Posted on 11/01/2005 12:30:51 AM PST by Crackingham
Senate Democrats appeared to lay the groundwork yesterday for a possible filibuster of Samuel Alitos nomination to the Supreme Court, setting the stage for an intense partisan showdown that could culminate with the so-called nuclear option.
Nothing is on the table, and nothing is off the table, Senate Judiciary Committee member Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said within hours of President Bushs announcement that he had picked Alito to replace Harriet Miers. Mierss nomination to the high court was withdrawn last week amid heavy criticism from conservative Republicans who feared she would not be sufficiently loyal to their orthodoxy.
Though Democrats carefully avoided using the term filibuster yesterday, many of them criticized Bush for picking Alito, a conservative stalwart.
I am concerned that the nomination may be a needlessly provocative nomination, said Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). Instead of uniting the country, the president chose to reward one faction of his party.
Other Democrats targeted the presidents decision not to discuss the impending nomination with the minority party.
The manner in which the president handled this nomination is disappointing, said Ken Salazar (D-Colo.). He did not consult with the Senate about this nominee.
Salazar is lying. Let the people of Colorado see what they elected.
If they filibuster this then they're going to make the country forget Harriet Miers in about 4 seconds. We can only hope that they're that stupid.
What's disappointing is that Salazar is a senator from CO. Let's hope he will be a one-termer after votes such as the Alioto confirmation reveal him to be on the same side as Teddy "The Swimmer" Kennedy. What was CO thinking???
I find it hard to believe that Nelson(NB) & Lieberman would fall into line on a filibuster of Alito... ain't 'gonna happen.
That's so true.
I only have one word to say about this. Ginsburg
How can Hillary or Kerry support a filibuster of Supreme Court nominees. One day they hope to be President, how would they like the filibuster to be used to kill their nominees? Oh this is sweet.
Seven Democrats promised
Boy howdy, now that is something you can take the bank.
You assume a Democrat word is worth something.
The democrat games have begun--we have to do all we can to defeat them at mid-term, and after--I pray their minority becomes much more of one. After that we'll have a country as it should be--
Couple of thoughts:
1) The deal with the 7 democrats effectively divivded their caucus. Perhaps in the minority of opinion on FR, I thought it a master stroke at the time and still do. Have my plate and fork ready to eat my humble pie should it fall apart.
2) With the filibuster taken off the table as an option, I expect the far left Schumer, Kennedy, Boxer, et. al. to launch full scale viscious personal attacks. They will try and make Alito look like Pol Pot in robes. I expect them to go after the mans family as well. I think this will work as well as a screen door on a submarine for them.
Nelson of Nebraska is another one. He consistently voted for cloture and seems to be an anti-filibuster force, even before the MOU signed on to by the gang of 14.
I agree with your prediction that there will be no filibuster. But I don't think the MOU was a planned stroke of genious by the GOP. It delayed action on resolving the filibuster issue as a matter of principle, and that was its only objective.
Yeah, and a promise from Democrats is about as good as a promise from North Korea.
They are in support of filibuster as a matter of principle. Clinton was a consistent NAY vote; Kerry was a consistent NOT PRESENT or NAY.
Cloture Motions on Circuit Court Nominations in 108th Congress
http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/reference/cloture_motions/108.htm
Date Nominee Filed By Date Vote Result DEM Aye's for Cloture ------ ------- -------- ------ ----------- --------------------- Jul 21 David W. McKeague Frist Jul 22 53-44 No.162 F Miller, Nelson (NE) Jul 21 Richard A. Griffin Frist Jul 22 54-44 No.161 F Miller, Nelson (NE) Jul 20 Henry W. Saad Frist Jul 22 52-46 No.160 F Miller Jul 16 William G. Myers Frist Jul 20 53-44 No.158 F Biden, Nelson (NE) May 14 Marcia G. Cooke Kyl May 18 UC V Nov 12 Janice R. Brown Frist Nov 14 53-43 No.452 F Miller, Nelson (NE) Nov 12 Carolyn B. Kuhl Frist Nov 14 53-43 No.451 F Miller, Nelson (NE) Nov 12 Priscilla R. Owen Frist Nov 14 53-42 No.450 F Miller, Nelson (NE) Nov 04 William H. Pryor Santorum Nov 06 51-43 No.441 F Miller, Nelson (NE) Oct 28 Charles W. Pickering McConnell Oct 30 54-43 No.419 F Breaux, Miller Jul 30 Carolyn B. Kuhl Frist Jul 31 UC V Jul 29 William H. Pryor McConnell Jul 31 53-44 No.316 F Miller, Nelson (NE) Jul 28 Miguel A. Estrada Sessions Jul 30 55-43 No.312 F Breaux, Miller, Nelsons (NE/FL) Jul 25 Priscilla R. Owen Hatch Jul 29 53-43 No.308 F Miller, Nelson (NE) Jun 27 Victor J. Wolski Frist Jul 08 UC V May 06 Priscilla R. Owen McConnell May 08 52-45 No.144 F Miller, Nelson (NE) May 06 Miguel A. Estrada McConnell May 08 54-43 No.143 F Breaux, Miller, Nelsons (NE/FL) May 01 Miguel A. Estrada McConnell May 05 52-39 No.140 F Breaux, Nelsons (NE/FL) Apr 29 Priscilla R. Owen McConnell May 01 52-44 No.137 F Miller, Nelson (NE) Mar 31 Miguel A. Estrada Bennett Apr 02 55-44 No.114 F Breaux, Miller, Nelsons (NE/FL) Mar 13 Miguel A. Estrada Frist Mar 18 55-45 No. 56 F Breaux, Miller, Nelsons (NE/FL) Mar 11 Miguel A. Estrada Frist Mar 13 55-42 No. 53 F Breaux, Miller, Nelsons (NE/FL) Mar 04 Miguel A. Estrada Frist Mar 06 55-44 No. 40 F Breaux, Miller, Nelsons (NE/FL)
But taking it to the level of using the filibuster for a Supreme Court nominee takes it to a new level. One that should terrify a potential President.
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