Republicans to push most of their held-up judicial nominations before summer break

AP ^ | July 28, 2003 | JESSE J. HOLLAND

[new cruelty]

With less than a week to go before the Senate recesses for the summer, Senate Republicans plan to bring attention back to President Bush's stalled judicial nominees by forcing confirmation votes on four of his most contentious choices.

Starting Tuesday with Texas judge Priscilla Owen, the GOP leaders also plan to force Democratic filibuster votes before Friday on Washington, D.C., appellate lawyer Miguel Estrada, Alabama Attorney General William Pryor and California judge Carolyn Kuhl.

[firewalk]

.

[woofie]

At the Estrada vote perhaps a pinata of Leahy is in order

[upchuck]

I sure hope there's more here than meets the eye. The RATS will vote these nominations down a hundred times. I hope the Pubbies have a plan. The "nuclear option," maybe?

[Teacher317]

"Democrats have stopped two of President Bush's nominees, Republicans stopped 60 -- six-zero -- of President Clinton's," said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Monday

The crucial difference is that the GOP "stopped" those nominees by VOTING, while the Dems are "stopping" the nominees by DENYING a vote. For a party that cries about the importance of "counting every vote", they sure have a funny way over glossing over this little fact.

[Teacher317]

over glossing over = of glossing over

[RJCogburn]

The crucial difference is that the GOP "stopped" those nominees by VOTING,

My recollection is blank on that. Details? Voting at the judicary committee level so it never got to the floor, perhaps?

[William McKinley]

Time for the recess appointments.

[deport]

The "nuclear option," maybe?

---

Not anytime soon it appears.....

Senate GOP Shelves Nuclear Option -- For Now

By Geoff Earle

Senate Republican leaders have shelved their plans to exercise a "nuclear option" to break free stalled judicial nominees -- at least for now.

The leaders, frustrated by a Democratic filibuster of several nominees to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as other judges, apparently have concluded that the swift parliamentary action being contemplated would be counterproductive.

That's because, as the current thinking goes, it would enrage Democrats while Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) is seeking to move an ambitious legislative agenda through the chamber.

Asked about the nuclear option last week, Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho), replied, "No, no, no. We've got an energy bill" to finish. "The nuclear option on judges, it rather clears the landscape."

Senate GOP leadership aides indicated that Frist is most likely to test the nuclear option in the fall, possibly in October or November, just as the Senate is adjourning -- and after key authorization bills and spending measures have been cleared the Senate. Last month, Frist had suggested that he might take parliamentary action on judges before the August recess.

Asked when GOP leaders would act, Craig, the former GOP Policy Committee chairman, replied, "Probably when snowflakes are hitting us in the fanny."

[mathluv]

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, replied: "Frankly, two unconstitutional filibusters are two too many."

Nice to see him speak up.

[eeriegeno]

"Democrats have stopped two of President Bush's nominees, Republicans stopped 60 -- six-zero -- of President Clinton's," said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Monday

Nope Senator. Even you, I think, are smart enough recognize the difference between gridlock and the voting process. You dimwits are 'gridlocking' two of GW's nominees. The pubbies 'voted down' 60 of Klinton's.

BTW, I applaud you for recognizing that 60 is made up with a six and a zero. Was that as a reminder to yourself or was it to educate dummies like me?

[Tamzee]

I'm happy to see that there is a seat open on the 9th Circuit that Bush can fill... that court is one of the most heavily liberal-activist courts we have (responsible for the Pledge fiasco just to name one case).

[The South Texan]

Mr President;

There are two words that you can do that would drive the Rats and the media into a ragging temper tantrum and win some points from Conservatives.

RECESS APPOINTMENT!!!!!

[Consort]

If no confirmation votes, then no vacation.

[deport]

I'm happy to see that there is a seat open on the 9th Circuit that Bush can fill... that court is one of the most heavily liberal-activist courts we have (responsible for the Pledge fiasco just to name one case).

---

Here is a list of nominees that the President has submitted for the 9th Circuit....

Court of Appeals

Nominee		Judicial Emergency*	Nomination Date	Hearing Date	Confirmation Date

Ninth Circuit
Kuhl, Carolyn		Yes	6/22/01**	4/1/03
Bybee, Jay		Yes	5/22/02**	2/5/03	3/13/03
Callahan, Consuelo		Yes	2/12/03	5/7/03	5/22/03
Bea, Carlos		Yes	4/11/03
Myers, William		No	5/15/03

[firewalk]

Time for the recess appointments.

Maybe it is.

I'd much rather see them get a rule change
& put a stop to this nonsense though.