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Key Legislation Languishes as Democrats and Republicans Jockey for Power The Senate was bogged down in its latest snarl last Wednesday when an angry John McCain (R-Ariz.) blurted out publicly what many colleagues have been muttering in private: "Why don't we just go home . . . rather than go through this charade of telling Americans that we are legislating?" McCain's tart observation reflected the paralysis that has gripped the Senate this year. The Senate is famously known for its painfully slow pace and legislative quicksand, and few had high hopes for significant achievements this year. But a breakdown in...

On Saturday, the Washington Post ran an editorial titled "End Run for Mr. Pickering," lamenting President Bush's decision to recess-appoint Judge Charles W. Pickering to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. His actions were a direct response to the Democrats' continued filibuster of Pickering's nomination. Instead of simply acknowledging that President Bush was fully within his right to make the appointment and that, even though they disagreed with Pickering's nomination, the President is right to circumvent a filibustering, stonewalling minority of Senators who won't allow a vote on the nomination to fill the vacancy classified as a "judicial emergency" by...

Way to go, Gov. Arnold! Declaring a "financial emergency," he has authorized the payment of state money owed to local government agencies, including the city of Bakersfield and Kern County. It's a gutsy, much-needed move. Democrat lawmakers would be well-advised to support it. Look for another bone to fight Republicans over. The money was caught in the sleight-of-hand that Sacramento politicians use to balance the state's budget and cover up their excessive spending. During more than a decade of Republican and Democratic governors leading California, sales tax, property tax and other fees, such as the vehicle license fee, have been...

"Either Senator Miller has conveniently forgotten a frightening period of American history, or he is willfully demeaning all those African-Americans who were hung from trees throughout the period of racial segregation in the South," said Wade Henderson, the director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. This was in retort to a statement Miller made equating his party's opposition to the nomination of a conservative African-American judge to a lynching. But the question should be raised, what if Zell Miller didn’t forget and instead remembers all too well? Perhaps Senator Miller does remember “all those African-Americans who were hung from...

WASHINGTON -- Emboldened by Miguel Estrada's withdrawal from consideration for the U.S. Court of Appeals, Senate Democrats threatened to block more of President Bush's judicial nominees to discourage him from offering what they called conservative ideologues. "As long as the administration continues to do this, we will continue to block judges who are outside the mainstream," Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. said. Estrada's withdrawal Thursday from consideration for the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia makes him the first high-profile Bush judicial nominee to ask that his name be removed from Senate deliberation. Republicans failed on seven...

Off with Their Heads Traitors, Crooks & Obstructionists in American Politics, Media & Business by Dick Morris Chapter One The New New York Times: All The News That Fits, They Print There is a new New York Times. Howell Raines's New York Times. No longer content to report the news, he admits to "flooding the zone" -- and floods it with stories that carry forward his personal crusades and the paper's editorial views. And the Times doesn't stop at slanting the news; it also weights its polls. The surveys the newspaper takes regularly are biased to give more strength to...

"I have you in my power."

Texans still on the lam in Ardmore (front page article)2003-05-15 By David Zizzo The Oklahoman ARDMORE — Few of the Texas legislators on the lam have left the hotel they’re holed up in. But if the political standoff that brought them here in the dead of night goes on much longer, they might have to venture out. “I’m sure there’s a Wal-Mart around here somewhere,” Texas state Rep. Joe Deshotel of Beaumont said Wednesday. The 51 Democratic legislators who arrived Monday in Ardmore as part of a parliamentary battle over redistricting might run short of clean laundry if their gambit...

AUSTIN -- A group of Democratic lawmakers who threw the Legislature into turmoil when they went into hiding to block a Republican congressional redistricting plan turned up Monday evening in Ardmore, Okla. House Speaker Tom Craddick announced in the state Capitol Monday night that most of the missing Democrats were at the Holiday Inn in Ardmore and that officers of the Texas Department of Public Safety were arriving to offer to escort them back to Austin. More than 50 Democrats skipped the legislative session scheduled for Monday morning, depriving the body of the two-thirds majority required to conduct business. The...

