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 ...
Oh poor baby.
It is a PR bluff. Not much chance of stopping the Senate if the changes the cloture rules to a simple majority.
Yeah...
That is the other problem. Judges are but one issue.
Timing must be precise. We need to get a couple of things through before we use the nuke.
Not "unprecedented."
You only have to look at Robert Byrd's reign of terror in the Senate for several examples.
"Have the Sergeant at Arms remove them from the Senate chamber, Vice President Cheney (as President of the Senate) rules on a motion to censure the 'Rats, they are effectively expelled from the Senate, and viola:
No more obstructionism."
All you have to do is expell 9 democRATS and the R's can say that nominees where approved with 60/40.
Ten bucks says when all this goes down the general public won't even care.
I say we all contact our Senators asap and tell them (the Republicans) to call Reid's bluff---
Tell them to tell Reid that since the Reps are the majority, THEY will continue to do their jobs and vote on bills and nominees---
Excellent! Thank you. (Gearing up for salvo against my lib cousin. Hehehehehehehehehehehe . . .
I'd dearly love to see the Dems try. They're the minority, and they're stomping around threatening holding their breath 'til they turn blue. Good grief.
"of President Bush's controversial court appointments"
I love how just the fact of being considered conservative makes one controversial.
Lefty = Idealogical; Principled
Righty = Controversial ; Agenda Driven
Please let me offa this ride.
There's no way Republicans lose here. The public is not going to be happy if Democrats shut down the Senate over what's seen as a minor procedural issue. Let them cut their own throats.
"and they're stomping around threatening holding their breath 'til they turn BLUE."
So THAT explains why their states are 'blue'.
LOL!
Exactly! The RATS are obstructionists and they are going to lose more in 2006 if they continue their stalling practices.
grow some balls frist, you trent lott wannabe!
What a bunch of hipocrits. No religion in Government, until of course it serves the purposes of SATAN. Losers, do they really think we are dumb enough NOT to notice that???
Both my senators are Commurats :(
Hmmmm. SO, if the 'pubs change the rules, the dims will limit the Senate to only the buisness the Constitution envisioned?
Well, in the words of Val Kilmer, Let's do it, lunger.
Just do it.
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