GOP Getting Ready For 'Nuclear Option' To Confirm Judges

Investor's Business Daily ^ | March 22, 2005 | Brian Mitchell

[MisterRepublican]

The alarm came just in time for the usual round of fund raising during Easter recess: Republicans want to change the rules to confirm judges, but Democrats stand ready to stop them by shutting down the Senate.

But last week's shutdown threat wasn't just a money raiser. Democrats really are ready for a Senate shutdown, and Republicans really are just about ready to change the rules.

Senate rules require 60 votes to end debate on most issues. That means the minority party can kill a nomination with just 41 votes. All the minority needs is enough senators to filibuster, saying they won't vote for cloture.

The filibuster has been a fact of life in the Senate for more than 200 years. But with federal courts deciding more and more issues, judicial nominations have become more and more political.

The Supreme Court's recent decision banning execution of underage murderers only added to Republican impatience with judicial filibusters.

[mware]

After watching what the judges have done to Terri. I say go NUCLEAR

[mware]

After watching what the judges have done to Terri. I say go NUCLEAR

[FormerACLUmember]

Maybe Terri Schiavo's ultimate gift to us all will be to give the Republicans in the Senate something akin to a spine.

Pray for Terri.

[GianniV]

This would great - would make the Liberals look even more ridiculous and it would shut down the Senate! They couldn't enact any stupid laws while this is happening. Can we get the Senate shutdown for the next few years?

[The_Reader_David]

Of course one thing that hasn't been tried is to make them actually filibuster the old fashioned way: make them talk non-stop 24/7. Don't let them get away with having 41 votes against cloture, make them actually continue the 'debate'.

Just think of the sound-bites we could accumulate for use against them in their next campaign.

[NormsRevenge]

OH Please Please Please, democWaps,, Shut down the Senate,, Please Please Please!!! (/evil grin) :)

[grobdriver]

Yak, yak, yak, yak, yak.... I'll believe it when I see it.

[NRA2BFree]

Only time will tell if the Republicans have FINALLY seen the light. I have my doubts, but I hope they prove me wrong.

[WakeUpAndVote]

Of course one thing that hasn't been tried is to make them actually filibuster the old fashioned way: make them talk non-stop 24/7

_________

I didn't know that they could take a break! When did this change and who changed it?

Anyone?

[Graybeard58]

I hope they do this. There's not much point in having power (of numbers) if you aren't prepared to use it.

[massgopguy]

The Dems can't shut down the Senate. Only a count of 51 comprises the quorum needed to conduct business.

[shekkian]

After Terri, capital punishment for minors, and gay marriage, I'm totally fed up with our current judiciary. We really need to bring out the big guns.

[massgopguy]

The Dems can't shut down the Senate. Only a count of 51 comprises the quorum needed to conduct business.

[Congressman Billybob]

Even the IBD, which usually gets the facts straight, makes a significant mistake, here. Although the filibuster has a history that goes back "two centuries," the same is not true of judicial filibusters.

For 200 years there was never a partisan filibuster of a Supreme Court nominee, and almost none for any other judicial appointment. For 200 years, regardless of the occasional changes in the filibuster rule, the Senate consistently acted by majority only, concerning judges.

The change to filibustering judges is only ten years old, invented by modern Democrats to prevent the President from making his judicial nominations under the Constitution.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, "Condi Rice & Pierce Flanigan's Father's Hat"

[Robe]

The filibuster has been a fact of life in the Senate for more than 200 years

True but the Super majority hasn't to my understanding.
The constitution requires a SIMPLE majority vote of 51 votes..
I know that the super majority vote for Judicial Nominations is a relatively new.. within the last 40 years or so..
Can anyone confirm when they enacted the SM for nominations ???

[Robe]

Thanks BB.. you answered that BEFORE I asked

[Digger]

Does anyone else feel that we are finally in a war, cultural etc & this is possibly gong to divide this nation like never before. I have the feeling since this last election that no more of any discussion with a liberal. It's take um out - take no prisioners. That goes for congress & these RINOs.

[NRA2BFree]

The Dems can't shut down the Senate. Only a count of 51 comprises the quorum needed to conduct business.

Yes, but don't forget there are a few RINO'S who could vote with the RATS.

[Yak]

Another relavent issue, were the Dems the first ones to fillibuster judicial nominations? If so, they can't cry about the "nuclear option" because it would only be in response to thier unprecedented action.