Email to Senator Frist on Judicial nominees

Me, Myself, and I | 5/29/03 | Me

[ibheath]

Senator Frist, I am a longtime conservative, and I am asking you to break the filibuster on our judicial nominees. As you know this is their "shot across the bow" on Supreme Court nominees. They are trying to dictate to the president the ideology of his nominees, and usurp the executive's constitutuional authority. Please force a TRUE filibuster. The President got the tax cut, now is the time to make the Dems pay for their obstruction. There are many of us who have lost faith in the courage of Senate Republicans. If you are interested in knowing what the core of the party is thinking, go to freerepublic.com and do a search on judicial nominees. If action is not seen, we might not gain senatoral seats in the next election. I look forward to seeing action in the Senate.

Heath

[ibheath]

I Received this email today, and below it is my email to Senator Frist.

"Today I went to the President's signing of the third largest tax relief package ever. Yesterday I participated in the President's signing of the largest public health bill on a specific disease -- ever -- Global AIDS. We in the Senate, working with the President, are moving America forward. Our progress is real; we re delivering for the American people.

I hope you enjoyed the Memorial Holiday Weekend. This year, of course, the holiday assumes special meaning for all Americans.

After a full five months as Majority Leader, I can tell you that having a Republican Senate really makes a difference.

All of us worked so hard to break the Senate gridlock by replacing the obstructionism of the Democrats with our brand of results-oriented, compassionate conservatism. We succeeded last fall with an historic midterm win. . a win that transformed a do nothing Senate into a productive chamber.

I'm not suggesting the Democrats have made it easy. Without the presidency, and with a House clearly controlled by the Republicans, the Democrats have made the Senate the national political battleground between the parties. Their strategy? Continued obstruction. They know that if we can show results, and prove the value of Republican governance, they will be in the minority for a long, long time. And so they have gone to extraordinary lengths to block our progress.

But it's not working.

Last year they passed two appropriations bills. We've passed 11 already, plus a supplemental bill to finance the war.

Last year they didn't pass a budget - and didn't even try. We succeeded (though I personally took a little heat along the way!!) and passed a budget on time!

Last year they slow-walked judicial confirmations. And while they have taken the extraordinary step of filibustering court of appeals nominees, we have already confirmed 7 circuit court nominees and 18 district court nominees. We're beginning to fix the vacancy crisis. And I will continue to fight the unprecedented filibusters of Miguel Estrada and Priscilla Owen!

And then of course, Republicans are changing history with the Global AIDS bill.

But we have so much more to do. With the signing of the tax cut, the President is demonstrating a commitment to getting our economy fully back on its feet. That's our focus. And we're all going to keep working at it. And I need your support of improved Medicare which I will take to the floor in two weeks.

Thanks again for all you have done to make our majority possible. We wouldn't be here without you.

Bill Frist"

Senator Frist, I am a longtime conservative, and I am asking you to break the filibuster on our judicial nominees. As you know this is their "shot across the bow" on Supreme Court nominees. They are trying to dictate to the president the ideology of his nominees, and usurp the executive's constitutuional authority. Please force a TRUE filibuster. The President got the tax cut, now is the time to make the Dems pay for their obstruction. There are many of us who have lost faith in the courage of Senate Republicans. If you are interested in knowing what the core of the party is thinking, go to freerepublic.com and do a search on judicial nominees. If action is not seen, we might not gain senatoral seats in the next election. I look forward to seeing action in the Senate.

Heath

[AbsoluteJustice]

BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH....such a generic email from an ineffective leader. Republicans will continue to be kicked around as long as he is Senate majority leader as this man has no spine. It doesn't even seem like we own the majority because the WEAK WEAK WEAK republican leadership is getting their AR$$ES kicked and dems are loving it!!! I forsee no future with true conservatives as we cannot find any on the hill any longer. Face it our party is weak and the dems still controll what bills are passed.

[AMNZ]

God, I'm worried now. What a pathetic response to your communication from our Senate (leadership?). All that bull and no suggestion of a course of action to win the battle. I'll have to rethink my glee in Frist's elevation. In fact, I have to give serious thought's re: Republicrats.

Free Republic provides one heck of a platform for US. We need to learn to use it to better effect. What ideas are there out there?

[eeman]

I presume you must have donated money to the RNC as well. I donated alot of money to the nationwide senate races in the Fall. The only tangible result I have seen is that I am on their mailing list and telephone solicitation list.

What really irks me about the GOP senate is that they don't even try to do anything hard. If they at least tried a true filibuster, I would have more respect for them than I do now. As it stands now, I am not going to waste another dime on them in 2004.

[AbsoluteJustice]

Write that to thema and if enough of us do this they may just get a clue. They have sold out their base and that is us.

[mrsmith]

"If you are interested in knowing what the core of the party is thinking, go to freerepublic.com and do a search on judicial nominees. "

Being a newbie you might want to search around FR and learn a little.

Most Freepers know enough about Senate rules to realize the filibuster of the nominees cannot be forced into a "REAL" filibuster.
There are other acts the Republicans can take: changing the rules, or ruling from the chair are two under consideration.

[Patriotic Bostonian]

I hate to be crass, but the Republicans have no balls.

