Dems hint at filibuster

The Hill ^ | 11/1/5 | Jonathan Allen

[Crackingham]

Senate Democrats appeared to lay the groundwork yesterday for a possible filibuster of Samuel Alito’s 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 Bush’s announcement that he had picked Alito to replace Harriet Miers. Miers’s nomination to the high court was withdrawn last week amid heavy criticism from conservative Republicans who feared she would not be sufficiently loyal to their orthodoxy.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 president’s 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.”

[Prophet in the wilderness]

REMEMBER THE ALITO !!

[aumrl]

Salazar is lying. Let the people of Colorado see what they elected.

[Non-Sequitur]

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.

[kittymyrib]

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???

[johnny7]

I find it hard to believe that Nelson(NB) & Lieberman would fall into line on a filibuster of Alito... ain't 'gonna happen.

[ContraryMary]

If they filibuster this then they're going to make the country forget Harriet Miers in about 4 seconds.

That's so true.

[libs_kma]

"Instead of uniting the country, the president chose to reward one faction of his party."

I only have one word to say about this. Ginsburg

[Always Right]

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.

[WKB]

Seven Democrats promised



Boy howdy, now that is something you can take the bank.

[Always Right]

You assume a Democrat word is worth something.

[BamaAndy]

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--

[IamConservative]

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.

[counterpunch]

Let O'Connor Go Home By Christmas!

 

[WKB]

One of the top ten signs you are too old to trick
or treat:


People say, " Great Ruth Bader Ginsberg mask!"
and you're not wearing a mask.

[Cboldt]

It is also likely that Warner would support "going nuclear", and others who signed onto "the deal" will certainly hold their seven Democrat counterparts' feet to the fire and urge them to keep their promise.

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.

[libertylover]

Seven Democrats in the "Gang of 14" promised not to filibuster a Supreme Court nominee.

Yeah, and a promise from Democrats is about as good as a promise from North Korea.

[pageonetoo]

[Cboldt]

How can Hillary or Kerry support a filibuster of Supreme Court nominees.

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)

[Always Right]

They are in support of filibuster as a matter of principle.

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.

[sono]

Mr. Alito Goes To Washington