Posted on 01/27/2006 3:54:07 PM PST by new yorker 77
Salazar Opposes Filibuster to Block Alito Confirmation
Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., said Wednesday he would not take part in a filibuster to block Appeals Court Judge Samuel Alito's confirmation and would support a cloture vote if others tried a filibuster.
Salazar is one of the "Gang of 14" - seven Democrats and seven Republicans who agreed to avoid a filibuster over Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts during his confirmation hearing last year.
In a conference call with reporters, Salazar said he still plans to vote against Alito's confirmation but indicated that his problems with the judge's philosophy do not extend to the extraordinary circumstances that would warrant a filibuster by the minority party.
Salazar was part of the bipartisan group of senators who combined to stifle a filibuster over Roberts and forestall the threat of a "nuclear option" by Republicans, a term coined by former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, to block debate and force a vote.
Senators on Wednesday continued to debate Alito's confirmation and Salazar said he expected a vote by the weekend.
"I think we will have a vote on Judge Alito and we will move on to other issues that are important to our country," he said.
Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., who already has announced his support for Alito, called the judge highly qualified to serve on the Supreme Court.
"It would be unfortunate and irresponsible for any of my Senate colleagues to continue to politicize the judicial confirmation process," Allard said in a statement. "Judge Alito is eminently qualified and deserves an up-or-down vote."
Salazar said that while he is opposed to Alito's politics, he acknowledged that the judge has "a stellar academic record and support from his colleagues on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals."
Asked if he would have supported filibusters on past nominees, Salazar said he was not in the Senate then but did add, "Clarence Thomas, I think, is an abomination when you contrast him with someone with the leadership and principles of . . . Thurgood Marshall."
He also said, "I'm troubled by Judge Alito and I don't believe the president made the wisest choice for America. The president could have used this opportunity to bring about a more united America."
He added that considering the vacancy to be filled is that of Sandra Day O'Connor, "it's a step back for the U.S. Supreme Court to have fewer women at the beginning of this century than it did at the end of the last century."
He also said he worried over Alito's apparent support for the expansive role of the executive branch.
On a related subject, Salazar said that he was optimistic that senators could agree on changes that would allow the extension of the Patriot Act. He said he hoped to see standards in the law covering the issuing of warrants by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act courts and "some kind of court review over permanent gag orders."
In the wake of another move by Japan to ban U.S. beef, Salazar called for an FBI investigation of USDA inspections. The latest ban came after a veal shipment from a U.S. meatpacker was allowed through with spine bones, violating rules insisted upon by the Japanese.
"One sloppy worker shouldn't be enough to make a whole industry go down the tubes," Salazar said.
He added, "American beef, which I eat every day, is the safest in the world."
That prompted a question about whether he actually ate beef every day and Salazar responded, "Probably a minimum of six out of seven days. I'm a country boy that grew up on potatoes, beef and beans and that's the kind of food I like."
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Copyright (c) 2006, The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo.
Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
How many more nails does this need?
Here's some good news.
"Clarence Thomas, I think, is an abomination when you contrast him with someone with the leadership and principles of . . . Thurgood Marshall."
Oh brother...
This article is two days old. What does he say now about voting for cloture? Anyone know?
Wasn't Feinstein part of the Gang of 14?
I read today that there is a movement to make Marshall a saint in the Episcopalian Church. I am totally serious.
"Marshall a saint in the Episcopal Church."
Would not surprise me. Bozos, like Marshall himself.
Salazar's word means absolutely nothing. Our leaders would be wise to assume that he'll be against us all the way.
He's a nasty, lying puke who has to say non-Rat things every now and then because he's from a competitive state.
Never believe him.
I wish people would stop posting these threads if the information is not current, it makes keeping an accurate count difficult.
"Wasn't Feinstein part of the Gang of 14?"
No.
I think that all the Gang of 14 would conclude the same thing. Would be nice to hear from more of them.
The man has lied every step of the way. I'll believe him when I hear his vote and not before.
When dealing with Democrats, there is no such thing as an accurate count.
They change their minds hourly, depending on which loony group is pulling their strings.
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