. Estrada. Without those answers, debate is hollow because we lack the basic information we need to make an informed judgment about Mr. Estrada's fitness."
Estrada has not offered specific answers to questions about ideology, saying that doing so could place him in the position of "prejudging" any issue that may come before him in court and would run counter to his "view of the judicial function."
I have to agree with you. Saying one thing and doing another doesn't exactly inspire confidence. I guess the GOP figures it's weekend off is more important than this nomination.
I love it when slow torture is self-inflicted. The RATS are standing there holding a cocked pistol to their heads, screaming, "Don't Laugh! You all are next!"
No, I believe that the GOP leadership thinks that a weekend off is more important than caving to the RATS to get the same weekend off! Remember, two of the Republican Senators are out on personal illness. Again, try not to give yourself a cotton wedgie...unless of course you are one of those "conservatives" who gets his rocks off with Republican failure.
Recess appointments can only be used when the president is a democrat.
Look it up in the NEW USSA Constitution - revision XXIV - co-authored by Hilliary! XXXlinton, Tommie Dashhole, and Dan Rather < /sarcasm >
The polls are unambiguous that most Americans want Estrada confirmed.I think Frist wants the RATS to go home for a week and get pounded by their constituents about this.
Once Dasshole and his fellow RATS get over their hissy fit, I think Estrada will be confirmed.
And once we get the first one, the others will come easier.
If one or both of your senators are RATS, I strongly urge you to make a real pest of yourself this next week. Call 'em, email 'em, fax 'em, visit in person. Drive 'em nuts!!
The GOP did not want to give the Dems a long weekend to pack the morning shows with "Blix-says-we-don't-need-to attack" rhetoric.
Just chill. We'll get Estrada; The Dems are losing BIG TIME on this issue. And we'll get Saddam. (Sigh. Jesus constantly said, "Have you no faith?" I know how He felt!)
That's ridiculous!
The recess is about the Repubs caving as usual. Time and time again this is what they do, they have a proven track record.
Whether we get Estrada or Saddam is not the point. The point is the Repubs act like wimpasses the majority of the time.
Actually, the point is that we get Estrada.
You are not majority leader. Two Republican senators cannot be present (as was explained in that one article you linked), the Republicans have ads on Spanish language stations, and the democrats are denied the opportunity to rant about Blix.
In addition, there is indeed a high terror alert regardless of the disinformation from some quarters, war approaches, and YOU are here griping about Frist.
You are rapidly approaching France in your level of helpfulness.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.