GOP Plans Marathon Senate Session

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,102534,00.html ^

[submarinerswife]

WASHINGTON — Weary of Senate Democrats' continued efforts to block President Bush's judicial nominees, Republicans have planned a 30-hour, all-night session Wednesday to force a marathon debate about Democratic stalling tactics that have left several nominations in limbo.

The talkathon, supported by the entire 51-member GOP caucus, would freeze the business of the Senate, preventing further work on the nine unfinished fiscal year 2004 spending bills, a comprehensive energy measure and Medicare legislation. It also endangers the target recess date of Nov. 21.

"The objective is to get an up or a down vote. These nominees deserve their day in court," said Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., architect of the GOP strategy.

"We want to let the American people know how pitiful this process has become," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

GOP senators are enraged that Democrats have blocked four Bush judicial nominees by threatening a tactical procedure known as a filibuster. Two other nominees — California Supreme Court Justice Janice Rogers Brown and California State Superior Court Judge Carolyn Kuhl — have not yet been blocked by Democrats, but Democrats say they would try to prevent confirmation votes on the two.

A filibuster is any attempt to block or delay a Senate action by debating it at length, offering procedural motions or employing any other delaying or obstructive tactic. Democrats have not actually filibustered any judicial nominees, but the threat to do so has prevented votes from taking place.

Republicans plan to debate throughout Wednesday night and possibly Thursday, and if a window opens in which all 51 GOP senators are present but no Democrat is available to object to a unanimous consent motion, Brown, Kuhl and Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen could be confirmed.

"One of the reasons you do it at night is you may have a situation where someone doesn’t drink enough coffee and you have the opportunity to put a vote and if we have that opportunity, we're going to take it," Santorum said.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Senate Republicans are ready for the marathon. They have already prepared to have cots and food present. GOP senators even joked about making it more comfortable for lawmakers to sleep by dividing up the room between members who snore and those who don't.

Republican leaders have told the minority that they will not be permitted any time to speak during the session. But now that Democrats are well aware of the 30-hour plan, the likelihood that none would be present during the session is very small.

"We are going to set up our action room just off the Senate floor as we have done on other good debates such as this. We'll have a presence on the floor for the full 30 hours," said Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D.

Calling the Republican effort a "carnival," Daschle also complained about the timing of the debate.

"This is a critical envelope of time, you've got two weeks that we were told the Senate would make its best effort to finish all its work and you know there are a lot of other bills out there. It's a misuse of time," Daschle said.

Republicans say they are taking the time because Democratic efforts to undermine the president's nominees are "unprecedented" and intolerable.

"It can't be tolerated. It won't be tolerated. The goal is to break these partisan filibusters," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.

Filibusters, made famous in the film "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," are rarely employed.

[technomage]

Unfortunately, after YEARS of the spineless Republicans capitulating to the Dems, I just cannot see this going anywhere.

Any ideas on when the PUBBIES will fold on this one? 2 days, 4 days?

And, you have to know that the DEMS are prepared and will launch a huge assault on the Pubs. That is when the Pubs will crumble.

How I long for ONE Republican in the Senate that has a spine thicker then a hair.

[teletech]

The very fact that the Republicans have placed a 30 hour time limit on the Senate session is backing down in my book! It should have NO TIME LIMIT! Make the RATS stay until hell freezes over if necessary! Frist caved AGAIN!

[o_zarkman44]

Republicans are not a day short. The lapses in timing have done more to emphasize the stalling tactics of the Democrats to block any Judicial nominees. The American people now realize the damage of the actions of the sympathetic liberal courts. Judicial anarchy has to be stopped before it renders our legislative process useless.

The Democrats want more sympathetic Judges so they can continue Judicial Anarchy and have demonstrated they will subvert the process of placing qualified Judges. We cannot tolerate Judicial anarchy. Republicans are the controlling party here. Let's show we have the guts to stand up and fight head to head. Any filibuster attempt by Democrats will backfire and they know it. Time to call their bluff and put an end to judicial anarchy.

[billbears]

Republicans have planned a 30-hour, all-night session Wednesday

30 whole hours? Way to go out on a limb there fellows. Don't strain yourself or actually do your job.

[deport]

According to the article it's nothing more than a 30 hour scheduled 'talkathon' by the Republicans on the judicial nominees. The Senate will stay in session for 30 hours and any senator will be able to make comments including the democrats..... I don't expect much except some minor press at the best out of this.... It won't accomplish much unless the democrats are asleep at the switch at some point..... imo

[Republican Red]

Any effort I applaud. Will the media cover the story. I think this time they will.

I would have held the session during the next democratic presidential debate. Made the Lieberman, Kerry, Edwards and Gephart choose what was more important. Most would have choosen their own careers and stuck to the debate.

[nathanbedford]

Oh, how much more effective this strategy could have been if it had been employed on behalf of the Hispanic (Estrada) rather than on behalf of the Black (Brown)!

This is because the Hispanic vote is and will be the swing vote for perhaps a generation. It is a vote where republicans have at least of chance of untipping the balance. Without a significant majority share of the Hispanic vote the Democrats cannot prevail nationally. A realistic threat by the GOP to capture 30 to 40% of this block might even force the Democrats to abandon their filibuster. We have absolutely no leverage against the Democrats with Afro - Americans, their plantation mentality has only hardened, so we cannot hope to break the filibuster or pick up points for the election.

Can you imagine the real power of this threat if the attempt to break the filibuster had combined with an extensive radio campaign on behalf of Estrada in Spanish on Spanish radio stations? The GOP has the money for this, and to spare. Dick Morris pre- won the '96 election for Slick before the Republicans even knew he was on the air in fly-over country. That is why Slick sold the Lincoln bedroom and our secrets to china, to fund these ads on radio. Slick understood the dynamics of framing the issue on your own terms while the opposition sleeps. If the Dems wanted to dispute their position on Estrada let them fight the election in the Hispanic community on our terms, where we have the right and the money. Instead, the feckless Senate Republicans fight the war at the wrong time when it will pass largely unnoticed, on behalf of the wrong nominee, who is doomed to fail and all without hope of real collateral election gains.

One can only wonder if this cynical show is purely a slab of red meat for the base.

What an opportunity lost!

[teletech]

According to the article it's nothing more than a 30 hour scheduled 'talkathon' by the Republicans on the judicial nominees. The Senate will stay in session for 30 hours and any senator will be able to make comments including the democrats..... I don't expect much except some minor press at the best out of this.... It won't accomplish much unless the democrats are asleep at the switch at some point..... imo

Given what's at stake here, I doubt Daschle and his merry band of marauders will be "asleep at the switch". By putting "limits" on the time, frist has accomplished nothing!

[cars for sale]

it's all here book chapter and verse

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1016997/posts

how we win 3 or 4 judges with a constitutional 50+1
legal majority...the words and technique are jumbled
in lawyer speak but factual....that's right good guys
3,4....socialist 0

next,,,,that memo....pay attention,this next week is a HISTORICAL twofer

those judges and Hillary's head on a plater
she did that memo and the world knows it

[ErnBatavia]

Repubs just aren't good at going for the jugular.

Nope - not when they've got the likes of Orrin Hatch playing the part of "Mr. Nasty"...he's like your 85 year old maiden aunt chiding you for not looking both ways before crossing.

[mathluv]

The problem has been the RINOS, who could not be trusted. I wonder whose names are on the list of receiving Saddam's bribes?

[Bob J]

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