Correspondence from Senator DeWine

June 25, 2005 | Senator Mike DeWine

[Buckeye Battle Cry]

Thank you for contacting me regarding President Bush's federal judicial nominees. I appreciate knowing your views on this very important issue.

Recently, the Senate confirmed six of the President's judges for the federal bench -- Priscilla Owen, Janice Rogers Brown, William Pryor, David McKeague, Richard Griffin, and Thomas Griffith. These confirmations are the result of an historic, bipartisan agreement that I helped negotiate, along with 13 of my Senate colleagues. I became involved in the negotiations because too many circuit court judges were not being voted on in the Senate and the filibuster was being abused to block these nominations.

While we clearly needed to change the way the Senate was conducting business, I also felt that it was really not in the best interests of the Nation or the Senate to completely change the rules and totally eliminate the filibuster, though I was prepared to do that if nominations continued to be blocked. We needed, instead, an alternative that could restore the Senate to where it was when I entered the Senate a decade ago -- a Senate where the possibility of a filibuster for judicial nominations was there, but rarely used.

That is what our agreement achieved. We agreed that a filibuster for a judge should not be used unless it was under extraordinary circumstances. Furthermore, we made sure the agreement included a provision that, if the terms of the agreement were violated and a judge were filibustered in circumstances that an individual Member considered not to be extraordinary, then that Member has the right to pull out of the agreement. That Member has the right to go back and use what has been called the constitutional option to change the practice and the precedent of the Senate. I insisted that this be part of the agreement.

As evidenced by the judges the Senate confirmed recently, the agreement, so far, is working. It has cleared the field for the President's judicial nominations, some of whom had been waiting over four years for a vote in the Senate. Not only that, the agreement also has allowed the people's agenda to move forward. Already, since the agreement was reached, the Senate Judiciary Committee has passed out of the committee the Asbestos bill, and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has passed the Energy bill, and the full Senate is debating it.

Enclosed to provide further details is a copy of a speech I gave on the Senate Floor recently regarding the Senate's use of the filibuster regarding judicial nominees. Again, thank you for informing me of your views. If you have any additional questions or comments, please feel free to contact me.

[Buckeye Battle Cry]

This is the response I received to a scathing e-mail I sent DeWine regarding the Gang of 14 sell-out.

His political house here in Ohio is on fire and he knows it. This letter is pure crap and I call B.S. on it. He's nothing more than a McCain puppet (just like that chump Graham).DeWine pimped McCain in Ohio back in 2000 after South Carolina and he's trying to convince us he's somehow doing the best for the White House.

Pure bunk.

[billie bob]

I received the same email. I replied to him how I felt regarding the actions of the 7 traitors.

[river rat]

Anyone ask him lately if his "agreement" with the devil is still effective?

I notice the Democrats still being horse's asses...and DeWine amongst them..

The state let his son take some of the heat by BEATING him decisively in the recent election..

DeWine is afraid that Ohio is close to swinging into a Blue State and wishes to garner their love -- now..

F'em

Semper Fi

[BruceS]

I, too, got the same e-mail in response to an e-mail I had sent the day the sell-out happened. I have always been against third party voting, because I figured a Republican (even a RINO) was better than a Demoncrat. I am considering a third party since it seems that it makes no difference in the outcome.

[Yosemitest]

Let us NEVER forget!!!

NOT ONE PENNY!!!

I'm angry enough to pledge money to real conservatives who will run against these RINO's and replace them. How about $100.00 a head?

I encourage everyone to attack!

Lincoln D. Chafee of Rhode Island
Office Locations

United States Senate
141A Russell
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-2921

170 Westminster Street
Suite 1100
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 453-5294

320 Thames Street
Room 272
Newport, RI 02840
(401) 845-0700

Susan M. Collins of Maine
Senator Susan M. Collins
172 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Phone:


Washington, D.C. Office (202) 224-2523

Augusta Office (207) 622-8414
Bangor Office (207) 945-0417
Biddeford Office (207) 283-1101
Caribou Office (207) 493-7873
Lewiston Office (207) 784-6969
Portland Office (207) 780-3575


Olympia J. Snowe of Maine
Senator Olympia J. Snowe
154 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-5344

John W. Warner of Virginia
Contacts for all offices Washington Office Address:

225 Russell Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Telephone:
(202) 224-2023
(202) 224-6295 FAX

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00a.m. to 6:00p.m.


