Transcript: Sen. Pat Roberts on Fox News Sunday (Are Republicans prepared to fight for Estrada)

foxnews ^ | 3/2/2003 | TONY SNOW/SEN. PAT ROBERTS

[TLBSHOW]

HUME: Senator, how hard are Republicans prepared to fight, and for how long, to end the filibuster against the judicial nomination of Miguel Estrada?

ROBERTS: That's a pretty sad commentary. It's not only Estrada. You're getting my dander up now. It's not only Estrada; it is a new standard. If this sticks, if the filibuster sticks, it will mean that you will have to have 60 votes for any nominee. We are really changing the constitutional design of what it takes to basically nominate and approve any judge. That's the big issue, as well as Estrada. So, we're going to keep fighting.

[Jack Black]

Hillary's stolen FBI files.

[Jack Black]

So what, set rapists and murderers free? I don't think this is a good suggestion. But a boycott or something is, your on the right track , but this is too radical.

[Torie]

It was not answered however.

[TLBSHOW]

Rush Limbaugh on Friday


Idiot GOP Senate Set to Shaft Estrada?

I am more frosted at the Democrats for what they're doing to the Constitution vis-à-vis Miguel Estrada's than I am over the anti-war movement. Fox News reported that the GOP planned to call for a cloture vote on Estrada next week knowing they'd lose it. That would effectively amend the Constitution - illegally - to read that you need 60 votes instead of 51 to get a judicial nomination through.

Happily, it turns out the GOP isn't going to call such a vote. The offices of Senators Santorum and Hatch rang up my office on Friday, and said that the Fox story is not accurate. There will be no cloture vote. Hooray! If these Democrats want to filibuster the first Hispanic nominee to the D.C. Circuit Court, let them do it! I know they say there are new rules making a filibuster harder, but so what? And don't tell me that it's not "practical" anymore, because people have to go to the bathroom. That's nothing new.

Force them to get out there and filibuster this eminently qualified man, as rated unanimously by the American Bar Association.

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_022803/content/roll_3.guest.html

Now today...

HUME: Well, Senator, that may be so, but the majority can control what is on the Senate floor at any given moment and how long the Senate stays in session day after day or whether overnight or not.

And there is a difference between an old-fashioned filibuster, an exhausting affair that is difficult for the filibusters to wage, and the more genteel kinds of filibusters that have been conducted in recent years, where you just go on to other things between cloture votes. Which is it going to be?

ROBERTS: I don't think the other side has been very genteel. I think to simply grant us a vote makes a great deal of sense, not only for Miguel Estrada but also not to have a standard that you're going to have 60 votes for any judge that comes down the pike.

I'm not normally a partisan person, but this, you know, this really, this really disturbs me in regards to changing the way that any future judge will be approved. This is a constitutional issue as well as Estrada. It's got my dander up.

...
Un real is all I have to say.........Well I have more but give me time to calm down.

[potlatch]

You're right, the Repubs have learned the fine art of 'spin' too!

[Go Gordon]

Why don't conservatives stage a slowdown in both federal and state courts? Every jury of twelve should have at least one conservative. If every conservative on a jury could not be convinced beyound a reasonable doubt we could bring the whole judiciary branch to a halt due to hung juries. How long before there were no convictions before it would force the issue?

Are you friggin nutz? Its the dang liberals in this country that refuse to convict people of their crimes and send a message to the other criminals that CRIME DOESN"T PAY. Thats why the USA has such a problem with crime. The other extreme is the islamic countries that cut off hands for stealing. Guess what, there ain't much theft going on in mohammedville. There's a happy medium, since we preclude inhumane punishment, but at least we can send a message you'll do big time time, for your crime.

[Kryptonite]

This SUCKS! And the other Fox article expressed a defeatist attitude among the (R) Senators. There is no greater issue in my mind than the judiciary. If they won't go to the mat for Estrada, like they should have done immediately when the dims started this BS, I'm done with them, period.

[TLBSHOW]

This is the most important issue besides the war and this is all about the constitution and his dander is up, who talks like that anymore? My Grandmother did and she passed away in 1980. These Senators need to force the democrats to a real filibuster not this be nice to rats way they are doing it.

[clintonh8r]

And imagine how those decent RATs like Zell Miller will take this. Why should they break ranks with their party in the future if the Republicans won't even stand up for themselves? Sickening!

[TLBSHOW]

ping

[TLBSHOW]

I think they don't want to stay overnite or weekends to do what needs to be done. Heck they even took a week off in the middle of it and today from what I understand this was the only talk show that even brought it up, I could be wrong on that part so correct me if I am. Was this issue on any other talk show that you know of?

[alternatives?]

Typically 11 to 1 hung jury cases on violent offenders are retried. I don't think Timothy McVeigh would have walked on a 11 to 1 vote. The Senate Democrats are basically slowing down the judiciary branch by not confirming judges so why not make their slowdown because of their personal preferences a little more visable? A hold on convictions for a month or two would make it more visable.

[Jhoffa_]

The Dilema:

It's not only Estrada; it is a new standard. If this sticks, if the filibuster sticks, it will mean that you will have to have 60 votes for any nominee.

The Question:

Are you going to whip out the big guns and force that little punk Daschle to finish the fights he picks, Yes or No?

The Answer:

"I'm not normally a partisan person, but this, you know, this really, this really disturbs me in regards to changing the way that any future judge will be approved. This is a constitutional issue as well as Estrada. It's got my dander up."

The Translation:

"No"

[Kryptonite]

This is the most important issue besides the war . .

It's more important than military maneuvers. Without a principled judiciary, our ability to fight this war and win will be crippled.

And yes, they'll be hanging the 4 democrat senators who supported Estrada out to dry. Kiss their support goodbye for any future nominations.

[185JHP]

Thanks.

[185JHP]

Good idea.

[Jhoffa_]

You're right, the Repubs have learned the fine art of 'spin' too!

IMVHO, they are "spinning" themselves right into the ground.

I think they are either antiques, who don't have the pluck to weather a real filibuster OR they are intentionally dragging their feet on this with the hopes of making Hispanic voters and Conservatives furious with Daschle and the Democrats.

The problem with the latter is that there's more than enough hate to go around.. plenty for both parties if they let this drag out needlessly or refuse to go to the wall for our nominees and our constitution.

There will be furious conservatives and Hispanics all right, but they will be just as pissed at the Republicans if they lose this as they are at the Democrats for starting it in the first place.

Conservatives can hold a grudge for a long, long time.. Remember a guy named Trent Lott?

[TLBSHOW]

There will be furious conservatives and Hispanics all right, but they will be just as pissed at the Republicans if they lose this as they are at the Democrats for starting it in the first place.

You have that right.........

I say make the rats do a 24/7 7 days a week and let them shut the govt down.

[potlatch]

IMVHO, they are "spinning" themselves right into the ground.

Kinda like drilling for oil? Oops, my bad, LOL! I've thought the same, about letting it drag on so the Hispanics would 'notice' what's going on!

[Jhoffa_]

I've thought the same, about letting it drag on so the Hispanics would 'notice' what's going on!

Oh yeah, and there's a good point made in #29 also..

Why break ranks to support us when we won't even support ourselves?

This whole thing is just becoming an abortion..