Senate to Recess without Action on Estrada Nomination

CNSNews.com ^ | Feb.15, 2003 | Christine Hall

[conservativecorner]

recess(CNSNews.com) - Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist Friday announced that the Senate will recess for the President's Day holiday instead of forcing a vote on the judicial nomination of Miguel Estrada.

Speaking at a Capitol Hill news conference Friday, Frist said he will try to force a vote on the nomination of Estrada to the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals after the recess is over and the Senate reconvenes.

The decision to recess the Senate without a vote contradicts what Frist said earlier this week. "We'll stay as late as they would like tonight and tomorrow night," Frist said Wednesday, according to the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call. "My expectation is that by the end of this week, and before our recess, and possibly into our recess, we expect what all American people expect and deserve; an up-or-down vote on this outstanding candidate."

Democrats have said they will filibuster the vote on Estrada who, in their view, is reticent about his views and under-qualified. Democrats have said they have the votes necessary to block cloture, which normally ends debate in the Senate and leads to a floor vote on any given issue.

Frist said if "judges are going to be filibustered, not based on qualifications, but...partisan politics, it sets a bad precedent for this Congress and future Congresses.

"I'm willing to be patient to give the Democrats the opportunity to make their case before the American people," said Frist. But, he warned, "I'm willing to stay on this Estrada nomination as long as it takes" to get the full Senate to vote on it.

Sen. George Allen (R-Va.), chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, expressed frustration with court vacancies, many of which have been prolonged by partisan wrangling.

"This is like Groundhog Day every day around here, with everyone getting up and saying the same thing," said Allen, referring to the 1993 movie in which characters repeatedly wake up to the same day. The Senate has been at loggerheads over the nomination since it was brought up eight days ago.

"There are 12 judges allocated to this court (the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals); a third of them are unfilled," said Allen. "What you have is justice delayed, which means justice is denied."

But Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) insisted that it's answers, not more debate, that's needed.

"We don't need more time to debate Mr. Estrada's nomination," said Daschle on Feb. 13. "We need answers from Mr. Estrada. Without those answers, debate is hollow because we lack the basic information we need to make an informed judgment about Mr. Estrada's fitness."

Estrada has not offered specific answers to questions about ideology, saying that doing so could place him in the position of "prejudging" any issue that may come before him in court and would run counter to his "view of the judicial function."

[FITZ]

It's not that it would be the Republican's fault for not voting for him, but maybe out of Frist's weakness? but since this has turned racist (which it never should have been), they absolutely have to get him in now.

[upchuck]

Snoopy's done been scrootched and he sez, "Thank you kindly!"

I sez, thank you again for the "event." :)

[sirchtruth]

Your, and others', willingness to bash the GOP in the Senate before you know what is happening is regrettable.

It has nothing to do with knowing what is happening! We already know what is happening, Frist said that he would keep them all in session until there was a vote. He went back on his word. I don't care what strategy the GOP uses, BUT if it is one of going back on the leaders word I want nothing of it!

I realize that Bush has proven so far how effective his games plans have been, but it has never been one of going back on his word!

Do you not understand in the Senate if it's no different than the way Dems would go, then it's useless to the GOP?

[sirchtruth]

So, I fault Frist for making the threat to begin with but I give him high fives for making a mid course correction necessary to stay focused on the goal.

You call going back on his word a COURSE CORRECTION...What about calling it what it is, a LIE!

If the leader of the senate goes back on his word how does that make him any different than the previous majority leader?

He should have never made the pledge if he wasn't willing to follow thru!

[sirchtruth]

Of course, unless if he followed through on what he said would have been a disaster. In this case I believe him following through on his threat would have lessened the chances of Estrada's election as well as a large potential for disaster.

I'm sorry I don't buy this at all. It's just an excuse. When you make a threat you damn well better be ready to back it up, especially if you're the LEADER of the Seante! Not only does it make him look weak, it gives the appearence of sliminess, no different than the Dems.