RNCResearch DEMOCRAT OBSTRUCTIONEstrada And Owen Blocked By Shameless Partisan Minority _______________________________________________________________________ “Owen, Like Estrada, Apparently Will Need 60 Votes For Confirmation Instead Of A Simple Majority. It’s A Shame And It’s Wrong - Essentially Turning Over The Senate’s Power Of Confirmation To Any Minority That Can Scrape Together 40 Votes. Can’t Find It In Our Copy Of The Constitution.” (Editorial, “The Filibuster Docket,” The Daily Oklahoman, 4/11/03) The Filibusters Against Estrada And Owen Are “A Shameful Exhibition Of Partisan Politics.” (Editorial, “Not Enough Hours,” Las Vegas Review-Journal, 4/15/03) “The Arguments Against Mr. Estrada’s Confirmation Range From The Unpersuasive To...

NRSC UPDATE ON ESTRADA 5 March 2003 Senator George Allen Chairman Good Day, Yesterday Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) said that Republicans, "We're just beginning the fight," to make sure that Miguel Estrada is confirmed. "This is not going to go away- not until we get an up-or-down vote," said Majority Leader Frist.Senators will vote tomorrow on the cloture motion, which will limit debate and force a vote on the nomination. We're just beginning the fight. Read article below: 03/05/03 Source: Washington Times By: Joseph Curl This article has been excerpted Senate Republican leaders yesterday made the first move...

Democrats flaunt constitution and ignore their own precedent Democrats, Fearful Of Majority Rule, Filibuster Estrada Nomination ________________________________________________________ PRESIDENT BUSH ON THE DEMOCRAT'S OBSTRUCTION: "The Senators Are Applying A Double Standard . . . By Requiring [Estrada] To Answer Questions That Other Judicial Nominees . . . Have Not Been Forced To Answer. And That Is Not Right And That Is Not Fair. By Blocking A Vote On Miguel Estrada, Some Democrats In The Senate Are Flaunting The Intention Of The United States' Constitution. And The Tradition Of The United States Senate Itself. Alexander Hamilton WroteThat The Purpose Of The Senate...

An Open Letter to Democrats at the DNC Winter Meeting from RNC Chairman Marc Racicot February 21, 2003 In the 2002 elections, the American people told both parties they wanted solutions, not finger pointing. They rejected criticism without solutions. When Democratic leaders said no to presenting a budget, to a Department of Homeland Security, to terrorism insurance and to judicial appointments, the American people said no to Democratic candidates. Election day polls showed Republicans with double-digit leads over Democrats on who the American people trusted on homeland security, keeping America safer, and having clear ideas. On the most dominant issue...

RNC Research Briefing29 January 2003 WILL DEMOCRATS OBSTRUCT HEALTH CARE REFORM? Democrat Demagoguery And Attacks Won’t Fix The System _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ “A Market For Medical Progress Is Important. Mr. Bush Deserves Credit For Suggesting Policies That Would Preserve One, Especially Since He Will Have To Compete With The Democrats’ Demagogy About Everything Being ‘Free.’” (Robert L. Pollock, “Americans Need A Market For Medical Progress,” The Wall Street Journal, January 22, 2003) DEMOCRATS ATTACKED PRESIDENT BUSH’S MEDICARE AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN BEFORE IT WAS RELEASED! Even Before The President’s Medicare And Prescription Drug Plan Was Released, Democrats Attacked It As A “Reckless...

Oklahoman Editorial: GAMES THEY PLAY -- Democrats Try to Thwart Senate Agenda 2003-01-17 LEADERS in the U.S. Senate finally have reached an agreement to officially turn over control of the chamber to Republicans, who hold a 51-49 majority as a result of last November's elections. The situation wouldn't be worth much ink if it weren't for the fact delays thrown up by Democrats suggest an emerging scorched-earth strategy to sabotage President Bush's legislative agenda while making it look like the Senate's new majority party can't get anything done. At the beginning of each new session of Congress an organizing resolution...

DEMOCRATS OPPOSE MEDICAL LIABILITY REFORM Put Trial Lawyer Money Over Fixing Health Care System PRESIDENT BUSH: “The federal government ought to set a minimum federal standard to reform the medical liability system. . . . [W]hat we want is quality health care, not rich trial lawyers. . . . Congress needs to get a bill to me . . . that will protect the American patients from medical malpractice.” (President George W. Bush, Remarks On Major Reforms To Address Medical Liability Crisis At High Point University, Greensboro, North Carolina, July 25, 2002) THE OUT-OF-CONTROL MEDICAL LIABILITY SYSTEM IS CAUSING A...

