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Posted on 01/16/2006 7:49:10 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
OPPOSITION Democrats have gained a one-week delay for a key Senate panel's vote on President George W. Bush's Supreme Court nominee, Samuel Alito.
Senator Patrick Leahy, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the panel's Republican chairman, Senator Arlen Specter, had agree to hold the vote on January 24 instead of today (local time).
"I have assured Chairman Specter that no Democratic Senator will hold the matter over on January 24," Senator Leahy said. "He does not anticipate that any Republican Senator will seek to hold it over at that time."
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican, blasted the Democrats' move as "unjustified and desperate partisan obstructionism".
"After answering 700 questions for over 18 hours before the committee last week and enduring relentless personal attacks, Judge Alito deserves better," Senator Frist said.
But he predicted that Judge Alito was "on track" to win confirmation in the full Senate, where Republicans hold 55 of 100 seats. His nomination must first be endorsed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Senator Frist vowed to schedule a Senate debate the day after the judge was endorsed by the judiciary committee and "move swiftly to a fair up-or-down vote."
"A Justice delayed will not be a Justice denied," Senator Frist said.
During committee hearings last week, Democrats, concerned that Mr Bush's high court pick was too conservative for their taste, grilled Judge Alito about abortion rights, limits on presidential powers and civil rights.
The democrats have already had their week delay. Specter delayed the hearings based on an agreement with the democrats to take their delay up front. He should have held the hearings in December rather than compromising with democrats.
And how many one week delays do the darling dims get? They've already had one. If they ALL get a stab at the one week rule...it will take 2 months!
Good point!!
Arrrrrrlen, ye're nought but a haggis-eatin' surrender monkey!
Do the RATS have the right to demand 100 hours of debate on the nomination in the full Senate?
1) I suspected the Reps would give a week delay. We are taking Senate Reps here.
2) So long as Alito gets on the Court I don't care.
3) Frist- Hush.
Seriously. I am not one of the people that takes every moment to slam Frist, I've even defended you from time to time Senator when it's excessive or, imo, unfair. This response is not brought about from anger or extreme frustration because I anticipate Reps to fold at this point. But when you make a threat and don't follow through, you become the boy that cried wolf. Your Threats hold no weight if you don't cancel the recess. So why say you'll do something you clearly won't and make yourself weaker in process? Just from a political standpoint I'm failing to see the wisdom in it.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Yah I'm with you on that. They're on the national stage. If they want to make a public fool of themselves far be it from us to stand in their way.
There isn't really much specter can do...my understanding of this is that it is a little-known provision in the Senate rules that allow a delay on a nomination vote of up to a week. He can't really stop it if this is the case.
The reason for the delay is to get time to work on getting together 41 votes for the you-know-what.
They'll win in Pennsylvania anyway. Specter wouldn't be there if it wasn't for Bush and Santorum anyway...
I hope neither gentleman ever forgets that!
Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
the Dems have 41 votes for a filibuster. that's not the issue, the issue is whether our side can hold 50 for the rules change. those are the votes the Dems need to try and flip with this extra week.
Arlen Specter repeatedly demonstrates a lack of testicular fortitude. He makes Jumpin' Jim Jeffords look respectable.
Delay, delay, and delay some more is the Democrat's stragety in hopes they can delay the vote until after the November elections.At this point, the only "delay" that the democrats don't favor is Tom...
He can sit with Laura.
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