Posted on 05/23/2005 5:23:07 PM PDT by kristinn
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS
We respect the diligent, conscientious efforts, to date, rendered to the Senate by Majority Leader Frist and Democratic Leader Reid. This memorandum confirms an understanding among the signatories, based upon mutual trust and confidence, related to pending and future judicial nominations in the 109th Congress.
This memorandum is in two parts. Part I relates to the currently pending judicial nominees; Part II relates to subsequent individual nominations to be made by the President and to be acted upon by the Senates Judiciary Committee.
We have agreed to the following:
Part I: Commitments on Pending Judicial Nominations
A. Votes for Certain Nominees. We will vote to invoke cloture on the following judicial nominees: Janice Rogers Brown (D.C. Circuit), William Pryor (11th Circuit), and Priscilla Owen (5th Circuit).
B. Status of Other Nominees. Signatories make no commitment to vote for or against cloture on the following judicial nominees: William Myers (9th Circuit) and Henry Saad (6th Circuit).
Part II: Commitments for Future Nominations
A. Future Nominations. Signatories will exercise their responsibilities under the Advice and Consent Clause of the United States Constitution in good faith. Nominees should only be filibustered under extraordinary circumstances, and each signatory must use his or her own discretion and judgment in determining whether such circumstances exist.
B. Rules Changes. In light of the spirit and continuing commitments made in this agreement, we commit to oppose the rules changes in the 109th Congress, which we understand to be any amendment to or interpretation of the Rules of the Senate that would force a vote on a judicial nomination by means other than unanimous consent or Rule XXII.
We believe that, under Article II, Section 2, of the United States Constitution, the word Advice speaks to consultation between the Senate and the President with regard to the use of the Presidents power to make nominations. We encourage the Executive branch of government to consult with members of the Senate, both Democratic and Republican, prior to submitting a judicial nomination to the Senate for consideration.
Such a return to the early practices of our government may well serve to reduce the rancor that unfortunately accompanies the advice and consent process in the Senate.
We firmly believe this agreement is consistent with the traditions of the United States Senate that we as Senators seek to uphold.
<< It doesn't appear that Frist folded, but rather he had the rug pulled from under him. >>
What's the difference?
He might just as well be Trent Lott, Arlen Spectre, John McCain, Lindsay Graham, Oren Hatch or any of a dozen other gutless career-politician RINOs.
Every one of whom is every-bit-as-incapable as Frist of leading, following -- or of even getting out of the way!
Future video on CSPAN2, come next July on Supreme Court Nominee
Sen. Byrd: "What now do these Republicans tyrants want from us? We gave them votes on the President's nominees in May! Now they want us to give them a vote on these latest nominees too! As Cicero and Demosthenes would say, this nominee is truly an extraordinary case, and we must filibuster him as per our agreement. God save this wonderful good ole' boy Senate.
I will now drink a toast to my seven Republican colleagues who have given us the power to thwart the will of the people once more."
And then Frist enacts the nuclear option. Yeah. Sure.
This will temporarily delay the Owens Brown Pryor votes, but it will also make the "Gang of 14" impotent. Then the Other 48 can start working on bottling up in committee evry bill of the seven turncoats and zeroing out every dollar for their states.
Great ideas. If Frist is a true leader, he will pursue these.
I tried to call Warner's office just now and the mail box is full. I will call him tomorrow to advise him that he is a man without a party.
I can't believe that anything I write here will not already have been written by now.
I just want to add my voice - I am profoundly disgusted.
What more is there to say?
"It's not over until it's over."
You got guts, buddy. Explain better how it is not over, as it seems it is.
Once the RATS make asses of them, some of them, yes.
In the end all we need is two Pubs that signed this deal (a gentleman's agreement amaong the 14 not the full senate) to change their vote (under pressure) when any nominee that is less conservative, according to the now-established definition, than the three let through and it is a done deal. Graham is at least saying as such but is still in deep s@#t either way.
Except, of course, by the Democrats. Their "abuse of power" is perfectly acceptable. His comments made me cringe. Healthy debate is one thing but his description of those who oppose his views borders on hate speech.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
I am not hysterical, you are. He dawdled as you put because he didn't have the votes. He still didn't. I did read. Because I don't agree with what you posted doesn't mean I didn't read. I respect you opinion. Have the manners to do the same for mine.
Could it have just put off the debate/fight/rules change for later?
So in the 110th we get to go through all this again?
"Winning by trying to tell the Senate how they should act? That's a win? For who?"
For the Constitution, in this case, which if you haven't noticed, is being trampled on.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Could some interesting freeper come up with McClamberlain waving a piece of paper saying "Peace in our time!". This "peace" is worth just about as much as the original...
Okay, we got screwed, I see that now.
Before we rush to conclusions, this isn't necessarily a bad deal.
When you think about it, Bush can nominate ANY of the judges that have been passed so far, to the Supreme Court. Democrats can't say they are "extrodinary" cirumstances because they were already passed.
Only if we exchange a Democrat for a loyal American or replace two of the RINO traitors
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