UPDATE EMAIL FROM NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL COMMITTEE (NRSC)From Senator George Allen, Chairman, NRSC: Good Day, Democrats continue to ignore the results of November's elections. For this and more please see today's top stories... Have a great day! Court Today's Top Stories Democrats hang on to gavels Source: Washington Times By:Amy Fagan January 15, 2003 Article has been excerpted. Top Senate Republicans yesterday said Democrats are attempting an orchestrated "coup" to keep control of the Senate and ignore the results of November's elections. Democrats are demanding a nearly equal split in committee funding and are blocking efforts to organize the Senate...

Jan 15, 9:56 AM EST Senate Paralyzed by Procedural Dispute By JIM ABRAMS Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) -- Just a week into the new session of Congress, the Senate is paralyzed by a dispute over a usually mundane decision about how much money will go to each party to do its committee work. Democrats, ceding power to Republicans, say they are demanding only what is fair in an almost evenly divided Senate. Republicans accused Democrats of trying to reverse the election results and block the new majority from moving important spending and economic stimulus bills. "It's tantamount to an...

CALL YOUR SENATORS -- TELL THEM GOP WON THE ELECTION -- GOP COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN NEEDED ASAP For those of you that may not know, the DemocRATs in control of the Senate Minority led by ms. clinton (don't be fooled by anyone -- she is calling the shots) have decided not to recognize the results of the last election and are maintaining Committee Chairmanship until the Republicans give them what they want.The Memo below from Roll Call in October laid out their plans. What the DemocRATs did not expect was a Republican controlled Senate so now they are refusing to vote...

Democrats 'test' Frist as Senate leader James G. Lakely THE WASHINGTON TIMES Published January 8, 2003 Article has been excerpted. Sen. Bill Frist's honeymoon as majority leader lasted about as long as it took to swear in this year's new slate of senators, thanks to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. A deal that the Tennessee Republican said he thought had been brokered with Democrats to extend unemployment benefits by unanimous consent evaporated yesterday - if only temporarily - when Mrs. Clinton, New York Democrat, insisted on an am endment to double the extension from 13 weeks to 26 weeks. "I think...

MIDI - JINGLE BELLS - first version, jingbell Daschle's in the snow…we rub it right in his face If we had the chance…he'd meet Mr. Mace This obstructionist…did not get his way The voters said, "Hey Tommy Boy, your game we will not play" Jingle bells, Daschle smells…his Christmas is sad He has been sent to his room because he's been very bad Jingle bells, Daschle smells…his Christmas is sad He has been sent to his room because he's been very bad He had such big plans…he thought RATS were doing fine But when they had lost…you could hear...

Saturday, November 9, 2002; Page A04 Rejecting critics' suggestions that Democrats lost the battle for Congress because they had the wrong message -- or no message at all, Senate Democratic Leader Thomas A. Daschle (S.D.) said yesterday it was really just a failure of communication. Democrats were effective in pointing out deficiencies in the Bush administration's economic policies but less successful when it came to selling their own strategies, Daschle said at his first press briefing since Democrats lost the Senate and the GOP solidified its hold on the House in Tuesday's elections. "It isn't for lack of a strategy,"...

For Immediate Release October 20, 2002 Statement by RNC Chairman Marc Racicot on Congressional Adjournment WASHINGTON - Marc Racicot, Chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), today issued the following statement: “It is politically expedient for Senator Daschle to blame Republicans for his inability or unwillingness to move important legislation that he promised Democrats would accomplish for the American people including a budget, pension reform, prescription drug reform, welfare reform and homeland security. The President and Republicans have overwhelmingly supported these and other initiatives like historic tax relief, that helped stimulate our economy; historic education reform, so that no child...

