Live Thread: Estrada Confirmation Filibuster

"I don't know of any Hispanic groups opposing him! Looks like the RATs continue to lie! "

Yep, looks like. I received an email earlier tonight from our state Republican party about Mary Landrieu's flip-flop on the Estrada nomination. It quoted a campaign ad she ran during the runoff last fall. It reads in part:

"This is a slap in the face of the Hispanic community. We feel betrayed by Mary Landrieu's actions. Besides a despicable show of partisanship, Senator Landrieu is disregarding the judicial crisis our country is facing," proclaimed Oscar Avila, an activist in the NewOrleans area Hispanic community.
While U.S. Senator John Breaux (D-LA) and an overwhelming number of Hispanic organizations are supporting the confirmation of Miguel Estrada, Senator Landrieu has said "she is withholding a decision on the nomination until she can check further into his background to determine whether he is 'truly in the mainstream' of judicial opinion, as his supporters maintain."' (Bruce Alpert, "Bush nominee, Landrieu meet; Senator still unsure he is mainstream" The Times-Picayune, February 7, 2003)

Sen. Breaux further expressed outrage at Landrieu and Senate Democrats by saying; 'Look, the country is on Orange Alert. We're telling people to stockpile water, duct tape and plastic to secure their safe rooms; we have a war within the next couple of weeks possibly in Iraq; who knows what is going to happen with North Korea; and consumer confidence is at an all-time low,' " Breaux said. "Now is not the time to be tying up the Senate on a nominee who is given the very highest recommendations by the American Bar Association." (Bruce Alpert, "Landrieu joins effort to block judicialvote" The Times-Picayune, February 11,2003)

In the final days before the November elections, Landrieu's campaign ran a radio ad stating that "Mary Landrieu has worked close to the Hispanic community. Mary Landrieu also supported the candidacy of Honduran Miguel Estrada for the Federal Court of Appeals." (Campaign Ad, KGLA 1540 AM, Friends of Mary Landrieu)

"Miguel Estrada deserves a vote on the Senate floor. Mary Landrieu and all those trying to delay or obstruct a vote should and will be held accountable by the Hispanic community who entrusted them," said Dr. Vinicio Madrigal, Chairman of the LouisianaHispanic Republican Coalition.

I emailed Frist. Everyone should do so. Same with Hatch. I email Hatch right now. Keep up the support for our side, and pour on the heat on the Dems.

This is the third time I've tried to post this. Is this Hillary's doing?

Hi everyone! In the previous hour (s):

Sen. Arlen Specter:

"They want, as the minority party in the Senate, full partnership with the President of the United States." Re. appointing judges.

"If the American people want judges confirmed, they're going to have to elect 60 (members) of the President's party."

"We are really heading for extraordinary deadly deadlock in this body."

"It's a Constitutional revolution (going on here)."

"It would be my hope that cooler heads will prevail."

_________

Correction of MY earlier post: Sen. Durbin (not DORGAN) and Sen. Kennedy were the only two Dem. Senators to ask follow-up questions.

Sen. Orrin Hatch:

"I think that this is an abuse of the process."

"It is abuse by the minority."

"We have confirmed 26 Clinton judges who did not have (judicial) experience. It's the phoniest argument I've heard yet!"

"This is a man with every qualification and they haven't laid a glove on him."

"Of the 108 men and women who have served on the Supreme Court, 43 had no prior judicial experience at all."

Sen. Brownback:

"It's my understanding that Mr. Estrada worked for the Clinton administration, for the Janet Reno justice department". (Sen. Hatch) It's highly unlikely that he would receive the support of Seth Waxman if he were a right wing idealogue. Sen. Brownback: "I find it so odd that that would be a charge brought against him when he worked for the Janet Reno Justice Dept."

