LIVE Senate Filibuster Thread ~ Day 4

C-span ^ | 5-23-05 | US Senate

[OXENinFLA]

Senate Debate on Nominations Today the Senate resumes debate on the nomination of Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen to the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. The Senate will conduct its first roll call vote of the week at 5:30pm. Follow the C-SPAN networks & C-SPAN Radio for the debate on Senate rules & judicial nominations. MON., 11:30AM ET, C-SPAN2

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ORDERS FOR MONDAY, MAY 23, 2005 -- (Senate - May 20, 2005)

[Page: S5714] GPO's PDF

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Mr. CORNYN. I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 11:30 a.m. on Monday, May 23. I further ask that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved, and that the Senate then return to executive session and resume consideration of the nomination of Priscilla Owen to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, provided that the time from 12 noon until 1 p.m. be under the control of the majority leader or his designee and, at 1 p.m., the Democratic leader or his designee be recognized; provided that floor time then rotate between the two leaders or their designees every 60 minutes until 4 p.m., at which time the majority leader or his designee be recognized until 4:45 p.m., to be followed by the Democrat leader or his designee from 4:45 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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PROGRAM -- (Senate - May 20, 2005)

[Page: S5714] GPO's PDF

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Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, on Monday, the Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Priscilla Owen to serve as a circuit judge on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Monday will be the fourth consecutive day the Senate considers the Owen nomination.

Over the past 3 days, a number of Members, on both sides of the aisle, have come to the floor to speak on the nomination. We have conducted over 25 hours of debate, and we will continue on Monday. Moments ago, we filed a cloture motion on the nomination, and that will ripen on Tuesday of next week.

On behalf of the majority leader, I remind my colleagues the leader has announced our next rollcall vote will occur Monday afternoon at 5:30. That vote will be on a motion to instruct the Sergeant at Arms to request Senators' attendance. Senator Frist will have more to say about next week's session on Monday.

[El Gato]

now that they will allow Owens and Brown through, they can't use the 'they're too conservative' block for others

Why not, you expect them to be intellectually honest? They can just argue that they voted for Owens and Brown to "save the Senate", but that "enough is enough" and the MSM will back them to the hilt.

[cyncooper]

So either Graham is lying now, or he never intended to keep the agreement that he signed.

You say "now" as if he's saying something different today than he did yesterday.

I am no fan of his, but he and DeWine stated at the press conference yesterday (in the presence of the other signers, please note) that the option remained.

He is not "now" saying anything he didn't say from the start.

[El Gato]

What that means is the vote then comes to the floor and they will win confirmation.

Only if 5 of the RINOS dont' vote against confirmation. Heck they've PO'd their base, what do they have to lose now?

[Timeout]

Actually, I've changed my tune a little after sleeping on it.

I've come to agree with a very good summary I read on one of the blogs:

"Republicans let the Dems keep the filibuster as long as they don't use it."

We shall see.