What you and others fail to see is it doesn't matter if the GOP's stategy works now.

If it's more important to win at all cost, then I see a huge problem coming.

What else will Frist threaten and not follow thru on? And I expect not to hear not one word from you the next time the Dems pull this crap!

[LS]

You are chasing your tail. You do NOT know the strategy, you do NOT know what is going on, and above all, you certainly do NOT know that Estrada will not be confirmed. Most important, you do NOT know what other ramifications this recess has related to other issues, especially the war.

[TLBSHOW]

wanna bet todays talk shows say nothing about it? Where are all the republicans getting this out front and center today as we were told would happen? They are all on break! LOL

[TLBSHOW]

No nothing on any of the talk shows this morning about this I have been told! I hoped but as normal,,,,,zip zero nada!

[JohnG45]

And you do?

What we do know is that Frist reversed himself and looks like a wimp in the process. This, in view of many Republican cave-ins of the past (see Trent Lott). What FACTUAL information do you offer to explain this reversal?

NONE!

This is why I (as well as many others on this board) consider you to be braindead.

Please do not continue to clog up this board with your clueless rantings.

[marajade]

I think perhaps you have a color problem...

How would it be Frist's weakness if Democrats vote against him?

I just don't understand you...

[marajade]

"What we do know is that Frist reversed himself and looks like a wimp in the process."

I still like to know how Frist could have known that that senator from KY was going to have a sudden critically ill wife? So now in your judgment for Frist to be successful he has to be a prophet?

[JohnG45]

I can't follow your "logic." Regardless, the filibuster could have still continued.

[marajade]

You can't have a filibuster if the senate can't get 51 senators to be in session...

[JohnG45]

I can't follow your "logic." If Frist DIDN'T know the senator from Ky... . Then why the recess?

Regardless, the filibuster should have continued.

When will people stop defending the absolute and consistent lack of backbone in the Republican Party? It displays itself over and over and over again.

[marajade]

The reason they had to recess was because two republican senators couldn't remain...

One because his wife suddenly was critically ill; and

two because he just had open heart surgery.

None of those events could have been known by Frist when he came out with his statement earlier last week...

You have to have 51 senators present to remain in session.

Do you understand now?

[JohnG45]

No!

I was in Lexington, Kentucky from February 1st through the 3rd. While I was there, it was widely reported that Mitch McConnell was undergoing open heart surgery. So if what you are saying is correct, then how did Frist NOT know about this at that time?

[Zack Nguyen]

I am not sure. Can you give me a link? What were their reasons?

[LS]

I will "clog up" whatever I wish, seeing as though my "braindead clueless rantings" have every bit the same "insight" as do yours. My point, since YOU are so braindead as to be unable to understand it, is that 1) you do not know the internal strategy; 2) Frist is Bush's guy and it is highly unlikely that he would undertake a strategy not in line with the WH; 3) there are plenty of considerations OTHER than Estrada; and therefore 4) it makes much more sense to TRUST BUSH (and we have evidence that he is trustworthy) than not to. And on your side what do we have? Speculation.

[JohnG45]

How childish and intellectually bankrupt you are!

Please post the FACTS that you have to back up your assertions. Your continued argumentation without a basis in FACT proves my point with respect to your cluelessness.
Post facts, not speculation.

As for my argument, it is purely based in fact.

Frist reversed himself yielding to the wishes of the Democrats who wanted to go home. Was this a surprise based upon the history of the Republican leadership in the Senate? Absolutely not! (See Republican allowing the recess appointment of Bill Lan Lee under the Clinton presidency. See the Republican led Senate [Lott] leaving the House Managers out on a limb during the Impeachment of Clinton). Need I say more?

When your posts are supported by fact, they will begin to be respected on this board. Until then, you continue to be Lost in Space.

[LS]

You have no FACTS whatsoever. You have a prediction based on a "feeling" (how liberal!). But the reality is Estrada will be confirmed.

And you continue to insult. (again, how liberal of you).