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Democrats Threaten to Stop Senate Business if GOP Changes Rules on Judge Confirmations
TBO.COM ^

Posted on 03/15/2005 12:22:27 PM PST by Sub-Driver

Democrats Threaten to Stop Senate Business if GOP Changes Rules on Judge Confirmations By David Espo The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrats served notice Tuesday that they will slow or stop most Senate business if Republicans unilaterally change the rules to assure confirmation of President Bush's controversial court appointments.

Any such change would mark "an unprecedented abuse of power," Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., wrote Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.

Reid, the Democratic leader, exempted military and national security legislation from the threat, and said Democrats would not block passage of measures needed to assure continuation of critical government services.

"To shut down the Senate would be irresponsible and partisan," Frist said in swift rebuttal. "The solution is simple: return to 200 years of tradition and allow up or down votes on judges."

The exchange marked the latest development in a long-simmering struggle over Bush's court appointments. Democrats blocked votes on 10 nominees during the last Congress, attacking them as too conservative to warrant lifetime appointments.

Accusing Democrats of obstruction, Republicans sought to make an issue of it in the elections last fall, in which they gained four seats.

Bush has already renominated some of the judges, and Reid has said previously the Democrats' position has not changed.

(Excerpt) Read more at ap.tbo.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 109th; dirtyrats; doit; doomsdayoption; govwatch; obstructionistdems; rats; sorelosers; ussenate; winwin
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To: Pylot

roger that


101 posted on 03/15/2005 1:01:23 PM PST by kralcmot (my tagline is lost, if found please return it to my home page)
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To: Sub-Driver

I wonder how many senators are minimally needed?

Seems to me the democrats are not required or wanted.

Perhaps this would be the time to start passing all that legislation that died when sent over from the house...


102 posted on 03/15/2005 1:01:28 PM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE!)
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To: Arrowhead1952

YeeeeeHaaaaaaa!!!!!

This WILL be fun. Here kittykittykitty .. .


103 posted on 03/15/2005 1:02:02 PM PST by Lee'sGhost (Crom!)
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To: Sub-Driver

Reid knows about abuse of power, he and the democrats have been abusing it with this filibuster bullsheit for 4 years now.


104 posted on 03/15/2005 1:03:34 PM PST by sgtbono2002
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Comment #105 Removed by Moderator

To: Mad Mammoth; atomic_dog

You mean McCain has not already gone on the MSM outlets and pre-emptivly surrendered?


106 posted on 03/15/2005 1:05:23 PM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE!)
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To: tollytee

Does this mean the senators will not be paid for the days they are absent?


107 posted on 03/15/2005 1:06:29 PM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE!)
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To: Mr_Peter
Actually that is not true. It takes 60 votes to force cloture, not to end debate. A Senator can only talk on the same subject twice in one legislative day, if the day does not end until the vote is taken, once the dems are all talked out then a vote will take place. It might take that for the first judge, I doubt it would take that for the second or third.
108 posted on 03/15/2005 1:06:29 PM PST by Sthitch
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Comment #109 Removed by Moderator

To: JRjr

Down side is it won't last forever


110 posted on 03/15/2005 1:09:28 PM PST by NRA1995 ("Yew jes' go and lay yore hand on a Pittsburgh Steelers fan & Ah think yer gonna fin'lly understand")
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To: mozrock

A 'quorum' is only 51 votes.

We have that.


111 posted on 03/15/2005 1:09:59 PM PST by Bigh4u2
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To: Don@VB
"I only refer to this as "Nuclear Option" because it was labeled that way by some pundit or talking head."

I was pretty sure you were, but I think maybe it best we do not repeat what the pundits and talking heads have called it.

112 posted on 03/15/2005 1:10:45 PM PST by Spunky ("Everyone has a freedom of choice, but not of consequences.")
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To: Bigh4u2

How can they stop "business" if we have the majority?


113 posted on 03/15/2005 1:10:48 PM PST by Howlin (Free the Eason Jordan Tape!!!)
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To: Sub-Driver

They think this is a threat? LOL


114 posted on 03/15/2005 1:11:15 PM PST by Soul Seeker
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To: Sub-Driver

Every day there is gridlock in Congress is another day longer the Republic survives the slow plunge to hell (and handbaskets).


115 posted on 03/15/2005 1:11:39 PM PST by hattend (Liberals! Beware the Perfect Rovian Storm [All Hail the Evil War Monkey King, Chimpus Khan!])
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To: Howlin

My thoughts exactly!


116 posted on 03/15/2005 1:11:48 PM PST by Bigh4u2
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Comment #117 Removed by Moderator

To: hchutch

What happens when stuff is attached to military bills? Will democrats rush in to vote if Republicans push in a bill for parental notification of a minor about to have an abortion?

Will democrats rush in if Republicans push a bill to require all abortion clinics notify police of every minor having an abortion for criminal investigation of who got the girl pregnant? (not age of consent, all who are under 18)

Will democrats rush in if Republican put a bill to exempt all border fences from ANY environmental restrictions or impact studies?

This is just SOOoOOooooooooo tempting.


118 posted on 03/15/2005 1:13:54 PM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE!)
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To: Sub-Driver
I just called Senator Harry Reid's office.

Said I heard he was threatening to shut down the senate.

Asked if the senator was hoping for a fat girl in a thong to bring him pizza while the senate was shut down.

The poor guy on the phone just burst out laughing....said he didn't think so. I said, why not, it worked for clinton.

119 posted on 03/15/2005 1:14:47 PM PST by OldFriend ("If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child might have peace." Thomas Paine)
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To: atomic_dog

This time, I will take that bet.

I think the Republicans have been made to realize that we're not going to sit still and take their inaction lying down. They all remember how often their phones rang during l'affaire Specter.

Anyone want in on this?


120 posted on 03/15/2005 1:15:09 PM PST by Deo et Patria (Deo et Patria)
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