In twist, GOP blocks Bush judicial nominee

The Hill ^ | Nov. 19, 2003 | Geoff Earle

[berserker]

The Senate is blocking another of President Bush’s judicial nominees — but this time it’s Republicans and not Democrats playing the role of obstructionists.

Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) last week sought unanimous consent to take up the nomination of Leon Holmes to a seat on the U.S. District Court in Arkansas. Pryor made the request after the Judiciary Committee reported Holmes’s nomination without recommendation on a party-line vote, meaning the panel took no position on whether he should be confirmed by the full Senate.

But at least four centrist Republicans expressed doubts about Holmes, based on statements culled from some of his writings. The four are Arlen Specter (Pa.), Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins (Maine), and Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas).

Among Holmes’s judicial writings that have provoked controversy was one comment relating to a rape exception for a constitutional amendment banning abortion. He called the issue a “red herring” because “conceptions from rape occur with approximately the same frequency as snowfall in Miami.”

Specter, who sits in on the meetings in which GOP leaders plot strategies to move judicial nominations, generally opposes restrictions on abortion rights and often parts with party leaders on social issues. He is being challenged in a primary election by conservative Rep. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.).

Hutchison, noting that Senate Republicans just finished a futile marathon anti-filibuster effort to overcome Democratic opposition to six Bush nominees to federal appellate courts, said, “I will not ever stop a vote from coming to the floor. That’s what we talked about for 36 hours last week.”

Pryor, who once practiced law with Holmes, a Republican, in Little Rock, noted that he has been “languishing” on the Senate’s calendar for more than six months. Pryor said he is “perplexed” as to why Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) hasn’t scheduled a floor vote on the nomination.

[MissAmericanPie]

Some are just too conservative for the conservative party.

[MamaLucci]

Specter, who sits in on the meetings in which GOP leaders plot strategies to move judicial nominations,...

Well, that explains a lot.

[kylaka]

Sure does. Alrlen probably faxes notes on the minutes of the meeting to Teddy Kennedy within the hour it ends.

[YaYa123]

"Pryor said he is “perplexed"

I'm perplexed how the people of Arkansas could elect Pryor. You'd think they'd had enough Clintonesque corruption with Pryor's daddy. Who, by the way, is still on the payroll, raising sucker money for Clinton's library.

[agrace]

Among Holmes’s judicial writings that have provoked controversy was one comment relating to a rape exception for a constitutional amendment banning abortion. He called the issue a “red herring” because “conceptions from rape occur with approximately the same frequency as snowfall in Miami.”

He's right.

[CaptRon]

Arlen Specter (Pa.), Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins (Maine), and Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas).

I thought they said four Republicans. I count 1.

[4CJ]

ROTF - you beat me to it. Only 1 Republican in the bunch.

[Cicero]

Snow and Collins both voted against the bill to outlaw partial birth abortion.

I've always thought of these two as RINOs by necessity. I was willing to put up with a few RINO votes on minor issues if that's what they needed to stay in office. But a vote in favor of killing full-term babies is too much for me.

It's pretty obvious where this is coming from. Four baby killers are worried that this judge is too conservative. You don't have to know anything about the judge in question to know where these four are coming from.

[NEPA]

Snow and Collins both voted against the bill to outlaw partial birth abortion.

If I recall correctly, Kay didn't bother vote. Like a couple senators who are president wannabes, she took the cowards way out.

[hocndoc]

Texans need to call Senator Hutchison to express their wish for her support for Judge Holmes. Here's her office phone number in DC: 1-202-224-5922.

[hocndoc]

Actually Senator Hutchison was speaking at the funeral of one of our former Governors in Texas on the day of the Partial Birth Abortion ban final vote. But, before that, she voted *for* the amendment that affirmed that RvW is the established law of the land and should not be overturned.

Please see my post above, with her office phone number.

It's a lot to take for her to have the nerve to fail to support one of President Bush's nominees. She will expect our support in the future, but she is at least hindering if not blocking the President's chances of nominating pro-life judges.

[deport]

What makes you think Kay Bailey is holding up the vote? Seems to me it's in the hands of the majority Leader to schedule should he chose to do so......

Sen. Hutchison has said she won't hold the nominee from coming to the floor for a vote... I trust she means that and hasn't placed any hold on the nomination.

Hutchison, noting that Senate Republicans just finished a futile marathon anti-filibuster effort to overcome Democratic opposition to six Bush nominees to federal appellate courts, said, “I will not ever stop a vote from coming to the floor. That’s what we talked about for 36 hours last week.”

[Blood of Tyrants]

You call Specter, Snowe, and Collins CONSERVATIVE?

[dirtboy]

Specter, who sits in on the meetings in which GOP leaders plot strategies to move judicial nominations

I wonder if he wears a kilt to those meetings.

[KantianBurke]

GO TOOMEY!! RINOS OUT!!

[mabelkitty]

Who is the 1?

[NeoCaveman]

But at least four centrist Republicans expressed doubts about Holmes, based on statements culled from some of his writings. The four are Arlen Specter (Pa.), Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins (Maine), and Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas).

Specter? I am not suprised. Go Pat Toomey Go.

[hocndoc]

I don't know whether or not Senator Hutchison is blocking the vote, but the author of this article does state that she "expressed doubts."

It never hurts to let our legislators know that we're out here, we're interested, and we're aware. As well as our concerns and wishes.

[BaBaStooey]

Does the President need any other reason to stir up the proverbial pot that is this year's PA Senate race?