A New Move on Estrada ('Tain't over yet!)

National Review Online ^ | 2/28/2003 | Byron York

[ArcLight]

In perhaps its most forceful effort yet to break the stalemate over the appeals-court nomination of Miguel Estrada, the White House has now invited every member of the Senate who has doubts about Estrada's legal views to submit written questions to Estrada by the close of business Friday. In a letter delivered Thursday to all 100 senators, White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales said Estrada will respond by next Tuesday.

[3D-JOY]

Where does this all stand NOW...5 PM?

The Dems can submit questions to Estrada for answers by Tuesday.

The Dems can ask all those Estrada has worked for, but not for the actual work product. Answers by Tuesday.

The Dems can ask the White House for a personal meeting with Estrada...at the White House?

Is the purpose to stop anyone from saying they do not have enough information?

THIS MIGHT BE A WORKING PLAN!

[RandyRep]

I understand your point, but it is a different issue. What I suggest is a general rule, as opposed to a cloture vote on Estrada.

By forcing a vote on the rule, you would get everybody on the record without setting a precedent on Estrada. Then you could campaign against them. After all, Leahy, Kennedy and others have said in the past that they are against filibusters for nominations. If they vote against a rule, then they can be accused of hypocrisy and seeking partisan gain.

The problem with the rule is that some Republicans might not want to give up the filibuster option.

[GOPrincess]

Great link re Hatch earlier today, thanks! (I've been in and out today and not able to stay on top of this thread like I'd like!) I am SOOOOO pleased with Hatch. Go, Orrin, go!!!

[deport]

Did the 'gifter' say that Sen. Frist said he'd keep them 24/7 including weekends? Has he provided a link to that quote by the ML? I know Sen. Frist said it could take time to remove them from the trenches....

[RandyRep]

What were the illegal documents that the Dems had? I don't recall reading that.

[votelife]

the other thing about that false Fox News story. Like Iraq decisions, we don't have all the info. Their may have been INTENTIONAL deception to misleed the Democrats into a false sense of security.

Bob Graham needs MORE PRESSURE!

I would assume he wants the Florida Hispanic vote, it's certainly a lot bigger than the Florida NARAL vote!

[Dolphy]

People don't have to watch the debate on the floor, all that does is establish a set of facts. Things like how many times the Dems have refused to even allow a vote, up or down, on the Hispanic nominee. The Dems are going to have to defend that position among one of their most important constituencies, Hispanics. What the heck are they going to say, "we didn't know anything about him?" The man is a Harvard grad, with the highest rating from the ABA, do you really think Hispanics are going to understand what the Dems don't know about him? And of course the Republicans will say we gave them every opportunity to ask Estrada and now Estrada's bosses. What then do the Dems say? Do they say he is pro-life, a position that many Hispanics favor? Or do they go off on what will seem like an obscure tangent to the average voter?

I don't think, partisanship aside, I would want to be on the Dems side. The Republicans have everything going for them on this, the only thing that could hurt them is going 24/7 because people would question their priorities at this particular point in history.

[cricket]

"I thought about what Rush said too but...HE like GWB is always right in the long run so...I'm gonna have faith in President Bush AND Rush too. Can I do that even? :)))"

Sure. . .think you are right too; though I did not like the way Rush framed the issue; he was optimistic. . .and on that, we should rest some confidence. . .

[RandyRep]

You seem to have a good handle on the parliamentary procedures. Thansk for your expertise.

I'm confused by most of this. I understand that cloture requires 60% of the sworn senators (one way to get there with our 55 would be to get 10 out of office, but that's probably not feasible!). Therefore, we need 60 senators to vote to close debate.

The quorum call is apparently used to get 51 senators to the floor. Apparently, we had 49 Pub senators there on Weds night, but only a few Democrats? It seems to me the onus is on the ones who want to close debate rather than on the ones who are filibustering. With a quorum, can't one of the Democrats ask for a cloture vote?

How can the Pubs keep the Dems on the floor talking while letting the Pubs rest, without quorum calls.

[Political Junkie Too]

People don't have to watch the debate on the floor, all that does is establish a set of facts.

What you miss by not watching it is the utter baselessness of the Democrat claims. When you see speaker after speaker repeat the same mantra over and over and over, and then the next day say the same mantra again over and over and over, you begin to realize that there is no "'there' there."

-PJ

[votelife]

The Rush/Fox News story could all be part of some big strategery. We will see, but I think Frist/Hatch/W are dug in. I don't care if NARAL is dug in. WE WILL WIN.

[votelife]

I'm going to go drop some Estrada flyers!

[PhiKapMom]

Durbin started waving these documents around in the air about something that had been released by DOJ. They had never been released and it turned out they were from Bork during Watergate.

These documents were not releasable and we all put two and two together because Hillary worked on Watergate. That meant he was waving around documents someone had given him -- most likely Hillary.

Sen Hatch had it put in the record and asked that it be looked into how the DemocRATs had the documents.

[Howlin]

He hates Muslims, didn't you know?

[marajade]

You don't think the dems could figure out that the reps would then go immediately to a vote on Estrada?

[PhiKapMom]

I agree with you that you don't get the true flavor of the debates until you start watching it. Seeing what is going on has been really interesting especially Wednesday night! You can tell a lot by mannerisms and when you hear someone wanting to ask a question and that person being ignored like Hatch did to Reid. That was priceless!

[deport]

A cloture vote requires that the request be submitted by 16 Senators and it must lay over before being brought up for the vote....

Rules of the Senate.... XXII
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of rule II or rule IV or any other rule of the Senate, at any time a motion signed by sixteen Senators, to bring to a close the debate upon any measure, motion, other matter pending before the Senate, or the unfinished business, is presented to the Senate, the Presiding Officer, or clerk at the direction of the Presiding Officer, shall at once state the motion to the Senate, and one hour after the Senate meets on the following calendar day but one, he shall lay the motion before the Senate and direct that the clerk call the roll, and upon the ascertainment that a quorum is present, the Presiding Officer shall, without debate, submit to the Senate by a yea-and-nay vote the question:

"Is it the sense of the Senate that the debate shall be brought to a close?" And if that question shall be decided in the affirmative by three-fifths of the Senators duly chosen and sworn -- except on a measure or motion to amend the Senate rules, in which case the necessary affirmative vote shall be two-thirds of the Senators present and voting -- then said measure, motion, or other matter pending before the Senate, or the unfinished business, shall be the unfinished business to the exclusion of all other business until disposed of.

[PhiKapMom]

Thanks for posting that!

[Saundra Duffy]

If Miguel Estrada is defeated, there will be a revolt!

[Howlin]

No link. Surprised?

"Might" = "Might not."

"Promised" = "Will."