Posted on 09/05/2017 4:46:40 PM PDT by jazusamo
Sen. Al Franken said Tuesday that he will use an arcane Senate tradition to try to derail one of President Trump’s appeals court nominees, marking an escalation in what has become a nasty fight over the shape of the federal judiciary.
Mr. Franken said he won’t return his “blue slip” for Minnesota Supreme Court Justice David Stras, Mr. Trump’s nominee for the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Under Senate tradition, the chamber won’t proceed on a judicial nominee unless both home-state senators return their blue slips, signifying acquiescence in the pick.
Left with little power to filibuster, the blue slip has become the most effective tool Democrats have to obstruct Mr. Trump’s court nominees.
Mr. Franken said he is objecting because Judge Stras looks to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and the late Justice Antonin Scalia as role models.
“I am concerned that a nominee nurtured by such an ideology would likely seek to impose it on the litigants before him,” Mr. Franken said in a press release announcing his decision.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Repubs always fight with one hand behind their back. It’s almost like they don’t really believe what they tell us. I can’t tell if they don’t really, or if they are just wusses.
I'm betting it can be changed.
Senate can create their own internal rules on how they proceed. The only Constitutional restrictions are how they interact/are required to perform with the two other branches. Advice and consent is very open ended considering that specifics are not enumerated.
The words “blue slip” are not in the Constitution.
Just saying.
L
Thanks...Looks like it’s been a political football since it originated.
“Al Franken said Tuesday that he will use an arcane Senate tradition to try to derail one of President Trump’s appeals court nominees, marking an escalation in what has become a nasty fight over the shape of the federal judiciary. Mr. Franken said he won’t return his “blue slip” for Minnesota Supreme Court Justice David Stras, Mr. Trump’s nominee for the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.”
Trump should call McConnell and tell him that if he doesn’t suspend the “blue slip” rule, McConnell can expect some unpleasant visitors during the night and the results will make Harry Reid’s battle with his exercise machine look like child’s play.
It’s about the state where the nominee resides...and the sitting senators of that state.
I’m betting the Repubs are busily preparing the end of the blue-slip fiasco. Make it permanent. It’s stupid.
Since this is a tradition, I wonder how often any Republican used it to stop some of Obama’s far left, radical nominees?
I am not an expert on Senate procedures but knew about this rule for a while.
I think there must be a point where it is being abused and I would bet the Democrats are doing just that.
I always look for that picture on any thread where he is mentioned. If it is you that keeps posting it, THANKS!
Can this nominee move to another state? Does he have to reside in Minnesota even though he sits on a bench in that state?
Its time has now passed. New tradition, no more blue slips.
Very useful info. We need to make it viral.
“Not a surprise from RAT comedian Al Franken of Minnesota. “
Yeah, while everyone rants about California, the truth if the matter is that for it’s size, Minnesota is a much bigger RAT crap hole. In my 77 years, I can’t recall anytime it didn’t vote RAT or in the case of Franken, Super RAT! And we all remember such luminaries as “Gov.” Jesse Ventura.
O never heard of that before.
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