How Will The 109th Congress Turn Out?

Seanewsmax ^ | 12/2/2004 | Robert John Soto

[Soto87]

This year, the Democrats may change their policies on judicial nominees. During President Bush’s first term the Democrats used the filibuster to stop Bush’s nominees. Now the Democrats would like to do the same thing to President Bush’s new nominees.

Former Senator Tom Daschle believed that the filibuster would be a winning strategy leading up to the 2004 election. But instead it proved to be a losing strategy. Daschle and four other senators lost their seats in the Senate.

Unfortunately Southern Democrats believe that the judicial nominees did not have any effect on the election. The Southern Democrats believe that they lost their seats because they were located in “Red states.” But in the Daschle-Thune race, Senator elect Thune raised the judge issue constantly. So it appears as if the judge issue was important.

One thing that helped the Republicans was that in every speech President Bush made, he mentioned the Senate blocking his nominees. Another thing that Bush mentioned that helped the Republicans was that he was in favor of a Constitutional Amendment on marriage.

Now with more seats in the Senate the Republicans have a better shot at getting to vote on the justices. Senator Frist is going to have to figure a way of breaking the filibuster. One possible way is for a Senator to make a point of order, contending that the requirement of 60 votes to confirm a judge is unconstitutional.

Then the Vice President would have to also rule that the 60 votes is unconstitutional. Finally, 51 Republicans would have to agree with the ruling of the Vice President and then the Senate could begin voting on nominees.

Something must be done to stop the jam in the Senate. If Frist can do it he will be seen as a hero, but if he cannot the Senate will be jammed up until 2006.

[SmithL]

Since no party stays in power forever, I would prefer that Frist find a way to bring the nominations to a vote without using the "nuclear" option.

[William of Orange]

that would be for the best, because one day it might be used against you if you do go 'nuclear', but let's wait how this plays out in the coming months

[sr4402]

Since no party stays in power forever, I would prefer that Frist find a way to bring the nominations to a vote without using the "nuclear" option.

Why? Pussy footing around only helps the other side and will make it harder to fill appeals court and soon supreme court positions. It also keeps the nutty business of filibusters.

IMHO, we need to return to real filibusters and let the dems and RINOs show who they are.