Sens. Santorum, Nickles, Gregg, Chambliss, Allard, Smith, Warner, Bond, Allen, Hutchison, Kyl, Collins, Sessions, Inhofe, Talent, Graham (Lindsey), Enzi, Santorum, Alexander, chip in with questions to re-state Miguel's impressive personal, educational and legal record, debunk the lies that "Miguel" has a hot temper. Sen. Hatch says, yes, they can ask - "without giving up his right to the floor" - and skillfully answers each and every one. (^:

Re. the Dems. claims that other requests for private memos had been granted: "If they had records they must have been leaked. They were not granted."

"They're (any private memos) not his to release even if he wanted to."

"They just don't like the fact that he is a conservative Republican hispanic."

"If our friends on the other side would prevail...that means no privileges would be respected in the Executive Branch of government."

"Some special interest groups and others that have been criticizing us think all minorities have to think alike."

Sen. Frist: (~9:50PM EST) Summing up what he hoped for the day - robust discussion and THEN a chance to vote.

"As I look around I am delighted to find that just about every Republican desk has a Senator behind it ready to vote."

"I therefore ask unianimous consent that there be an additional 6 hours of discussion on" the nominee...equally divided, proceeding directly to a vote."

"Objection." Reid

Sen. Frist modifies the request - asks that the vote take place by Friday.

Dems. object.

Sen. Frist re-ittereating that there is a critical shortage of judges. Asks that the vote take place within 2 weeks.

Dems. object.

Sen. Hatch: "We have always voted up or down at this point in this process."

Sen. George Allen, summarizes the state of the DC courts,

Sen. Hatch: "I agree that justice delayed is justice denied."

Sen. George Allen summarizes the other problems facing America. Pointing out that Dem. obstruction is the reason.

Sen. Hutchison: "How many votes does it say that we need in the Constitution (for a vote)?"

Sen. Hatch: says a majority - 51.

Sen. Hutchison: "Is it setting a new standard, that we'll have the Constitution subverted (by demanding 60 votes)?"

Sen. Hatch: (Yes.) "It's clearly a double standard."

"You do not have a right to filibuster this man...It's shameful!"

"I think that what's gone on here doesn't deserve consideration." (after being lectured to by the chair for referring to Durbin as "You", not as "Senator."

Sen. Reid wonders who's filibustering because they earlier gave up the floor.

Sen. Hatch calls for yeas and neas on the nomination.

There is a sufficient second.

Sen. Hatch is not willing to give up the floor to Reid.

Sen. Reid tries to claim that there has been 17 filibusters.

Sen. Hatch: "No way!" "There has never been a true filibuster until this one of a circuit court nominee."

"When the Democrats were in control of the judiciary committee, and they had a Dem. President, they said that the ABA was the gold standard." Miguel received the highest rating from the ABA.

"What happens is that when the President nominates a candidate, the ABA does its own investigation"..."Then they determine what kind of a rating to give." "in this particular case..he unanimously received the highest (rating)."

"In each of the cases ( on previous cloture votes) there was (eventually) an up or down vote."

"Isn't it correct that there are many nominees that don't make it out of committee?" Asks Sen. Kyl.

Sen. Hatch: yes, for many reasons. "None of us complained, to my knowledge about Sen. Biden when we had 41 vacancies and 31 holdovers."

Sen. Hatch: "There's only been one true (judicial -higher court, I think) filibuster in the history of this country Sen. Fordice (sp)...it was a bi-partisan filibuster."

"So it's 10:30 at night. That's nothing to me."

"I'm prepared to be here all night."

Sen. Inhofe: asks Sen. Hatch what the meaning of filibuster is, mentions the origins of filibustering to prevent the movement forward of civil rights.

Sen Hatch: "There is no question that this is setting a precident." "This is a terrible, terrible precident!"

"I remember when there were some of us on our side who wanted to filibuster, but cooler heads prevailed."

"I haven't heard one substantive argument against Miguel Estrada...other than "we didn't like his answers."" "Well that's tough! Vote against him!"