DEMOCRATS’ DOMESTIC AGENDA OF BLOCK, STALL AND STOP LEAVES THE AMERICAN PEOPLE’S BUSINESS UNFINISHED BUT DEMOCRAT SPECIAL INTERESTS VICTORIOUS While President Bush And Republicans Acted, Daschle’s Democrat Senate Chose Government Employee Unions Over Homeland Security And Pension Reform And Environmental Extremists Over Domestic Energy Security ____________________________________________________________________ THE RECORD OF DEMOCRAT SPECIAL INTEREST VICTORIES HOMELAND SECURITY: Daschle And The Democrat Senate Have Failed To Allow A Vote On Homeland Security. It has been 85 days since the House passed Homeland Security. (H.R. 5005, Roll Call #367: Approved 295-132: R 207-10; D 88-120; I 0-2, July 26, 2002) Senator Zell Miller (D-GA)...

October 10, 2002 DASCHLE'S DEMOCRAT SENATE: NO ACTION ON PENSION REFORM While Democrats Stall, President Bush And Republicans Act To Protect Workers' Pensions ___________________________________________________________________________ PRESIDENT BUSH HAS LED: "Right now, workers get an update every year. They ought to get updates every three months on their plan. They should be able to get sound investment advice. After all, it's their money. I proposed these reforms months ago. The House acted. The Senate hasn't. The Senate leadership, those who are running the Senate now ought to bring these worker reforms forward. They ought to get this pension reform bill up and...

DEMOCRAT PUBLICITY SUMMIT FAILS TO ADDRESS STALLED ECONOMIC LEGISLATION Democrat Inaction In Washington Means No Relief For Hard-Working Americans And Their Families. From The Democrat Senate’s Failure To Pass A Budget Or A Prescription Drug Plan, To Their Failure To Make The Tax Cuts Permanent, Democrat Inaction Negatively Impacts The Lives Of Everyday Americans! ____________________________________________________________________ SEN. HOLLINGS (D-SC) RECOGNIZES THAT DEMS HAVE NO ECONOMIC POLICY. “Democrats want a Senate vote next week on jobless benefits. Friday, Congress’ Democratic leaders Daschle and Gephardt host their own economic ‘summit’ after rebuffs from Bush, GOP. Other Democrats bemoan the party Babel. ‘We need...

The following is brought to you by the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC): FREE THE DASCHLE 50! End the Obstruction Below is a list of bills that have passed the House and are stalled in the Senate: H.R. 7 -- Community Solutions Act of 2001 H.R. 3210 -- Terrorism Risk Protection Act H.R. 3529 -- Economic Security and Worker Assistance Act of 2001 H.R. 1900 -- Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act H.R. 2505 -- Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2001 H.R. 3762 -- Pension Security Act H.Con. Res 353 -- FY 2003 Budget Resolution H.R. 586 -- Tax Relief...

Statement by RNC Chairman Marc Racicot on the First Day of Fiscal-Year 2003 WASHINGTON - Marc Racicot, Chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), today issued the following statement: "For the first time in a quarter century the United States Senate has failed to pass a budget. Every American knows that formulation of a budget brings about financial discipline and stability. The Democrat's inability or unwillingness to engage in a process that Republicans and Democrats alike have used for decades to identify spending priorities, control excessive Washington spending and reduce deficits is demonstrative evidence of a lack of competence and...

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary September 26, 2002 Remarks by the President at John Cornyn for Senate Reception The Hyatt Regency Houston, Texas 5:36 P.M. CDT THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. I am here because there's no doubt in my mind that John Cornyn needs to be the next United States senator from Texas. (Applause.) And I want to thank you all for -- thank you all for coming to help him get there. It's important for Texas that he be elected. It's important for America that he be elected. He's the best man with whom...

DASCHLE’S FRUSTRATION BOILS OVERSeptember 26, 2002 Daschle Takes The Senate Floor With An Outburst. No Wonder, With A Do-Nothing Record Like His, You’d Be Frustrated Too! ____________________________________________________________________ “Daschle is totally frustrated.” (Morton Kondracke On FOX’s “Special Report With Brit Hume,” September 25, 2002) “I think it is something that’s been building. And Daschle has been under a lot of pressure from those liberals in this party that are uncomfortable with the idea of any war with Iraq.” (Jonathan Karl On CNN’s “NewsNight,” September 25, 2002) “At first Mr. Daschle said he wanted an extended debate about a possible war. Then...

