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.

[amexmike]

I believe two scenarios are in play here. I read earlier that 3 more appointees made it out of the Jud. Committee for full senate confirmation. So, the Dems could stall them all until they get this Estrada thing finished. In which case they would be view and unveiled as OBSTRUCTIONISTS. Or they could try to breakup the logjam by trying torush through the other appointees quickly to show that they aren't holding things up. Then they will be villified as anti-Hispanic. That will lose big Hispanic votes. I don't think they would be able to spin out of that one. Either way I believe that this is great strategy by Bush.

[TLBSHOW]

Rush is opening his show and mentioned the Estrada business and even he is under a FALSE impression about Republican intentions and strategy.



Yep sure he is.......LOL

[justshe]

Everyone knows wetbacks are Democrats! Nothing worse than an uppity house servant.

I sincerely hope you left off your sarcasm tag.

[hobbes1]

I don't know if the pubs will cave or not, but when Bob Novak, who is as good as anyone in getting inside political information, says on CNN that Estrada may well be successfully filibustered afterall

Novak says alot of things from time to time that are meant for Democratic ears, because they know he has inside sources....

[MLedeen]

they will not, they have been very strong. two nights ago they had three quorum calls between 1130 pm and 1 am, dragging the dems out of bed to the senate floor. meanwhile the republicans were there, 49 strong, missing only two one of whom was recovering from surgery and the other had a wife in the hospital...all these moans and groans about "weak-kneed" republicans are entirely misplaced. this is the first time in memory that the republicans have been united, tough and resolute, and we should applaud them, not piss and moan.

[PhiKapMom]

I posted Senator Leahy's comments from Wednesday and bolded the most important parts. Please go read them as they are quite telling what the RATs are up to with the Estrada nomination. We must fight for Estrada to be confirmed and not waiver!

Sen Leahy's attack on Estrada, 26 Feb 2002!

[marajade]

As much as I respect Rush... he isn't always right...

[VRWC_minion]

Of course he may well be filibustered. That is what the problem is. Talk about a dumb comment about the obvious.

[Dolphy]

I'm with you, there is definitely a part of me that wants to come out swinging and not stop until 5 or 6 more Dems cry uncle. But the strategy of the battle is sometimes more important than the might of the opponents. The Dems made their move, they anticipated the Republicans to either go 24/7 (so that they could question and criticize Frist's priorities on the eve of war and with a sputtering economy) or withdraw the nomination. Their track record says they will have not gamed this out correctly.

[hobbes1]

Heres what I see....optimistically.

The Rats that dont realize the tactics being used.

In all probability it looks something like this...

This is allowed to play out with Frist picking off enough Dems, or pushing it to a 24/7 filibuster, BUT the Press, and public damage is already done, right now there are numerous editorials decrying this action.


Secondly the Idea is to let the war overshadow it.

To Wit:The Democrats are trying to play the "The Republicans are shutting down the government Game"
but to no avail because of the war, while the intended target of this exercise, the Print media, and the
Hispanic media/population are paying increased attention....


The Print media will be useful when they attempt to place Janice Brown on SCOTUS, and the wedge
with Hispanic voters endagers an already paper thin minority voting bloc, the dems cant win without...


Then when a Scotus slot opens up, and it probably will between this Nov and Jan, Bush will probably nominate Justic Janice Rogers Brown, an African American Conservative Jurist, from California. If they go this route, closing in on an election year, the first shots fired by Frist, will be a thorough recounting of the Estrada episode....


(Alot of people including the Dem Caucus think it will be a Hispanic, but I think the Administration will go this way first....That's why this battle is being fought now...Estrada will get the bump up after Brown)

[hobbes1]

about "weak-kneed" republicans are entirely misplaced. this is the first time in memory that the republicans have been united, tough and resolute, and we should applaud them, not piss and moan.

Damn Straight. It is about time they started playing the Dems game.

[sunshine state]

I think that's the other part that some people are missing. We have all 51 Republican votes, but only 49 have been on the floor. Two of them haven't been there. We can't really call for a vote on this until the other two Republicans show up.

[cyncooper]

...all these moans and groans about "weak-kneed" republicans are entirely misplaced.

Thank YOU for adding your voice to this discussion.

If you have a way of informing Rush of the facts so he can set the record straight that might be helpful.

[BJR]

Why get personally insulting? Successfully filibustered means Estrada does not get a vote ---- dummy!

[Miss Marple]

Thank you! I was just going to chime in with the same statement!

Either Rush doesn't understand (unlikely) or he is helping with the confusion of the enemy.

Those who are criticizing should have been watching the Senate over the last few days. They are NOT giving in on this one, despite all the wishful thinking of democrats and their enablers.

[VRWC_minion]

Bob Novaks comment is dumb. He states the obvious like its some major inside news. A filibuster is happening right now, if it wasn't Estrada would be appointed.

[woodyinscc]

"I don't know if the pubs will cave or not, but when Bob Novak, who is as good as anyone in getting inside political information, says on CNN that Estrada may well be successfully filibustered afterall, I get REAL worried."

I think Mr. Novak is being used by the Dems, and is getting
disinformation.IE if you think Sen. Kennedy is the one who came up with this game plan, you have another guess coming!
This has the Hildebeast all over it!!

[TLBSHOW]

Rush know full well what is happening and you know it.

[woodyinscc]

"Either Rush doesn't understand (unlikely) or he is helping with the confusion of the enemy."

Exactly!

This is the antithesis of what Rush said two days ago!

Rush does not change his position lightly!!

[Patriotic Bostonian]

I would suggest you call the Senators directly. I have been calling Congress for years and trust me they can be closed down with enough calls. This is the only way they hear from us directly! I have been trying to get thru to Senator Frist, but his line is busy, busy, busy or they have taken the phone off the hook.