Senators,
When the Democrats started filibustering President Bush’s judicial nominations they changed the way business was done in the US Senate. Republicans must adapt to this tactic of bare knuckles politics.
Republicans have worked and tried many things to get around this Democrat roadblock. It is time to take them on directly.
The first thing every Senate does is to vote on the Senate rules. Republicans must, with a simple majority, change the Senate rules making it clear that filibusters on judicial appointments are forbidden. Nominees will still be held to approval in the Judiciary committee and a full vote in the Senate as they should be.
Failure to change the rules on judicial appointments will guarantee Senate gridlock on judicial appointments unless the Republicans surrender and appoint Democrat choices to the nation’s courts.
Further, allowing filibusters on judicial appointments does not uphold the Senate’s responsibility to advise and consent the President since one person is blocking the whole process and thus Senate is not giving advise and/or consent.
Another problem is Arlen Specter as possibly the chairman of the Judiciary committee. This must not be allowed. While Arlen is busily trying to deny his threats to President Bush’s judicial nominations, Arlen was in a similar situation about six months ago, again trying to deny his comments. It seems that Arlen is a loose cannon and should not be in an important post that will affect the judicial processes in America for the next thirty years.
Thank You,
RJL
I like it, good job.