No date set yet for Roberts Senate hearing (DATE FELL THROUGH)

WashComPost ^

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

If Bush wants this over now, he will Recess Appoint Robert Bork until these hearings are held, and let O'Conner retire.

I like it...

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

I am also so furious right now, I can't see straight..and what are our favorite Senators doing...going on VACATION!!!!

Can't the president or the vice-president force the senate to stay in session?

[Txsleuth]

I don't think so...that "Separation of Powers" thingy...

[scannell]

I understand your point I think and I agree. But if O'connor said she would stay for "as long as it took" and it took 6 weeks for Bush to make a recess appointment, then her conditions of departure would be met. Maybe we can deal with a better Congress after the next election.

[Gritty]

Republicans outnumber the opposition 55-44-1.

Why is there any need to "negotiate"?

[Bar-Face]

"With the RINOS 51 seats was meaningless, 55 is just a "little" better."

With this bunch, 98 - 2 seats wouldn't be enough. When the Senate was split 50/50 with Vice President Cheney having the 51st vote, the Democrats rolled Lott and took over. they have been running the place ever since. All I hear out of the Republicans is whining, witching (with a b) and moaning. "But we didn't treat so and so like that" " But we didn't ask that of Clinton's nominees." For you out there that still contribute to the Senate candidates, I would suggest sending them cheese to go with their whine.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

I know the President has the Constitutional power to call an emergency session of Congress anytime he wants. He can keep them in session until the issue is resolved. I also know that the Vice-president is also president of the Senate and has a vote to break a tie...

Separation of powers does not mean the Senate can shirk their Constitutional duty to vote on a court nominee...

[Txsleuth]

Well, this is good to hear...I just wish Bush would do it...

I found out today on FR another amazing thing that the Senate did yesterday...

They passed the Patriot Act, making changes, but by unanimous consent...they NEVER brought it to the floor to debate...so none of us even knew they were discussing it...let alone passing it without a roll call vote!!!

The House debated it for days on cspan, so we could see what kind of changes they wanted to make....

The big arguement for not renewing it is peoples "civil rights", but what about our rights to know what our congresscritters are doing?

BTW, the Bush is NOT happy with the changes that the Senate made!!! Frist is striking out by letting Specter screw around like a dem.

[Mister Baredog]

The big arguement for not renewing it is peoples "civil rights", but what about our rights to know what our congresscritters are doing?

Don't worry. Next comes the conference which is where the Senate version is FIXED. It should come out much more like the house version, then the bill will go back to both bodies for a final vote.

The conference is where the WH can influence the final bill. It should come out fine in the end.

[Txsleuth]

sure hope the House REps. hold firm....but you have noticed, I am sure, how the MSM is playing up how President Bush had to go to Capitol Hill to "twist arms" to get his CAFTA agreement...

And, every day you have Biden or Durbin et al, coming out talking about Bush's "abuse of power"...that will happen again if it does get changed in the conference...hehehehe