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"Confirming many of these nominees ... could completely overturn the progress toward national reconciliation that our nation has made during the last 50 years," said Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the group's chairman. The caucus is composed of 39 members of the House of Representatives.

What progress?!! The very Lott gambit, the success of which has so encouraged these agitators and demagogues, shows that we have made no progress whatsoever towards national reconciliation. So long as one region of the United States is still pilloried for daring to have a different perspective, there is no reconciliation. Rep. Cummings apparently equates reconciliation with those who disagree with him forever shutting up and going away! That is not how others would define it.

As I predicted, the foolish way the Republicans inside the Beltway--including Senator Lott, himself--responded to the smear attack on Lott, is going to haunt us for some time to come. (See Anatomy Of A Smear.)

William Flax

Bring on the filibuster. I can't wait for the entertainment value!

Can you just imagine the fun watching weeks full of bloviating Democrats reading recipes and the race track sheets on the floor of the Senate?

Pickering's chances were discussed at some length on Brit Hume's program on Wednesday. The consensus seemed to be that he probably wouldn't be confirmed, but that because of the Democrats expending all their energies attacking Pickering, the other nominees would probably get through OK.

Dear President Bush,
With the Surpeme Court session getting ready to close, it may well be time for perhaps the most important domestic decision of your presidency: the appointment of a Supreme Court Justice(s). The main reason why I supported you in 2000 and why I wanted Daschle out of power in 02 (and 04) has to do with the courts. I want America courts to interpret law, not write law. During your presidential campaign you said Thomas and Scalia were your two model justices. Those are excellent models. The High Court needs more like them. Clarence Thomas recently said to students that the tough cases were when what he wanted to do was different from what the law said. And he goes by the law. This should be a model philosophy for our justices. Your father, President Bush lost his reelection campaign for 3 main reasosn, as far as I can see. 1. he broke the no new taxes pledge 2. David Souter 3. Clinton convinced people we were in a Bush recession (which we had already come out of by the time Clinton was getting sworn in)

I urge you to learn from all three of these: 1. on taxes, you're doing great. Awesome job on the tax cut. 2. good job so far on judicial appointments. I want to see more of a fight for Estrada, Owen, and Pickering, but I commend you on your nominations. 3. by staying engaged in the economic debate you'll serve yourself well

I have been thoroughly impressed with your handling of al Queida, Iraq, and terrorism. You have inspired confidence and have shown great leadership.

But I want to remind you that your Supreme Court pick(s) will be with us LONG after you have departed office. I urge you to avoid the tempation to find a "compromise" pick. Go for a Scalia or Thomas. Don't go for an O'Connor or Kennedy. To be specific, get someone who is pro-life. Roe v Wade is one of the worst court decisions I know of, and it's the perfect example of unrestrained judicial power.

I know the temptation will be tremendous on you to nominate a moderate. But remember who your true supporters are. I am not a important leader or politician. I am "simply" a citizen who has been an enthusiatic supporter of you. I am willing to accept compromise in many areas of government but I will watch your Court nomiantions extremely closely. What the Senate Dems are doing right now is disgusting, but as the President you have the bully pulpit to stop it. Democrats will back down if you turn up serious heat on them.

Moreover, I think public opinion is shifting towards the pro-life position. Dems will want you to nominate a moderate, but almost all will vote against you anyways. Pro-choice Repubs will likely still vote for you if you nominate a Scalia, after all, you campaigned on it. So Mr. President, I urge you to stick with your campaign statements and nominate justices who believe in judicial restraint, like Scalia and Thomas.

Happy Memorial Day and may God bless you and your family.