Posted on 05/23/2005 8:14:11 AM PDT by OXENinFLA
Senate Debate on Nominations Today the Senate resumes debate on the nomination of Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen to the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. The Senate will conduct its first roll call vote of the week at 5:30pm. Follow the C-SPAN networks & C-SPAN Radio for the debate on Senate rules & judicial nominations. MON., 11:30AM ET, C-SPAN2
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ORDERS FOR MONDAY, MAY 23, 2005 -- (Senate - May 20, 2005)
[Page: S5714] GPO's PDF
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Mr. CORNYN. I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 11:30 a.m. on Monday, May 23. I further ask that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved, and that the Senate then return to executive session and resume consideration of the nomination of Priscilla Owen to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, provided that the time from 12 noon until 1 p.m. be under the control of the majority leader or his designee and, at 1 p.m., the Democratic leader or his designee be recognized; provided that floor time then rotate between the two leaders or their designees every 60 minutes until 4 p.m., at which time the majority leader or his designee be recognized until 4:45 p.m., to be followed by the Democrat leader or his designee from 4:45 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
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PROGRAM -- (Senate - May 20, 2005)
[Page: S5714] GPO's PDF
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Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, on Monday, the Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Priscilla Owen to serve as a circuit judge on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Monday will be the fourth consecutive day the Senate considers the Owen nomination.
Over the past 3 days, a number of Members, on both sides of the aisle, have come to the floor to speak on the nomination. We have conducted over 25 hours of debate, and we will continue on Monday. Moments ago, we filed a cloture motion on the nomination, and that will ripen on Tuesday of next week.
On behalf of the majority leader, I remind my colleagues the leader has announced our next rollcall vote will occur Monday afternoon at 5:30. That vote will be on a motion to instruct the Sergeant at Arms to request Senators' attendance. Senator Frist will have more to say about next week's session on Monday.
Yep, I'm afraid you're right about that.
Cool , I don't have to leave to go get lunch.........
Why is there someone on here blasting our Majority Leader? Bill Frist is NOT a RINO. McCain is a RINO, but even then only when it suits him.
True
I think intelligent people agree with you.
Really? No booze for Scuba Teddy?
I thought he had an IV drip and a catheter out the other end so he could have a continuous thrill on both ends . . . considering his age and all . . . and alcohol not helping a lot with thrills on the lower end . . . that he had to make do with . . . welll anyway.
I see Reid is still begging for 6 Republicans to same the dems from themselves. "Profiles in courage" my foot.
To send the Seargent at Arms out to get them. The only adult and appropriate decision here requires the presence of "the body" of the Senate.
That's not a compromise, that's the dems winning...
This was mentioned on another thread about Graham and we have to keep the pressure up on him; he's seen as the lynchpin in all this compromise garbage:
Finally got through to Graham's Upstate office! The staffer said Graham will vote for Priscilla Owens tomorrow in an up or down vote and she will be confirmed. However, I couldn't get a commitment that Graham would stop trying to work out a compromise. He did acknowledge that they are following what is being posted on the internet. Graham should be aware of the trouble he is in. It will be interesting to see if he is smart enough to listen to his constituents, or if he is intent upon becoming a so-called Moderate.
The Republicans are determined to get these judges a vote while simultaneously doing the maximum amount of political damage to themselves.
And the Dems will let them do that. The Dems know that Owens will get a floor vote. The question is, will the Republicans change the rules to make that happen, or will they hold together and wait for enough Dems to vote for cloture (maybe not on the first vote, but eventually).
The polls show two thirds to as many as four fifths of the people in this country want an up or down vote for these nominees. The Dems can't filibuster that for long. The up or down vote will come. The best course of action is to hold tough and get the vote.
The polls also show that half to two thirds of the people in this country think that changing the Senate rules in the middle of this is a bad idea. That's not something we should be advocating. It's not good for the Republicans politically to change the rules.
What they should do is debate the nominee, and keep quoting the Dems about how nominees shouldn't be filibustered and should get an up or down vote. Read some of Owen's decisions into the record. If the Dems want to keep debating, keep debating. The people of this country know who is doing the right job and who isn't. It doesn't help the Dems win the next election if they continue to obstruct. Some will eventually see the writing on the wall and there will be a vote.
But right now, the Republicans are saying, "If you don't vote for cloture and give us an up or down vote, we're going to throw a hand grenade at our own feet." Why would any Dem vote for cloture if a failed cloture motion will result in something that can and will be portrayed as a "power grab" and "changing the rules in the middle of the game."
It's the evil party against the stupid party, and even though the evil party is going to lose the battle over these nominees, the stupid party is still bent on doing it the stupid way.
IF "extraordinary circumstances" was in there that is.....
Please, let's not call it by the nuclear option anymore.
Either The Constitutional option or The Byrd option should suffice.
I am so sick of this being called the nuclear option. The labeler, in my opinion, is a dolt (Trent Lott).
You know it is hard to understand how any GOP Senator that voted to confirm Ginsburg can stand by and not demand these judges get an up or down vote?
For the record first up Sen. Dole.
Liddy throwing down the gauntlet........."this impasse is not a failure of effort, but a failure of cooperation......"
Liddy Dole up looking quite fine and kicking a few you know whats with her comments.
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