Estrada Bows Out - Senate Republicans lose another filibuster battle ~ WSJ.

The Wall Street Journal. ^ | Septrmber 4, 2003 | WSJ. Editorial Board

[Elle Bee]

After 28 months in political limbo, Miguel Estrada has decided to withdraw his appellate court nomination and get on with his life. His decision, to be announced today, is a loss for the federal bench and a defeat for Senate Republicans who still haven't decided to make judgeships a fighting issue.

[Mo1]

His withdrawal should embarrass Republicans who have been outwitted on judgeships by Ted Kennedy and Hillary Rodham Clinton, who are orchestrating the first filibusters of appellate-court nominations in American history. Democrats have paid no political price for raising the "advice and consent" standard for Senate confirmation to 60 votes from a simple majority.

BULL .. what this showed is how desparate the Dems are to block fair and balance judges. This showed that the Dems are only interested in filling the courts with their activist judges and it was a real eye opener to many.

Our next goal .. To get a majority of 60 in the Senate

VOTE THE DEMS OUT OF OFFICE!!!

[Consort]

So could someone please explain to me why, after 25 years of supporting the Republicans, I should bother to even vote in 2004?

So that the Democrat strategy — to discourage weak Conservative voters from going to the polls and electing a filibuster-proof GOP majority — doesn't work. Conservative whiners are worse than Liberal whiners.

[Petronski]

...a defeat for Senate Republicans who still haven't decided to make judgeships a fighting issue.

It's hardly a "defeat" for Republicans in the Senate: Defeat implies the matter was contested. "Surrender" is more like it.

[Rebelbase]

"So could someone please explain to me why, after 25 years of supporting the Republicans, I should bother to even vote in 2004?

Cowards all. "

It strikes at the core of conservative values to be weak and afraid, yet that is exactly what the Republicans have done. The Republican willfulness to bend over and hand the Dem's the KY over and over again is proof that there is but a small minority of true conservatives remaining in government.

[Rebelbase]

"I've lost my base."

[Petronski]

The President had better call the good doctor from Tennessee into the oval office and read him the f#ck!ng riot act. This is disgusting, and those of us who support the President can't tell anymore if he is as disgusted as we are, or if it's a matter of asking the advisors "Did I fight that one enough? Okay. What's next?"

[Consort]

It strikes at the core of conservative values to be weak and afraid,...

An accurate description of many of the posts on this thread.

[TigersEye]

Hasta La Vista, Miguel.

Vaya sin Dios, Miguel.

[WatchOutForSnakes]

He is not disgusted. If he were he would do something about it. When is the last time you heard him even mention Estrada? He is the go along to get along president. You know, there is a new tone in Washington.

[Trust but Verify]

It really is disgraceful on the part of both sides. the Dems for blocking him and the Pubs for not forcing a real filibuster. I wrote both of the disgusting Senators from Wisconsin and called on several occasions. They lied and lied about why they opposed him. I literally screamed at their staffers and told them they were lying and that SOME people weren't fooled by their lies. Bottom line is, they don't give a sh!t.

[Zack Nguyen]

The rout will continue so long as Senate Republicans would rather lose on nominations than sacrifice a night's sleep by forcing Democrats to keep talking on the Senate floor or otherwise playing as rough a political game.

That about says it.

[WatchOutForSnakes]

Here's a question for you. How many Republican senators does it take to win a vote in the senate?? Answer.....100 because if there is one democrat the Pubbies would cave to him.

[opus86]

Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. Once again Republicans in the Senate show that they are more interested in being collegial than in doing what is right. As long as people like Estrada are shot down we can look forward to more courts resembling the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Why does it seem like the libs can play hardball but we can't?

[alnick]

I only wish I knew why President Bush didn't recess appoint him.

Because a recess appointment would have been temporary. The man deserves better than a temp job.

[GraniteStateConservative]

The optimistic scenario on that would be 2006. That's a long damn wait.

[alnick]

Amazing, isn't it, that it took 17 posts before anyone blamed the democrats.

[BibChr]

I am ashamed. Grr. Cussword!

Dan
)c8<

[mwl1]

You are correct. The fault for this goes squarely to the RATS.

1. Bush and Frist do not have the votes to stop the filibuster. They had 55; they needed 60.

2. Bush and Frist did not have the support of the media on this; and in a time of rising unemployment, a filibuster would have been blamed on the GOP, not the RATS.

3. The nuclear option was a non-starter because the GOP did not have the votes to wreck Senate tradition.

This cess-pool has been created by the RATS, who are filthy, scheming liars and will eviserate any protocol, decorum, order, tradition, or precedent to preserve or further raw political power. If anyone admires this behavior, I suggest they take a deep look inside themselves, because this is not something to admire.

[justshe]

It appears to be much easier to BLAME the GOP....then to logically look at the facts.

You have done an excellent job of outlining the FACTS!

Thanks.

[Petronski]

You know, there is a new tone in Washington.

Yeah, and if that new tone has a name, it is "bitter frustration."