Posted on 12/23/2004 2:28:48 PM PST by neverdem
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 - President Bush plans to renominate 20 candidates for federal judgeships who have been unable to win confirmation in the Senate, the White House said today, in a signal that the president is ready for a showdown early next year.
"An effective and efficient judicial system is vital to ensuring justice for all Americans," the White House said. "The president nominated highly qualified individuals to the federal courts during his first term, but the Senate failed to vote on many nominations."
Senate Democrats have maintained for months that they have routinely confirmed nominees who are not right-wing extremists or lukewarm about civil rights - faults that they have ascribed to the nominees that they have managed to block.
The White House, asserting that Senate inaction "delays timely justice for the American people," said Mr. Bush "looks forward to working with the new Senate to ensure a well-functioning and independent judiciary."
Twelve of the 20 are candidates for seats on the federal circuit courts of appeal, while eight are candidates for district court judgeships. The appeals court seats are considered far more important, since the circuit courts are just one level beneath the Supreme Court.
The makeup of the Supreme Court has not changed in more than a decade, and it is widely assumed that in his second term President Bush will be able to nominate at least one and possibly two or more people for the high court.
Republicans picked up several seats in the November elections and will effectively have an advantage of 55 to 45 when the new Senate convenes early in January. (There are 44 Democrats and one independent, James Jeffords of Vermont, who generally sides with the Democrats.)
But the 55 Republican votes will still not be enough to stymie filibusters, if the Democrats resort to that tactic. Sixty votes are needed to shut off a filibuster, meaning to end debate and bring an issue to a full Senate vote. The Democrats have used the filibuster to block some of Mr. Bush's nominees, prompting Republican complaints that minority-party obstructionists are blocking fine jurists and slowing the wheels of justice.
President Bush said shortly after the election that he had earned political capital from his victory, and that he intended to spend it. Today's statement by the White House, while the president himself was at Camp David, Md., made clear he intends to spend some of it trying to strengthen the conservative presence in the federal courts.
The White House said 16 of the 20 the candidates were nominated more than a year ago and have not had a yes-or-no vote in the Senate.
One of the names Mr. Bush will place in nomination again is that of William H. Pryor Jr., the former Alabama attorney general, for a seat on the Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, based in Atlanta. Last February, Mr. Bush installed Mr. Pryor on that court by using the presidential power to name judges for temporary terms when Congress is in recess. Under that procedure, Mr. Pryor's judgeship would expire next year, unless he wins Senate confirmation.
Democrats have contended that Mr. Pryor's fervent advocacy of greater Christian influence in government and his opposition to legalized abortion make him an unsuitable judge. But Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee, the Republican majority leader, has called him "a man of integrity committed to the rule of law."
Another candidate whom Mr. Bush will renominate is Judge Priscilla Richman Owen of the Texas Supreme Court, for a seat on the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, based in New Orleans. In blocking her thus far, Democrats have said her anti-abortion and pro-business views have colored her decisions. But Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Republican of Texas, has called her "a wonderful person, an academic judge" and qualified in every way to be on the federal court.
Still another who will be renominated is Judge Janice Rogers Brown of the California Supreme Court, for a seat on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the tribunal that is often seen as a springboard for the United States Supreme Court.
Excellent!
Bwahahahaha this is great!
And appoint Rush Limbaugh to the Supreme Court!
It's about Dang Time!!!!
Now watch Specter start to twitch!!!!
One word: Alex Kozinski
Senate Democrats have maintained for months that they have routinely confirmed nominees who are not right-wing extremists or lukewarm about civil rights - faults that they have ascribed to the nominees that they have managed to block.
The White House, asserting that Senate inaction "delays timely justice for the American people," said Mr. Bush "looks forward to working with the new Senate to ensure a well-functioning and independent judiciary."
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Notice: No quotes For RIGHT-WING EXTREMISTS, but WH side is put into qoutes.
Janice Rogers Brown ROCKS. The Lord only knows how far she'll go. But she has done a great job with the California Supremes.
http://www.usdoj.gov/olp/brownresume.htm
http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/justices/brown.htm
http://capmag.com/article.asp?ID=3216
http://www.gospeladvocate.com/cw/cw0501a.htm
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35277
These links will show you how weak the left's case against her is:
http://www.aflcio.org/issuespolitics/rogers_brown.cfm
http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/2003/Janice-Rogers-Brown26jul03.htm
It seems the threat of the nuclear option must be real. I bet we have the votes for it. Wonder if the rats will fold or force Bush to play his cards. They always think he bluffs. Should be interesting.
I predict that the 'Constitutional' option will be invoked within 30 days.
This will make for the best politics since Reagan was elected. MSM will be going nuts. Hagel, McCain, Snowe, Chaffee will probably side with the democrats on thee rule 'interpretation'. I think it could end up being Cheney breaking the tie. It will be fun watching it all play out!
If the GOP has the votes, the rats may quietly back down to avoid the precedent and from losing senate seats in red states in 2006.
Democrats who use the abortion factor as a litmus test = Progressive
Republicans who use the abortion factor as a litmus test = right wing extremist sexist woman haters
Got that?
Good! Take off the gloves and put 'em up!
Woo Hoo! Lock and Load!
I love to watch Liberals squirm... I wonder which of the little bluees will be the first to bolt to our side under the pressure? Too bad Zell won't be in the senate! Now there is a real Man and a Democrat. Wonders never cease!
Ohhhh the fight is on!!!
Put Bork in SCOTUS.
Agreed. Bush )and the Senate GOPs) would not be renominating these judges unless they were willing to go "all the way" and invoke the so-called nuclear option.
OMG, this is so great; looking forward to watching Leo Terrell's head explode (again) while chastizing the NAACP!
Don't miss this one.
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