Posted on 05/24/2009 5:50:23 PM PDT by reaganaut1
The Senate's No. 2 Republican on Sunday refused to rule out a filibuster if President Barack Obama seeks a Supreme Court justice who decides cases based on "emotions or feelings or preconceived ideas."
Sen. Jon Kyl made clear he would use the procedural delay if Obama follows through on his pledge to nominate someone who takes into account human suffering and employs empathy from the bench. The Arizona Republican acknowledged that his party likely does not have enough votes to sustain a filibuster, but he said nonetheless he would try to delay or derail the nomination if Obama ventures outside what Kyl called the mainstream.
"We will distinguish between a liberal judge on one side and one who doesn't decide cases on the merits but, rather, on the basis of his or her preconceived ideas," Kyl said.
...
Obama, who has interviewed at least two candidates for the position, has offered hints into what he wants in a justice.
...
Obama also has said he wants someone who employs empathy, "understanding and identifying with people's hopes and struggles," when arriving at decisions that could influence the nation for decades.
That approach drew a rebuke Sunday from Kyl, who in January told the conservative Federalist Society that he reserved the right to filibuster.
"I went on to say a lot of things about what I meant by that, and I was distinguishing between a person who is just liberal — and undoubtedly this nominee will be liberal — and one who decides cases not based upon the law or the merits but, rather, upon his or her emotions, or feelings or preconceived ideas. That would be a circumstance in which I could not support the nominee," Kyl said.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
You dont stand up sometime GOP then what use are you?
Principles like LIFE are more important than winning elections.
Tom Fitton Pres. of Judicial Watch is on C-SPAN Q&A with Brian. Fitton is very strong and interesting. I’m enjoying listening to him. He is much better than that old guy Larry Klayman. I think I might start donating again to J.Watch...
What do we have to filibuster with? I didn’t think we had enough people.
I wonder how the senior senator from AZ sees the issue?
He wants a communist that wants to destory the USA as much as he does! The Constitution is nothing but paper anyway.
I hope he means it. The Democrats dragged their feet on every court appointment under previous Republican presidents, and Bush was stuck holding the bag on many of his nominees. Yet these were all reasonable judicial candidates.
Just about every appointment Obama has made has been an extremist or an idiot—or both. That’s predictable for his judicial choices as well.
We must fight.
And the majority of voters are pro-life. We don’t need to let Obama appoint an abortion extremist to SCOTUS without at least fighting it and telling the people exactly what he is doing.
Juan McCain always figures out a way to stab the GOP and conservatives in the back.
Thanks!
No way they’ll filibuster. They’ll talk tough but then ZERO will choose a minority, or worse, a female minority, and the GOP will cave like they always do. But not before they send us letters asking for money to fight the pick.
be able or be willing?
Anyway, whenever Kyl gets interviewed on one of the local talk radio stations, at least he shows that he is up on the issues and generally gives a straight and educated answer, unlike some utter idiot who shall not be named but is two heartbeats away from the Presidency.
Both.
When 0bama picks the most far left candidate available will the media go to Powell, Christopher Buckley, and all the others who said the GOP has gone too far to the right, and ask how do they like this appointment?!
Of course, they will. And, if Powell, Buckley, Ridge, McCain et al give the right answers, they'll get ink and facetime.
Not to mention a "nice doggie"...
Obviously, it depends on who Obama will nominate. And that is still uncertain. The nominations of both Harriet Miers and Samuel Alito were surprises.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.