Posted on 02/02/2005 3:08:05 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
WASHINGTON (Talon News) -- As a vote draws near for the confirmation of White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales to succeed Attorney General John Ashcroft, Democrats in the Senate floated the idea of mounting a filibuster to the nomination. Talk of a possible filibuster drew quick rebuke from Gonzales supporters.
RNC Deputy Communications Director Danny Diaz commented on a potential Democrat filibuster of Judge Alberto Gonzales' nomination. Gonzales would succeed Attorney General John Ashcroft.
"Democrats should understand that filibustering America's first Hispanic nominee for attorney general is neither good policy nor good politics." Diaz said. "Numerous Senators on both sides of the aisle agree Judge Alberto Gonzales is eminently qualified to serve as attorney general, and obstructing his nomination would show that Democrats still don't understand the ramifications of an election where President Bush increased his share of the Hispanic vote by nine percent over 2000."
Judge Michael Chertoff, the former head of the Criminal Justice Division and a U.S. attorney, is also up for confirmation hearings. White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan expected that Congress "will move forward quickly and vote on his nomination as they begin the hearings [Wednesday]."
According to The Associated Press, Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) were planning to urge the caucus to filibuster Gonzales' nomination because of memos written by Gonzales describing the Bush administration's policies and boundaries for foreign detainees.
Republicans quickly counter that the effort is politically motivated to make it impossible for Gonzales to be considered later as a possible Supreme Court justice nominee.
"They want the bully pulpit all the way up to and after that to try to taint this nominee with the perceived sins of the Bush administration," said Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX).
However, FOX News reported that Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) indicated that the Democrats were not planning to filibuster Gonzales.
Durbin told a group of reporters that the caucus did not discuss filibustering Gonzales, saying, "There was some speculation but it did not materialize in the luncheon today. [I]f there was a plan to filibuster, someone would have brought it up."
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) said he expected Gonzales would win bipartisan support from the Senate.
"The idea that the other side of the aisle is even considering filibustering this manifestation of the American dream that's represented by Judge Gonzales is simply beyond me," Frist said.
Republicans, who hold a 55-44 majority in the Senate, would need to sway five Democrats to squelch a filibuster and put Gonzales, a former Texas state Supreme Court justice, into office.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 10-8 on party lines last week to forward Gonzales' nomination to the entire Senate. Panel member Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) said he plans to oppose Gonzales because "it's hard to be a straight shooter if you're a blind loyalist," although he descries Gonzales as "a fine lawyer and a good person who is willing to talk straight with them".
Copyright © 2005 Talon News -- All rights reserved.
It is obvious, however, that the Democrats don't want to drop their obstructionist tactics. Look for filibuster resurrections when President Bush submits those judicial nominees.
Obstructionism Is Alive and Well PING!
It's spelled "Gonzales".
Whoops. Many pardons.
Please do.
Then we can FINALLY dust off the Nuke Button.
I agree about your uneasiness as regards Assault Weapons. However, I think he was just giving lip service to something that won't happen.
Howard Dean IS the NUKE BUTTON! ARAHGRAHASASATAFRAA!!!!!!
Why do all these 'Rats have to keep reminding us of what they wish they were and what they wished they had accomplished.
They are so delusional and childish, wishing their lives away.
Algore invented the Internet.
Hillary's portrait on her book cover is accurate.
Sam Donaldson's hair is natural.
Jocelyn Elders is an officer in some kind of military.
JOhn KERry is an Olympic Decathlete.
Ted Kennedy is relevant and stable.
Pelosi Galore is still 25 years old.
Joe Biden never went bald.
Tom Daschle is a sweet little munchkin.
Dan Rather is competent.
And on and on......
Veto every Appropriations bill and shut down the government on 10/1/05. He's not up for re-election again; they are.
I, for one, am rooting for a loud and vocal filibuster by the Democratic Party on this one.
They will expose themselves as fools to the entire Hispanic community.
Go ahead punks...make my day.
Your timing is great with that comment. That is what is being talked about on the hill.
Go ahead punks...make my day.
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Yes, just keep feeding them more rope. The more they obstruct progress, the deeper their grave gets. The libs don't even yet know what GWBs proposal is in specific -- idiots -- yet they are so intent on keeping their hands on the public's money, they are even denying that SS has a problem. Sorry Dems, you are busted!!!!
Applies to Gonzales too -- just pure obstruction.
I would certainly hope so.
Nuke 'em!
What memos would that be?
AWB is D-E-A-D.
Can somebody tell me WHEN this happened? For as long as I can remember, all we've heard is that SS is in crisis!
Can somebody tell me WHEN this happened? For as long as I can remember, all we've heard is that SS is in crisis!
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They are saying it now, and Frist was just on FOX reiterating thier comments -- again all trying to defame and obstruct GWBs effort to improve and save the SS system. No problem -- my arse.
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