Daschle says two Bush judicial picks are ``exceptions to rule'' on voting for nominees

AP via San Francisco Chronicle ^ | May 11, 2003 | AP

[fightinJAG]

Not every one of a president's judicial nominees has the right to a straight up-or-down vote in the Senate, Democratic leader Tom Daschle said Sunday.

Democrats have held up votes on two of President Bush's picks, leading majority Republicans to propose last week a change in Senate rules to restrict the use of delaying tactics to block nominations.

[fightinJAG]

Breaux said he thinks the Senate will get a chance to vote on Estrada's nomination.

I've been out of the loop for a few days. This article sort of sounds like the Rats are getting itchy feet.

[doug from upland]

If we don't win this battle, I am concerned that some of the base will not be pleased with the GOP.

[fightinJAG]

I share your concerns.

Also, unlike L'il Tommy, who last week whined, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it, and it ain't broke" (Gads, that man should concentrate on community theater instead of politics), I DO think the judicial nominating system is WAY broke and needs a permanent fix.

I would like to see EVERY president get an up-or-down vote for his nominees, period. Without this, the Senate does not exercise its "consent" (or refusal to consent) function, as required by the Constitution.

[=Intervention=]

Daschle said: "That should be the rule but sometimes there are ... exceptions to the rule. There are extreme cases when extreme judges deserve no more than a cloture vote and these two cases fit that category." Now what criteria does Tom use to determine whether a case is extreme or not, hmmmmm? Could it be Abortion? Isn't that a litmus test? Someone needs to set up a "watch Daschle squirm" site with all of his evasions and contradictions and backpedalling.

[fightinJAG]

You said what I thought. Doesn't it sound like he is squirming a little, like, "oh, don't hurt me, it's only these two, don't change the rules, we won't do it again?"

(Of course, he's lying.)

The website is a great idea.

[Pharlap]

Daschle claims that the Estrada nomination is an "extreme" case. Presumably, because Estrada's judicial philosphy does not comport with the Democrats' political views. Yet, the Democrats are filibustering Estrada's nomination because they claim they cannot form an opinion about his judicial philosophy as they don't have enough information. That is why, they say, they want his written work while with the Justice department. Well, which is it Daschle, either you have enough information to form an opinion about Estrada or you don't have enough information. But, you can't say he is extreme and, at the same time, say that you don't know where he stands. On the other hand, you're a liberal Democrat, so I guess you can.

[fightinJAG]

excellent conundrum bump!

[EDINVA]

but who determines who are 'extreme cases" and "extreme judges" ??? If 50 US Senators pass on a nominee, surely he or she can't be so extreme. Why does upping the ante to 60 US Senators matter in a vote on such an extreme case/judge?

[linn37]

lets all send him a resume with estradas qualifications on it

[solo gringo]

Daschle will lie to get his way my count is three and counting.Pickering,Owens and Estrada that is three extremes Daschle you nitwit.They deserve a vote up or down or is the problem you and the dimbulbs.I think you and your dimbulbs think Estrada is not hispanic enough,Owens is not woman enough and pickering is not white enough.Just do your job and do not be sadden about it.

[Cicero]

Certainly this member of Bush's social-conservative base would be extremely upset if we don't do something to repair the clinton-infected judiciary. I put the right to life above every other political issue--as did the Framers of the Constitution--and in that regard nothing is more important than sound, conservative judicial appointments while we have this window of opportunity.

No one knows how long this opportunity may last. I hope for six more years, but there are no guarantees--especially if Bush offends his various bases.

[BibChr]

So I read halfway through this DNC press release and think to myself, "This so sounds like an AP story." So I go back up to the top, and...

Sure enough. An AP story.

Big surprise.

Dan

[okie01]

"Sure enough. An AP story."

Accepts Democrat statements without question ("...have urged the White House to release memos Estrada wrote while working for the Justice Department.")

Questions, or misrepresents, Republican statements ("The Bush administration has refused to release those memos."), without reporting why.

[rdb3]

If we don't win this battle, I am concerned that some of the base will not be pleased with the GOP.

Some of the base is never pleased.

[doug from upland]

I agree. Some are never pleased. But the leadership can not be seen running from a battle with their tail tucked between their legs.

[eeriegeno]

It seems to me that Tom Daschle would not only sell his country to the highest bidder but also he would probably sell his own mother for the 'good of the party.' How the folks from Dakota can send this thing back for another term is beyond me.......

[jimtorr]

"I think that what we're trying to say is that, look, give us the information on the judges and we'll have a record vote," Breaux told "Fox News Sunday."

Even Senator John Breaux is reduced to lying about this obstruction-for-poitical-gain.

[witnesstothefall]

The Democrats keep right on making it up as they go along. One may wonder whether wily Rove is springing a slow-motion trap.