DemocRAT #1: "What's THAT on my putting green?"
DemocRAT #2: "Eh, it's a Republican trying to filibuster. Try knocking him down!"
Posted on 03/03/2009 11:06:34 AM PST by wagglebee
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Republican senators have unanimously signed their names to a letter telling President Barack Obama that he needs to fill some of the many open slots in lower federal courts with President Bush's nominees for those positions or face filibusters of his own picks.
The move, if successful, could be a benefit for the pro-life movement as Bush's judicial selections are significantly more pro-life than the ones Obama will likely make.
During the end of the Bush administration, pro-abortion Democrats in Congress refused to allow votes on some of his nominees, including pro-life advocates who would have been more likely to uphold pro-life laws reducing abortions.
Before he picks judges for new spots, the Republican senators say Obama should reappoint some of the Bush nominees Democrats let flounder without confirmation votes.
Doing so, all 41 Republican said in a letter to Obama sent to him Monday, would “change the tone in Washington."
According to the news web site Politico, they also asked Obama to respect the Senate's constitutional role in reviewing judicial nominees by asking for input from the home state senators for any potential judicial selection to determine whether Republicans would be opposed to the pick.
That's where the filibuster threat comes into play.
“Regretfully, if we are not consulted on, and approve of, a nominee from our states, the Republican Conference will be unable to support moving forward on that nominee,” the letter warns. “And we will act to preserve this principle and the rights of our colleagues if it is not.”
The letter is the first shot in what could be a tough battle on Obama judicial picks and could preview the debate the Senate may have if and when the time comes for Obama to select a new Supreme Court justice.
The Supreme Court was one of the biggest worries for pro-life advocates during the presidential election because it is potentially one vote away from overturning the radical Roe v. Wade decision that allowed for virtually unlimited abortions for any reason throughout pregnancy.
With the election of Obama, pro-life advocates are worried that he will select one or more judges who will replace some of the current group of five pro-abortion justices and serve on the court for decades all the while upholding unlimited abortions.
A potential filibuster, which will be difficult to uphold with only 41 Republicans and some of them taking pro-abortion positions, is the only move the pro-life side has to stop Obama's potential pro-abortion Supreme Court picks.
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It takes more pro-life GOP Senators to fillibuster than there are pro-life GOP Senators. This is a pipe dream.
I doubt that Snowe, Collins and Specter are on board for this.
They might have "signed" the letter....but their fingers were crossed.
I was just thinking the same thing.
‘Pledge’ is something I use to dust furniture with—don’t talk—DO IT!
Did the guy who delivers the Chinese food forget his testicles in the Capitol building again? Because the Republicans somehow seem to have found some.
That's where the filibuster threat comes into play.
Not when the dems change the rules for cloture, it won't.
Anyone here want to bet me $20 that they will do exactly that if the filibuster is threatening their agenda for change?
Anyone?
Filibuster?
I’m rolling my eyes too hard to shoot milk out of nose from this being so funny.
Screw that!
I want a filibuster on EVRY DAMN BILL that comes up!
Yup. They don’t have the numbers. This is a consequence of politics.
What obligation does Obama have to seat Bush judges? That is stupid. Why should he?
If the next GOP President were to go ahead and sit Obama’s picks, I would have a fit.
The best recipe for getting good judges seated is to win elections.
I guarantee you that the 'rats will not think twice about running over the "minority".
A lot of us encouraged the Republicans to change the rules when they were a majority under the exact same circumstances, and is it not all we got was the "gang of 14"?
The Dems will definitely use the nuclear option.
Probably true. But the abortion issue is drifting toward becoming mute as more and more Republican leaders become pro-choice. Even Guiliani was leading the pack at one time plus the array of Governors. Religious leaders will have to convince the hearts and minds of women instead of politicians.
How come they don’t act like that with pro-choice republicans (as if there could be such a thing)?
They will vote “No” until they decide that they will not vote “No.”
We can count on at least 3 Republican senators to support pro abortion nominees even if the majority of their party opposes them. Question is, will any Democrats side with them? Doubtful. I am hoping though if this execrable FOCA ever comes to a vote that they can filibuster it and maybe get support from Dems like Ben Nelson, Mark Pryor, Kent Conrad, and Byron Dorgan.
A what? With Specter, Snowe and Collins in attendance? Oh please!
If they had any backbone, they would have filibustered the recent bailouts. Obama's promise to give 5 days notice on all bills, and his reneging on that promise gave them a golden opportunity. They could have tried a filibuster just on the premise of holding Obummer to his promise.
My bet is no, they have no backbone, even the little required to block a few judges. Certainly not enough to block something important, that will cause immediate and immense damage, like the huge spending in the bailouts and the proposed budget.
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