While those two weren't part of the deal to avoid a fight over judicial filibusters, Democrats withdrew their objections to their confirmation during the back-and-forth negotiations.
TRANSLATION: We kicked their tails in this so-called "deal." We are getting everything we want and gave up nothing but a "promise" that we know they will BREAK, thus freeing us.
Which is exactly what I said a couple of weeks ago when everyone here was freaking out.
"Which is exactly what I said a couple of weeks ago when everyone here was freaking out."
True. But now the question is... when the Dems block all of these other appointees will the "Gang of 7" agree to break the fillibuster option?
"As a bonus, the Senate will confirm on Thursday Michigan nominees David McKeague and Richard Griffin, nominated to the 6th Circuit in Cincinnati, said Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn."
Actually, these 2 were the original two that Reid offered in his "compromise" - what they dont tell you is that they were blocked because Sen Levin was upset that his picks under Clinton never made it through... they were not targetted by the Dme caucus to start with.
Rubber meets road here:
"The Senate is anxious to move on to considering energy legislation and spending bills instead of taking up Bush's other appellate nominees including Henry Saad, William Myers, William Haynes and Brett Kavanaugh.
Those nominees were not guaranteed confirmation votes in the centrist agreement, and Democrats are expected to try and block all of them.
Frist said Tuesday he wasn't shirking a fight over those nominations. "As they come out of committee, we're going to bring them to the floor," he said."
The idea that these fine nominees were guaranteed confirmation votes in the 'agreement' and therefore wont/shouldnt be brought up is pure Dem Spin.
Glad to see Frist is showing cohones ... first we get the ones they let go, then we go back to the ones they filibuster...
We have definitely made some progress with the confirmation of Owen, Brown and Pryor. However, I will feel a lot better about this agreement when Haynes and Kavanaugh are voted out of committee and given a vote on the floor of the Senate. The dems have stalled for nearly 4 years on judicial nominations and the impact has been significant. First, we have lost good nominees like Estrada, Kuhl and Pickering. Second, by stalling so long the dems have kept good candidates like Estrada, Owen, Rogers, etc. from being considered for the SCOTUS. If Estrada had been confirmed in 2001, there would be a good chance that he would be a SCOTUS nominee when Rehnquist retires.
I was doing the same on a few threads, but you were carrying the water, much as you did during the Election. I'm glad to follow along!
One of these days, you *have* to tell me about your life as a drummer. :)
Tony
The "deal" was simply cover for the Rats to back down.
Nominee confirmation is more important than clarifying a Senate rule that does not need to be clarified now. Many seemed more interested in the humiliation of the Democrats than getting the confirmations.