[eeman]

How would changing the rules be easier than trying enforce a real filibuster? I have been around this forum for 2 1/2 years and spend a lot of (way too much) much time reading this. I certainly have not come away with the impression that changing the rules would be easier than trying to enforce an outright filibuster. It certainly is possible I have missed something. If there are threads that document your statement, can you point them out?

[AbsoluteJustice]

The Republican party can also, IF THEY WOULD GROW SPINES AND ACT LIKE THE MAJORITY AS DICATATED BY THE PEOPLE, they can have the Senate in lockdown sessions and this would force the demonrats to either give him the clotures to bring it to vote (which he would get the go ahead as he already has the votes) or they fillibuster. Either way FRIST CAN GET THIS DONE but chooses to continue being the WEAK republican party we have all come to know.

[pointsal]

FRIST- Weak, lacking effectiveness.....

Maybe Senator Frist should attend Thurmond's next birthday party and take his cue from that other strong leader, "smooth-hair" Lott....

[AbsoluteJustice]

BUMP TO WHAT WE KNOW AS THE WEAK REPUBLICAN PARTY WITH NO TRUE CONSERVATIVES IN IT!!!!!

[AbsoluteJustice]

LOL it is not only Frist it is EVERY damned republican on the hill that is not forcing this issue and speaking out on it. Are the republicans the majority up on the hill?

Hell if they are I cannot tell.

[eeman]

You are so right. The only things I am willing to put my money/time behind in 2004 are a few local initiatives and select state legislators who actually vote the way I would vote, if I were in their position. As things stand now, I fail too see that there is much difference between a Dem Senate and a GOP senate, except for a tax cut that has no accompanying spending cuts.

[mrsmith]

the most recent thread I was on.

My impression was that this has been pointed out on most of the long contentious threads too!

[votelife]

Here is an email I sent to W:


Dear President Bush,
With the Surpeme Court session getting ready to close, it may well be time for perhaps the most important domestic decision of your presidency: the appointment of a Supreme Court Justice(s). The main reason why I supported you in 2000 and why I wanted Daschle out of power in 02 (and 04) has to do with the courts. I want America courts to interpret law, not write law. During your presidential campaign you said Thomas and Scalia were your two model justices. Those are excellent models. The High Court needs more like them. Clarence Thomas recently said to students that the tough cases were when what he wanted to do was different from what the law said. And he goes by the law. This should be a model philosophy for our justices. Your father, President Bush lost his reelection campaign for 3 main reasosn, as far as I can see. 1. he broke the no new taxes pledge 2. David Souter 3. Clinton convinced people we were in a Bush recession (which we had already come out of by the time Clinton was getting sworn in)

I urge you to learn from all three of these: 1. on taxes, you're doing great. Awesome job on the tax cut. 2. good job so far on judicial appointments. I want to see more of a fight for Estrada, Owen, and Pickering, but I commend you on your nominations. 3. by staying engaged in the economic debate you'll serve yourself well

I have been thoroughly impressed with your handling of al Queida, Iraq, and terrorism. You have inspired confidence and have shown great leadership.

But I want to remind you that your Supreme Court pick(s) will be with us LONG after you have departed office. I urge you to avoid the tempation to find a "compromise" pick. Go for a Scalia or Thomas. Don't go for an O'Connor or Kennedy. To be specific, get someone who is pro-life. Roe v Wade is one of the worst court decisions I know of, and it's the perfect example of unrestrained judicial power.

I know the temptation will be tremendous on you to nominate a moderate. But remember who your true supporters are. I am not a important leader or politician. I am "simply" a citizen who has been an enthusiatic supporter of you. I am willing to accept compromise in many areas of government but I will watch your Court nomiantions extremely closely. What the Senate Dems are doing right now is disgusting, but as the President you have the bully pulpit to stop it. Democrats will back down if you turn up serious heat on them.

Moreover, I think public opinion is shifting towards the pro-life position. Dems will want you to nominate a moderate, but almost all will vote against you anyways. Pro-choice Repubs will likely still vote for you if you nominate a Scalia, after all, you campaigned on it. So Mr. President, I urge you to stick with your campaign statements and nominate justices who believe in judicial restraint, like Scalia and Thomas.

Happy Memorial Day and may God bless you and your family.

[votelife]

good letter; I'll write Frist (again)

[ibheath]

While I am a "newbie" poster, I have been a "lurker" for more than a year. I am not new to observing politics, and having read many other threads on FR stating the desire to force a continuous filibuster, I don't think I am "way out there". However, I am in favor of any of the tactics discussed, EXCEPT the one advocating taking it to court. Thanks for the "correction"

[eeman]

I read your thread and several others. Alas, not being totally knowlegeable of the senate rules (I doubt anyone here is) I do not know if it would be technically easier to change the rules or enforce a filibuster. I do worry that if they do change the rules, they may set a precedent which may haunt us down the road. Of course, when have Dems ever worried about rules ala the NJ senate race last November?

All I know is the GOP better do something if they want my support in 2004

[eeman]

Well if no one has done it before, welcome to FR. Now that you are no longer just lurking, you can waste away even more time here (like me).

[ibheath]

Thanks for the welcome. You are right, if I wasted anymore time here I would be broke.........oh, wait... I AM BROKE!!!!!!!