"Mr. Bender (the liberal professor who called Miguel "hot tempered" - contradicted by everyone else who knows Miguel) worked for Seth Waxman who rebutted what Mr. Bender said and put his reputation on the line as a Democratic solicitor general."

"Virtually everyone who worked with him gives him high raves."

Three cheers for the team!

This is so wonderful......I feel like dancing in the streets!

You bet they had it planned..........to the minute!

This isn't Trent Lott's senate anymore.

Great big "Amen" ;*D

It's been sweeeeeet watching these men regain their backbone.

Beautiful is right! Schumer just made a Clymer out of himself! I am going to wear out my mute button if this keeps up!

We need Rudy in 2004! Out with Schumer!

The Senator from Utah most definitely has the floor! (^:

And Hatch handed him his head on a platter!

Hatch is on fire. He's nailing the nasty and hysterical Chuckie S. to the floor.

Leni

I appreciate your summaries so much. I haven't been able to watch much this evening.

The Republicans are organized, focused and helping Orrin one by one. It's beautiful!

Oh,...and it's such a wonderful thing to behold!

I need to know the rules now!

INHOFE SPEAKING IN SPANISH FROM THE FLOOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hillary!™ has to be furious. She is used to being in control...

You bet she is

FOFL ... AIN'T IT GRAND !

Someone tell me, can a filibuster stop his confirmation as a judge???? For some reason I can't seem to get an answer to this question...

"I don't know of any Hispanic groups opposing him! Looks like the RATs continue to lie! "

Yep, looks like. I received an email earlier tonight from our state Republican party about Mary Landrieu's flip-flop on the Estrada nomination. It quoted a campaign ad she ran during the runoff last fall. It reads in part:

"This is a slap in the face of the Hispanic community. We feel betrayed by Mary Landrieu's actions. Besides a despicable show of partisanship, Senator Landrieu is disregarding the judicial crisis our country is facing," proclaimed Oscar Avila, an activist in the NewOrleans area Hispanic community.
While U.S. Senator John Breaux (D-LA) and an overwhelming number of Hispanic organizations are supporting the confirmation of Miguel Estrada, Senator Landrieu has said "she is withholding a decision on the nomination until she can check further into his background to determine whether he is 'truly in the mainstream' of judicial opinion, as his supporters maintain."' (Bruce Alpert, "Bush nominee, Landrieu meet; Senator still unsure he is mainstream" The Times-Picayune, February 7, 2003)

Sen. Breaux further expressed outrage at Landrieu and Senate Democrats by saying; 'Look, the country is on Orange Alert. We're telling people to stockpile water, duct tape and plastic to secure their safe rooms; we have a war within the next couple of weeks possibly in Iraq; who knows what is going to happen with North Korea; and consumer confidence is at an all-time low,' " Breaux said. "Now is not the time to be tying up the Senate on a nominee who is given the very highest recommendations by the American Bar Association." (Bruce Alpert, "Landrieu joins effort to block judicialvote" The Times-Picayune, February 11,2003)

In the final days before the November elections, Landrieu's campaign ran a radio ad stating that "Mary Landrieu has worked close to the Hispanic community. Mary Landrieu also supported the candidacy of Honduran Miguel Estrada for the Federal Court of Appeals." (Campaign Ad, KGLA 1540 AM, Friends of Mary Landrieu)

"Miguel Estrada deserves a vote on the Senate floor. Mary Landrieu and all those trying to delay or obstruct a vote should and will be held accountable by the Hispanic community who entrusted them," said Dr. Vinicio Madrigal, Chairman of the LouisianaHispanic Republican Coalition.

This is awesome...Sure, the posts are being delayed by about three minutes, but I t hink we can live with it! Please...whoever is in charge, don't shut Free Republic down!...especially not tonight! Urg...at least wait until Estrada is confirmed!;)

Do you have the emails for Frist and Hatch..???

I'm here and ready to roll.