Democrats Decide Against Filibuster (Gonzales)

AP ^ | February 1, 2005

[West Coast Conservative]

CAPITOL HILL Senate Democrats won't filibuster the nomination of Alberto Gonzales to be attorney general. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid says there's a general feeling among Democrats that "this wasn't the time" to filibuster. Reid says he expects less than half the Senate Democrats to vote to confirm Gonzales.

Many Democrats have been sharply critical of Gonzales, especially over his role in developing the Bush administration's policies on treating foreign detainees. Some believe he is directly linked with prisoner abuses that occurred at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, as well as in Afghanistan and at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The Senate will debate Gonzales' nomination for ten hours, meaning a confirmation vote will occur in the next day or two.

[rod1]

Maybe they took a look at the demographics and decided that trying to block Alberto Gonzales from assuming the leadership role after beating up Dr. Rice in her quest was not such a hot strategy to garner votes.

[Ramcat]

"The Senate will debate Gonzales' nomination for ten hours, meaning a confirmation vote will occur in the next day or two."

Another public flogging by a bunch of white bigots.
The blacks noticed when they did it to Condi, I'll bet the hispanics will be watching?

[Terabitten]

Reid says he expects less than half the Senate Democrats to vote to confirm Gonzales.

Which means three quarters of the Senate will vote to confirm him. Cool.

[Antoninus]

They're saving it for a white, male conservative appointment or a Supreme Court Justice.

[SuziQ]

They chose wisely.

[TommyDale]

No, the liberal Democrats are closet racists. The won't try to stop a white male, only minorities.

[NorCalRepub]

they are just waiting for the judicial nominees.....

[Beckwith]

Some believe he is directly linked with prisoner abuses that occurred at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, as well as in Afghanistan and at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

No one in their right mind believes this statement, However "some" will use the process to harass Gonzales and the administration.

[kenth]

They're going to save it for Supreme Court justice nominees.

[OldFriend]

Just said she'd pass the message on.

They are instructed not to be rude or hang up.

Teddy's office gets really really mad when I call and bring up Mary Jo.

[Kath]

In other words they don't have enough votes to sustain a filibuster or they would be doing it. Their strategy of oppose Bush on everything is going to be their own downfall. Americans are getting sick of this political temper tantrums.

[Puppage]

LOL!!!!

[OldFriend]

I call Teddy's office. Tell them I understand he is concerned that the President doesn't have an exit strategy for Iraq. When the aide thinks I'm agreeing I sweetly ask if the senator had an exit strategy for Mary Jo.

They hate me!!!!

[bill1952]

Robert Bork?

[Lancey Howard]

The scumbags want to save their filibusters for the lifetime judicial appointments. All I can say to that is, the Republicans had BETTER "go nuclear" against scumbag filibusters or they won't see another dime from me until the spineless contingent of them is replaced.

[GSlob]

"with many D's going on record as having voted against both Rice and Gonzales."
Mathematically impossible: as only 12 D's voted against Rice, no more than that number would be able to vote against both Rice and Gonzales.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Darn. I wish they would have....their bigoted attitudes would be more obvious to the masses then. Oh well...I have no doubt their hatred for thinking Latinos and other minorities will be seen eventually.

[Political Junkie Too]

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid says there's a general feeling among Democrats that "this wasn't the time" to filibuster.

Are the Senate Democrats realizing that that the counter-weapon to the "nuclear option" is the "suicide filibuster?" That means that their filibuster is now a one-shot weapon.

-PJ

[TexasCajun]

directly linked with prisoner abuses

Does the AP really get that there was no physical torture taking place.

What would the fine citizens of San Francisco think of the treatment of the Iraqi prisoners? Hell, they'd pay big bucks for so much fun!

One man's abuse is another's fun!

[adam_az]

This is because they realized Gonzalez ISN'T MUCH DIFFERENT FROM THEM!

He's a gun grabber.

He's pro-abortion.

He's pro-la Raza and illegal immigration.

What can they complain about?