Miguel Estrada withdraws nomination

FOXNEWS | 9/4/03

[Thane_Banquo]

Per Fox News, Estrada has withdrawn his nomination.

[TomGuy]

Now, the question of the day:


How long will Owens wait before withdrawing her nomination?

Surely, she sees the handwriting on the wall--that her nomination, too, will get little support.

[mwl1]

Hutch, as usual, is right. We did not, and do not, need 60 GOP senators to get our nominees through --- we need about 55-56 GOP senators after the next cycle to scare the reasonable RATS into going along for fear of their own future.

And for those who complain that Bush should have made more of this, perhaps, but you all know damned well that the RATS and the media were licking their chops to blame a filibuster on the GOP during a time of rising unemployment... they would have castigated the GOP of being insensitive to people losing their jobs and health care.

That is a sad but demonstrable reality.

[KantianBurke]

interesting theory. Am skeptical but let's see. The only folks on TV now are Senate Demorats with the GOPers no where to be seen.

[Wphile]

Your points are well stated PhiKap and of course, you are being far too rational. Many - myself included - just want to rant for a bit. Actually, my sentiment is more like despondency and despair than anger. I'm an ardent Republican, have signed up to work both the Bush and Nethercutt campaigns, but I have to say, the performance of the Senate Republicans has been very discouraging. Passing that horrific Medicare bill has forced me to refuse to give any money to the NRSC. Perhaps, it will work out like the House's in conference, but at this point I can't go along with it.

Yes, the democrats are using the rules to their advantage but doesn't that mean that perhaps the GOP should try using the rules too? And although President Bush has on occassion express his rage at the Senate democrat's treatment of his judicial nominees, he hasn't been forceful enough. I know he's got a ton on his plate but I have come to the conclusion that our judiciary system is totally broken. Judges no longer interpret the laws, they make them, the people be damned and the legislative process be damned. Estrada losing this battle only furthers my belief. Hence, the despondency.

Bush should have done a recess appointment. That would have made the Dems howl but at least, it would have brought the issue to the evening news and the front pages so perhaps, people would notice it. Most of this is occurring below the fold and people are not paying attention. They need to pay attention and in order to do so, attention must be drawn to it. A recess appointment would have done that.

Now the Dems will only be more inclined to continue their tactics. And to add insult to injury, the situation will only become more dire if Specter wins re-election and becomes Chairman of the SJC. It seems to me, that the situation could hardly get worse.

[votelife]

Why Frist and all won't (didn't) go 24/7 (Vanity)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/958139/posts?page=1

[VRWC_minion]

Clearly, Bush was given fully opportunity to exercise his powers to make the appointment during the recess but failed to act. It is a shame.

My memory is that a nominee cannot be recessed appointed.

[mhking]

Estrada pulled his nomination -- what do you want President Bush to do -- lock him in a closet and demand he stay in the nominating process. Give the man a break!

NO.

I will not give him a pass on this.

By allowing (that's right "allowing") the Dems in the Senate to dictate terms, all they had to do was drag their feet long enough for something to break. And that something was Estrada's will.

Had Frist stayed on target, the Dems couldn't have dragged their feet.

They had two options - the nuclear option of destroying the filibuster power, and to actually force the filibuster - Frist didn't have the stones to do either one.

I'm sure that both would have worked.

And let's not even talk about Bush's failure to shove it through during the August recess. No. The Dems played this hand masterfully and won the chips on the table. I hate saying that, and I would much rather see those chips on our side of the table.

I recognize that each and every nominee won't get through, but at this rate, NONE of Bush's significant nominees will be passed, thanks to this kind of sorry slip-shod work.

Frist didn't do the job. Now put a Senator in place who will. It's that simple.

And yes, I'll be writing both the White House and Frist's office to that effect.

[mhking]

I'm not trying to be difficult, but damn it, at SOME point we have to STOP trying to micro-manage the folks we send to DC!

And at some point, the people we send to DC have to stop caving in to the Democrats when they try to toss their limited weight around the china shop.

[Wphile]

I wouldn't trust Arlen Spectre to honor a pledge like that for a minute. And even if he does, I think it's a pretty lousy deal for the WH to strike. Frnakly, I think the WH should stay out of the primary races and not throw their support automatically to the incumbent. Spectre is an atrocity and I hope to God, Toomey wins.

[hchutch]

You want perfection?

Better wait a long time - the good folks probably have used up their BS tolerance. Get ready for disappointment.

[votelife]

I posted on another thread, Estrada is a human, not a cog in a conservative machine. If he doesn't want the spot, fine.

[TomGuy]

Have a nice day and enjoying trashing Republicans instead of the real culprits -- the DemocRAT Senators who used the Rules to their advantage!

Whining "blame the mean ole Democrats". They found a loophole and they used it. Hey, more power to them.

Frist has at least 2 options:

He would have done the nuclear procedure by using VP Cheney. Frist chose not too.

He could have forced 24/7 -- a real filibuster. He chose not too.

Instead, the Pubbies let Estrada's nomination swing in limbo for 28 months. How many months has Owens' nomination been in limbo. After seeing this today, how long before she withdraws her name? She sees she probably won't get much support either.

[mhking]

You want perfection?

No, but I want forward progress. This is not progress.

[votelife]

Janice Brown, a black CA Supreme Court justice, conservative, is next on the chopping block.

[MamaLucci]

...the guy's been in limbo for several years...then Bush delivers the fire and brimstone speech...calls Miguel a "good man, an honorable man"...and makes him a recess appt.....I think it just could be...

That scenario would be great.....IF it plays out that way.
Otherwise, a terrible loss for our side.
And, it still wouldn't address letting the precedent of requiring 60
votes rather than the simple majority that the
constitution requires.

[mhking]

Janice Brown, a black CA Supreme Court justice, conservative, is next on the chopping block.

I thought Owen was ahead of Brown.

[Cboldt]

I'm disappointed too. Of all the political institutions in Washington, DC, the Senate is the most disappointing, to me.

Aye, it takes a long time to turn the ship. Politics is only one facet of our society, and IMO, it is neither the most important nor the most influential.

We get the leadership we deserve (collectively, not as individuals).

[ken5050]

If, IF, the deal was done, believe me, it's signed in blood...and there's a reason why Arlen might even have been happy to take it...there are gonna be several SC nominees, which will make the current nomination look like a tea-party...it'll be brutal, and Arlen may not be up to it...look, Hatch at times looked exhausted on the Senate floor during the debates...I don't think the WH sees ASrlen has having the physical stamina to do the job...we shall see..

[ken5050]

Recall the several sterling defenses of Migual that W. has made......I can easily see our president doing this...

[ken5050]

Actually, the absence of Sen GOP looks promising..if W is gonna drop the hammer, the senators would stay out of the way, until the announcement.....