Bush Urges Senate Dems on Security By CURT ANDERSON The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - Increasing pressure on the Senate in the battle over worker rights in the Homeland Security Department, President Bush said Thursday that ``the enemy doesn't care about these rules'' favored by many Democrats. ``They want there to be a lot of rules and regulations and I'm not going to accept that,'' Bush said at a Republican fund-raiser in Houston. While softening his tone, Bush said the kind of union protections supported by the Democratic-controlled Senate already are hampering the administration's homeland security efforts. Bush said government...

Take Action! Action Alert Ask Key Senators to Support President Bush’s Homeland Security Plan Some in Senate Put Special Interests Over Nation’s Security President Bush has asked the Senate to pass the bipartisan plan by Senators Phil Gramm and Zell Miller that creates a Homeland Security Department with the management flexibility and freedom needed to get the job of protecting the American people done right. This bipartisan approach is stalled because some Senate Democrats are putting the special interests of a few federal government employee unions over the security of the American people. Their proposal would strip President Bush of...

Response to Senator Daschle: When he rails against those who would politicize the war against terror, Tom Daschle must be talking about Al Gore, the leader of the Democratic Party, who unexpectedly came out of the shadows this week to attack President Bush's leadership of the war against terror. You would think the Senate leader would check his facts a little more carefully before having a temper tantrum on the floor of the Senate. The comment Senator Daschle criticized was on the subject of homeland security, not Iraq. And President Bush just yesterday publicly praised Congressional Democrats who are working...

Department of Homeland Security The President's most important job is to protect and defend the American people. The changing nature of the threats requires a new government structure to protect against invisible enemies that can strike with a wide variety of weapons. No one single government agency has homeland security as its primary mission – responsibility for homeland security is dispersed among more than 100 different government organizations. America needs a single, unified homeland security structure that will improve protection against today’s threats and be flexible enough to help meet the unknown threats of the future. President Bush has proposed...

President Bush Urges Action on Iraq, Homeland Security, and Budget September 24, 2002 View the President's remarks 11:00 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Thanks for coming. We just had a very productive Cabinet meeting. We realize there's little time left in -- before the Senate and the House goes home, but we're optimistic a lot can get done before now and then. Congress must act now to pass a resolution which will hold Saddam Hussein to account for a decade of defiance. It's time to get a homeland security bill done, one which will allow this President and this administration, and...

Washington -- Sen.John Edwards is holding up President Bush's nomination of a Raleigh lawyer to a federal judgeship while lawyers who practice before the court -- and one of its sitting judges -- say it is becoming overwhelmed with a rising caseload. Bush nominated James C. Dever in late May to one of four seats on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The court, which hears federal cases from 44 eastern counties, has been operating with only two full-time judges since January 2001, a situation that Judge Malcolm J. Howard described as "almost insurmountable" in...

DASCHLE'S LEADERSHIP 101: IDENTIFY PROBLEM, BLAME REPUBLICANS & OFFER NO SOLUTION While President Bush Advances The American People's Agenda, Sadly, Daschle Is Content To Practice Partisan Politics As Usual ____________________________________________________ THE NEW YORK TIMES CALLED SENATOR TOM DASCHLE'S (D-SD) PERFORMANCE AS MAJORITY LEADER "SHAKY." "Mr. Daschle's performance in the spotlight has been shaky. He failed to round up the votes to pass a bill providing prescription drugs for the elderly. He could not win passage of an overall budget resolution to set spending levels for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. The worst part, for him, was that these...

TOM DASCHLE: THE EPITOME OF A FAILED LEADERIt’s Been 472 Days Since Daschle Took Over, And The Do-Nothing Democrat Senate Has Stalled On Everything From Economic Legislation To Homeland Security.(Editoral Comment: 472 days ago Daschle became the illegitimate Majority Leader by default when Jeffords backstabbed the Republicans!) ____________________________________________________________________ DASCHLE (D-SD) TALKS A GOOD BIPARTISAN GAME: “We have a lot of work to do, and we’re going to do it in as bipartisan a way as I possibly can . . . We have a lot of things we’re going to do.” (Senator Tom Daschle, Press Conference, June 5, 2001, Upon...