John McCain of Arizona
contacts
241 Russell Senate Ofc. Bldg.
United States Senate
, Washington DC 20510

Phone: (202) 224-2235
Fax: (202) 228-2862

Phoenix
5353 North 16th Street
Suite 105
Phoenix, Arizona 85016

Phone: (602) 952-2410
Fax: (602) 952-8702

Tempe
4703 S. Lakeshore Drive
Suite 1
Tempe, Arizona 85282

Phone: (480) 897-6289
Fax: (480) 897-8389

Tucson
407 W. Congress Street
Suite 103
Tucson, Arizona 85701

Phone: (520) 670-6334
Fax: (520) 670-6637

Lindsey O. Graham of South Carolina
contacts for all offices
Washington Office
290 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-5972 phone

Upstate Regional Office
101 East Washington Street, Suite 220
Greenville, South Carolina 29601
(864) 250-1417

Midlands Regional Office
508 Hampton Street, Suite 202
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
(803) 933-0112 phone

Pee Dee Regional Office
McMillan Federal Building
401 West Evans Street, Suite 226B
Florence, South Carolina 29501
(843) 669-1505 phone

Lowcountry Regional Office
530 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard, Suite 202
Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina 29464
(843) 849-3887 phone


Piedmont Regional Office
140 East Main Street, Suite 110
Rock Hill, South Carolina 29730
(803) 366-2828 phone

Golden Corner Regional Office (part-time)b 135 Eagles Nest Drive, Suite B
Seneca, South Carolina 29678
(864) 888-3330

Senator Mike DeWine, an Ohio Republican
contact for all offices
Washington, D.C. Office
140 Russell Senate Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2315
Fax: (202) 224-6519
TDD: (202) 224-9921

[gaspar]

He didn't want to "change the rules"?! De Wine is a bigger dummy than I thought. How do we get these guys?

[chadwimc]

You get people like DeWine because people vote the party ticket, no matter what. After all, "he may not be the best choice, but at least he's not a democrat". We deserve exactly what we get when we let blind party loyalty make our choices for us...

[OldFriend]

If DeWine believed the fillibuster was being abused then he should have worked towards the constitutional option.

[libs_kma]

I received the exact same email, and when I responded to it that it was total crap I got the message undeliverable return mail.

What a putz. He needs to go in 2006.

[jocko12]

After 06 it will be X-Senator dewine.

[upchuck]

These confirmations are the result of an historic, bipartisan agreement that I helped negotiate, along with 13 of my Senate colleagues.

Well, aren't you the arrogant asshole!

There's certainly nothing historic about stabbing your political party leadership in the back.

Chickensh!t RINO is more like it.

Your day will come, Mr. DeWine and it won't be pleasant. You, too, Lindsey. You're an embarrassment to South Carolina!

[Soul Seeker]

When you have a primary challenger against DeWine, I'll be contributing to the challenger. If not, I'll be financing the Democrat.

Yes, Senate comity has been restored, hasn't it? Possible SC vacancy and already talk of a filibuster-AGAIN. Bolton filibustered-AGAIN.

Refusal to work with on S.S. reform. Dems accusing our troops of being comparable to minds that envisioned the worst of evil, then put it into practice.

Wow. The gang of 14 did swell!

I refuse to pat his back for SOME judges passed through, when without the deal ALL would have received a vote nor would we have to worry about S.C. vacancies. That would have restored the Senate to the days before Bork when a Justice like scalia could garner a 98-0 vote. All he ensured is that a Justice will be lucky to get 51 votes.

Yes, job well done DeWine. For an example of how conservatives feel about your stellar efforts, contact your Chairman whom seems to be having difficulty raising funds. Or you can just phone home to the son that came in 4th place.

[billie bob]

I received the exact same email, and when I responded to it that it was total crap I got the message undeliverable return mail.

Mine was returned also. It went thru using "caseworker@dewine.senate.gov". At least I think it went thru, it wasn't returned.

[ErnBatavia]

We agreed that a filibuster for a judge should not be used unless it was under extraordinary circumstances.

Well, DeWhine...you're about to get an education into the demonrat definition of "extraordinary circumstances"...Within a week we're going to see one or two vacancies on the USSC.

Fool...idiot...sucker...lightweight....

[ErnBatavia]

Anybody that emails a Senator or Representative is wasting their time....

It may feel good, but it's 100 percent ineffective....Snailmail works, and to some degree faxes work.....Emails are a total waste of your time.

[dalight]

no. The answer is to find a compelling non RINO Ohio republican and support them to replace DeWine.

Ohio Dems are celebrating right now because they don't think we can elect a new Senator that we like. Instead, they think we are going to divide and give them this seat. Perhaps thats what you want.

[fortheDeclaration]

no. The answer is to find a compelling non RINO Ohio republican and support them to replace DeWine. Ohio Dems are celebrating right now because they don't think we can elect a new Senator that we like. Instead, they think we are going to divide and give them this seat. Perhaps thats what you want.

Absolutely correct.

Electing a Democrat is no way to keep us in the majority.

[JLS]

Where exactly is Dewine wrong?

1. Did the six not get confirmed?

2. Was the fillibuster not perserved which will stop leftist from trying to change is for say a national gun control law?

3. Does Dewine not have the right according to the agreement to vote to change the rule if the Dims break it?

A much better issue that he did not speak about is the Dim's actions on Bolton? What does he have to say about the 7 Dims on that one?