2 PM GOP Senate News Conference on ESTRADA

CSPAN Radio

[11th_VA]

Heard while stuck in traffic this morning.

[nina0113]

Is that the Janitors' Union?!

The cleaning crew in my building is 100% Hispanic - wonder if they even know this is being done in their names? Too bad my Spanish isn't up to explaining it, and telling them to call the Union.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Lawyer Gray saying to check "Westlaw(?)" records on Miguel and the judiciary hearing records. Mr. Gray is not the most charismatic speaker.

Kay Daly, 1st speaker - spokesperson for the "Coalition for a Fair Judiciary." "Real people may not know the difference between a federal court and a tennis court"...but they fear that something's out of control in our courts.

"Why would we ask him to pre-judge a case before he gets to the court?"

"It's of grave concern to those of us with family in the military and overseas that Rome is burning while the Senate is fiddling."

Ms. Daly speaking of tremendous grassroots support for Miguel. Barbara Boxer has closed down her Senate phone line. All right!

[ken5050]

They couldn't find a better spokesman than Boyden?.....

[Stirner]

"There are UNION pages online with ready made letters of opposition to Estrada."

I just happen to know someone who works for Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher, Mr. Estrada's current employer. He works in their DC office, and she works in another city. I asked my friend if she knew what sorts of cases Mr. Estrada handles, and she said, "labor cases". I asked her if that meant for corporations, unions, or both, and she replied "employment law". She wasn't interested in saying more than that.

[nina0113]

Westlaw is the competition for Lexis-Nexis. Online legal research - very expensive.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Second up, Republican National Lawyer's Assn. - Michael Thielen:

 

Talking about the ABA - Miguel's "highest rating." 

 

Hispanic Bar Assn. of DC, Brigida Benitez:

 

She's with two different Hispanic legal assns. They take "great issue with those who attempt to obstruct great latino lawyers like Miguel Estrada."

 

"The nomination of Miguel Estrada is important to ALL Americans because the nation expects the Senate to (confirm based on qualifications.)

 

"We urge every Senator to treat Miguel Estrada fairly and to vote to confirm."

 

 

 

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Hispanic National Bar Assn,. Juan Carlos Iturregui:

 

"We rarely have seen, if ever, a record of accomplishment (like) Miguel Estrada."

 

"We urge Senate to vote on this confirmation NOW. Not next month..."

 

"We also are concerned that some members of the Senate are trying to impose a higher standard of review that is unprecidented."

[ez]

Pubbies: Be sure to put "ABA: Well Qualified" on a big poster and make sure the cameras can't miss it.

YES! And repeat the mantra "Just want an up or down vote..."

Why won't they let it come to a vote?

[ken5050]

Maybe Estrada should pull a Kerry..disclose that his great-grandparents were really Jewish.....that would really cause Chuckie Schumer problems..

[Quilla]

Thanks for the updates. We cubicle chained appreciate your efforts.

[clintonh8r]

Have they said they're going to make the RATs do a real filibuster, or are they going spineless on us again?

[WOSG]

What I sent to the NRSC ...


I and others on Free Republic has decided to pledge
$120 in contributions each to NSRC *if* you force the
Democrats to vote via 24/7 round-the-clock
debate time.

It goes without saying that the Democrats
are wrong on substance: They are being extremely
unfair to a well-qualified nominee, who sacres them
because a moderate-conservative Hispanic breaks
the minority stereotype of 'belonging' to the Liberal
Democrats. They WILL LOSE POLITICALLY if
their bias and unfairness on this issue is forced
into the open.

Your task must be to win by making the political
cost for the Democrats too high to bear.
You must bring it out into the open and force the
Democrats to allow a vote or go through extreme
and public measures to stop it.

Dont let the Democrats off the hook with this
filibuster, dont let them take a cloture vote and
go home. If they want more time, give it to them
and make them choke on it - round the clock,
day and night, 7 days a week, until the vote is made.

As it becomes more public, the extreme
narrow-mindedness of their position will
be clear to all.

You CAN break their filibuster, if you
have the will. I urge you to do so.
Hold the line!

[leadpenny]

Thanks for posting. For the guys unable to view C-SPAN right now, you need to catch the replay. Brigada Benitez is worth it alone.

[WOSG]

actually, the funny thing is the Democrats are mad at Estrada because they dont *know* where he stands ... he clerked fro Justice Kennedy, hardly a friend to prolifers.
my guess is he more squishy conservative than Scalia conservative, he doesnt have a paper trail on it, not that it matters to the Leftist radical pro-aborts like schumer and leahy etc.

[WOSG]

see my reply on this too ... hopefully they will take notice that their CONTRIBUTORS want them to have spine.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Robert de Posada: Latino Coalition:

 

"This is a very serious issue for our community and no politician should take this lightly. We urge the Senate to act responsibly and urge an up or down vote. "

 

Hispanic organizations represented today. No Senators present.

 

Reporter asks about where TV ads are being run. 

 

Nebraska, N. Carolina, DC...perhaps more.

 

Re. the press conference. Kay Daly.."These events are popping up pretty rapidly."  Expects more press conferences in cities across the country.

 

"We endorsed Mary Landrieu ...for her to flip-flop.." Both Ms. Daly and Mr. de Posada talk about the Democrats promising support for a candidate while running, only to vote against them.

 

Christian Coalition reporter says that they've activated people in almost every state to fight for Miguel. Wants to know what the hispanic community thinks?

 

Juan Carlos Iterregui: Re. the hispanic business community "people are dumbfounded...for a variety of reasons. It confuses people." Mr. Iterregui says that within the pool of qualified candidates to fill the very large empty judiciary holes - "Miguel is at the top."

 

"We don't want to be treated as double standards." -Robert de Posada

 

"Lulac, the oldest hispanic organization has endorsed Miguel.." Brigida Benitez, speaking for the "grassroots" hispanic community:

 

"The hispanic community wants Miguel to be confirmed...certainly to be treated fairly."

 

"To suggest that all hispanics have to think the same way on an issue is something I would dispute."

 

"He can't make statements that would committ or appear to commit him on controversial issues." On the ABA Code itself (the Dem. Senators are asking Miguel to break a judicial code of ethics).

 

Reporter asks if this is about the USSC.

 

C. Boyden. "That's pretty cynical...It's created some real problems within the judiciary.

 

"What we're seeing is the undermining of the delivery of justice in this country at the federal level...It isn't just a question of fairness to Miguel Estrada. That's important. It's a question of the whole system."

 

End of press conference. At least a dozen pro-Miguel speakers, at least 20 reporters, many staying to talk.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

It was a fine press conference. Let the hispanic community talk directly to the reporters. Except for C. Boyden (former GHW Bush lawyer), no politics, no Senators involved.

Best part, grassroots support from the hispanic community (and many other fairminded Americans!) shut down Barbara Boxers' phone line...and is strong throughout the country. (^:

Other press conferences to take place in various cities around the country this week, as well as TV ads in DC, N Carolina, etc.

Keep calling and writing, Freepers!

[unspun]

Thanks RC.

BTW I tuned into C-SPAN-2 on .org a few minutes ago -- Carol Moseley Braun! Yeee-hooo. As our wonderful former Attorney General Reno did in Florida, she should be blazing trails for a Hillarious Emily List defeat in 2008....

[ken5050]

I think the Dems feel that he's the first SC nominee...therefore, they've got to stop him now..they very well couldn't vote to approve him for the 2nd highest court, yet turn him down for the Supremes..

[ken5050]

Did you see the pics of CMB's press conference with only ONE person in attendance...man, if only that could have been a Freeper....