Idiot GOP Senate Set to Shaft Estrada?

rushlimbaugh ^ | 2/28/2003 | rushlimbaugh

[TLBSHOW]

I am more frosted at the Democrats for what they're doing to the Constitution vis-à-vis Miguel Estrada's than I am over the anti-war movement. Fox News reported that the GOP planned to call for a cloture vote on Estrada next week knowing they'd lose it. That would effectively amend the Constitution - illegally - to read that you need 60 votes instead of 51 to get a judicial nomination through.

Happily, it turns out the GOP isn't going to call such a vote. The offices of Senators Santorum and Hatch rang up my office on Friday, and said that the Fox story is not accurate. There will be no cloture vote. Hooray! If these Democrats want to filibuster the first Hispanic nominee to the D.C. Circuit Court, let them do it! I know they say there are new rules making a filibuster harder, but so what? And don't tell me that it's not "practical" anymore, because people have to go to the bathroom. That's nothing new.

Force them to get out there and filibuster this eminently qualified man, as rated unanimously by the American Bar Association. Miguel Estrada is just a name to us, but his life is being destroyed here. It's not because he's unqualified; it's because Democrats don't like how he might think. Read George Will's column. Chuck Schumer didn't bother to ask Estrada a single question. He claims not to know any less qualified judge, when in fact he knows less qualified judges who went to the Supreme Court! Just this week, President Bush pledged to stand by Estrada until he was sworn in. We know no other nominee has been asked to give nor should give opinions on issues that may come before the court. Their job is to apply the law, not to make law or let their opinions get in the way of rulings.

These senators have to back Bush and Estrada up. The Democrat attitude is, "We ran Washington for 40 years up until 1994, and Bush is illegitimate despite what the Constitution says about the Electoral College, so he has no right to appoint anyone." These people are treating the Constitution like toilet paper. Calling a cloture vote would overturn more than two centuries of Senate precedent and rewrite the constitutional definition of "advise and consent." We cannot allow that to happen. You have to care about this, folks!

These people aren't Democrats or liberals. They don't believe in the Constitution. They don't believe in individual rights, as affirmed in the 9th Amendment; in sharing power with the states, as described in the 10th Amendment; in free political speech protected in the 1st Amendment and shredded in campaign finance reform. They don't support the right to bear arms provided for in the 2nd Amendment. They don't respect private property rights protected by the 5th Amendment! If there's a blade of grass in the backyard, they call it "wetlands" and take it away! This assault must stop.

Listen to Rush...

(...react to the Fox News story, and reject the notion of a cloture vote by the GOP) (...demand Democrats be made to pay a price for shredding the Constitution)

Read More of Rush's Estrada Coverage… (Rush On A Roll: Anatomy of a Smear) (Rush On A Roll: Want Estrada? Declare Linda Daschle DOA) (The Limbaugh Library: Ken Starr Tips Us Off on Estrada) (EIB A-B: Estrada Qualifications Blow Away Breyer and Ginsburg)

Read the Questionable Fox News Article...

(FoxNews: Republicans Seek to End Debate on Estrada)

Read the George Will Column on Estrada...

(Washington Post: Coup Against the Constitution - George F. Will)

[Carolinamom]

You're mixed up.....again. I've said nothing about Fox News to you.

[Howlin]

I'd be horrified is you didn't. I stand behind what I say and don't switch on a dime, depending on what press report I read or hear.

Your words on this thread speak for themselves.

[RobFromGa]

Dead. Horse.

[TLBSHOW]

As long as we stop the rats is all that counts and that is a fact! Was from the start of this whole mess.

I say hold the rats to a 24/7 and then get as much PR out there about them.

[RobFromGa]

Amen

On that note, can we get an AMEN to this thread. Howlin, Amen. First one of you to 525 on Amens and it's over...To your corners,,, go...

[RobFromGa]

OK, 550.

[TLBSHOW]

Best part is you don't fool anyone and the facts are as plain to see what happened and you and the gang can spin it whatever way you like. Rush stopped a GOP cave that is a fact!

[TLBSHOW]

I do give her credit for getting the story Rush wrote out there. LOL

[Political Junkie Too]

Reading this thread is like premonitions of how the filibuster is going to go. Talk about entrenched positions with no movement.

Once the Republicans go 24/7 (and they will once all 51 are on the floor, IMO, but not before), the Democrats will be stuck. No major media has come out in support of them. The daily papers are all editorializing against the Democrats (Hatch read some on the floor last week) and the broadcast TV media are ignoring the story for now in order to run cover for the Democrats.

Once McConnel and Bunning are back and the Republicans go 24/7, Hatch will read more and more of the editorials against the Democrats. Then they will turn the heat on the TV media to cover the story (I'll know that the Democrats are ready to cave when the Perky Katie Couric covers the story).

Going 24/7 (dubbed the nuclear option by some) will require a coordinated effort between the Republicans and the White House, because there will be pressure on both sides: the Republicans to move onto other business, and the Democrats to relent. The Democrats have the weaker argument, but they have nothing left to lose. The Republicans must realize that if they lose this then they lose the next two years as well.

Time is on the Republicans' side. They just need to withstand the initial onslought.

-PJ

[RobFromGa]

There should be no more oral arguments, you have made your case. And the opposition has made theirs. No more minds are going to be changed. It is all on the record.

I really wish this infighting would stop. I participate and try to bring levity but these arguments seem very hostile at times.

Things will now continue to play out over the coming weeks and months. And we all want the GOP to prevail. We can all agree on that and that is actually the most imortant thing of all. Senseless internal bickering is counter-productive. Like a soap opera, these fights are addictive. But, they sap one's strength for really important tasks.

President Bush needs to win this battle over the Estrada confirmation. It is really important to our cause and his mission. Let's quit fighting about a stupid article and work on making this happen starting at 10a on Monday morning with faxes, phone calls, etc.

Plus, Iraq is about to be liberated. And this is a historic moment in the Gulf. Let's keep our eyes on the big picture.

[TLBSHOW]

The Republicans must realize that if they lose this then they lose the next two years as well.

BUMP

[justshe]

LOL...I was going to call you cutie (If anyone calls me names, I reserve the right to return and defend myself) just to see if you came back.

Guess I didn't need to.

[deport]

I say hold the rats to a 24/7

---

And I say in due time.... Each season has it time and reason. What in the world is your hurry? Can you even attempt to explain that?

Again have you finished the dishes, swept the kitchen floor, fixed the coffee pot for in the morning, etc. Do you have all your chores done yet?

By the way do you like turnips?

[deport]

Sen. