ESTRADA POLITICS - Graham, Hollings, Lincoln, and Pryor targeted

CNSNews.com Commentary ^ | March 01, 2003 | Robert D. Novak

[11th_VA]

The next target for Republican strategists seeking to peel away Democratic senators to confirm Miguel Estrada as a federal appeals judge is also the next Democrat to announce for president: Sen. Bob Graham of Florida.

Florida's junior senator, Democrat Bill Nelson, Tuesday became the 55th senator to come out for breaking the filibuster against Estrada. Republicans hoped Graham would follow, but that position might antagonize liberal interest groups important in a campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.

With 60 votes needed for cloture, other Democratic senators who might yet abandon the party's stand against Estrada include Ernest F. Hollings of South Carolina and Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor of Arkansas. If all defected, Estrada would still be short one vote.

[11th_VA]

Keep the pressure on ...

[cyncooper]

Another sign the Republicans are caving!

/so

[livius]

Very important to write/call/e-mail these guys. I got a mealy-mouthed canned response from Graham in which he pleaded health problems and barely mentioned Estrada, but every e-mail adds up, eventually.

Don't forget to put something in the subject line (like Support Estrada Nomination, or some such thing) that can easily be tallied by your congress-critter's staff.

[speedy]

I'd be surprised if Hollings switched. He's becoming more like Byrd all the time. I guess it has to do with senility.

[VaFederalist]

Hollings and Lincoln are both up for reelection in '04 so the presumption is that they wouldn't want to do anything to get the conservatives fired up.

Has Hollings officially said he is running? I think he was still hedging last I heard.

[speedy]

Don't know about Hollings running -- he must be getting up there, although after Strom I guess we can't say that's a factor. I have enough problems here in NY living with Hitlery and Chuckie. Don't think there's much chance they would bolt!

[Huck]

bttt

[samuel_adams_us]

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[JulieRNR21]

FL FReepers....please keep calling Graham!

I called all those Senators up for re-election in 2004. Told that that it was not helping the Dem Party to be seen opposing an Hispanic minority nominee.

Also said that it was holding up more critical problems that need to be addressed by the Senate.

Amd them that many Americans are watching them on C-Span & that it is not beneficial to the Dem Party!

[OldFriend]

I called NJ Senator Corzine's office and his aide said Corzine is AGAINST the filibuster but will not vote FOR Estrada to be confirmed.

[Otta B Sleepin]

I called NJ Senator Corzine's office and his aide said Corzine is AGAINST the filibuster but will not vote FOR Estrada to be confirmed.

So why aren't you on the list of those opposing the filibuster, Mr. Corzine? Talk is cheap.

[FLCowboy,]

The following is a website listing all of the Hispanic organizations that you can copy with any correspondance you have with political foes of Migual Estrada.

Click Here for the website.

For that matter, there are organizations that can be copied on just about any subject.

[gop_gene]

I think we can pretty much forget about getting Pryor on our side. I'd be extremely surprised if he came over. After all, he just won his seat, has SIX LONG YEARS left in his term, and is counting on the probable fact that when he's up for re-election, this will be nothing but a passing memory, if people even care about it and if they even remember it at all.

Anyhow, like the article says, EVEN IF the gop could get all 3 senators, which is unlikely, that leaves them 1 short--where are they going to get that last one? Certainly not Landrieu, Baucus, Bingaman or Johnson, who would have been the most likely suspects, but they just won re-election and have no fear. Therefore, this attempt by the gop won't get us anywhere.

[Vigilanteman]

In Japan, we called Hollings the Senator from Disney. I think the entertainment industry financed his last near-loss campaign handsomely.

[swheats]

Estrada would still be short one vote.

Enter Lieberman. He'll be a fool to not join.

[gop_gene]

Enter Lieberman. He'll be a fool to not join.

In any other year and under other circumstances, he might. But he can't--it's gonna be an election year soon and he's running for prez. Voting for Estrada, or supporting him publicly, would spell doom for his candidacy in the primaries.

[CyberAnt]

Excuse me ... where are you getting your information ..??

Yesterday, Hatch and Santorum called Rush's program and said THEY WERE NOT CAVING!!

Check your facts first!

[swheats]

I think they call that a rock and a hard place.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Graham voted against the war resolution. He's not worried about voting against Estrada.