DASCHLE HAS NO CREDIBILITY ON THE ECONOMY (aka Daschle has no credibility Period!) From Terrorism Insurance To The Budget And Pension Reform To Prescription Drugs, Daschle Has Failed To Lead And The American People Are Paying The Price ____________________________________________________________ DASCHLE AND THE DEMOCRAT SENATE PLAN A “DECEMBER SURPRISE” OF HIGHER TAXES AND OUT-OF-CONTROL SPENDING Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) Wants To Repeal Or Postpone Bush’s Tax Cut. NBC’s Tim Russert: “Back in 2001 on this program, you said we should repeal the Bush tax cut. Do you believe that is now necessary . . . . Repeal or postpone the tax...

Putting America firstTO THE EDITOR: "Missing the Point; Homeland Security Debate Off Track" (editorial, Sept. 5) brought out some interesting points about which all Americans should be concerned. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle is now on record putting organized labor, hiring and firing practices and micro- management of the Homeland Security Department over what many consider is best for the citizens of the United States. The department was proposed to protect the people and their property from terrorist attacks, not to protect unionized federal workers who contribute large amounts to the Democrat Party. To tie the president's hands on something...

DEMOCRATS ARE "PLAYING POLITICS" WITH AMERICA'S DEFENSE Democrats Are Stalling On Defense Appropriations Until Republicans Agree To Democrats' Out-Of-Control Deficit Spending Demands ___________________________________________________________________ PRESIDENT BUSH IS URGING CONGRESS TO SEND HIM THE DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL FIRST! President Bush Has Called On Congress To Stop "Playing Politics" With Our National Security And Pass Defense Appropriations First. "I have submitted a budget to the United States Congress which makes a priority of our national defense, and I expect the appropriations process to pass the defense bill first. In times of war, I ought to have the defense appropriations bill on my desk...

Remarks by the President at Jim Nussle for Congress Luncheon Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds Davenport, Iowa 12:07 P.M. CDT, 16 Sep 2002 THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all for coming. Thank you, all. Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I'm here to remind the good people of this congressional district that Jim Nussle is not only a fine man who cares deeply about the citizens of Iowa, but it's in your best interest to make sure that Jim Nussle is reelected to the United States Congress. (Applause.) Any time -- any time you introduce a candidate as "Mr. Chairman," that ought to tell you...

MIDI - PS, I LOVE YOU I'm the Senate leader…I'll report to you When George Bush starts the bombing…fellow RATS, we are screwed I think he'll surprise us in October…for us, it will be over PS, we are screwed…screwed, screwed, screwed We won't get away with our obstruction…that's not a tough deduction PS, we are screwed…screwed, screwed, screwed We have no agenda…and I have a hunch As we go down the crapper…he'll be eating our lunch Voters we can't be forever fooling…this battle has been grueling PS, we are screwed…screwed, screwed, screwed We have no agenda…and I have a...

DASCHLE'S DEMOCRAT SENATE: A RECORD OF INACTION AND FAILURE Daschle's Democrats Fail To Act On Homeland Security And Prescription Drug Coverage, Still Have No Budget    ______________________________________ DASCHLE AND THE DEMOCRAT SENATE REFUSED TO ALLOW A VOTE ON HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENT BUSH PROVIDED VISION: President Bush Proposed A Department Of Homeland Security.  "The Department of Homeland Security will be charged with four primary tasks. This new agency will control our borders and prevent terrorists and explosives from entering our country. It will work with state and local authorities to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies. It will bring together...

Groups defend Bush court pick 07/16/2002 Associated Press AUSTIN - The U.S. Senate should not allow any "left-wing activist groups to hijack" the confirmation process of Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen, President Bush's nominee for a federal appeals court, several groups said Monday. "She's just, very simply, an excellent, an extremely well-qualified, and a very liked judge," said Kelly Shackelford, chief counsel of Liberty Legal Institute, which says it specializes in the defense of religious freedoms and First Amendment rights. Mr. Bush has nominated Justice Owen for the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, which...

Due to Leaky Leahy's obstructionist behavior and the fact that Patrick is a consummate idiot, Hugh Hewitt is calling for an all encompassing boycott of anything and everything having to do with Vermont. That traitor Jeffords is from Vermont also. Bernie Sanders is from Vermont. Ben and Jerry's is from Vermont. We've been far too tolerant of the refuse that that state spits out. Hit them in the pocket and maybe then they'll understand.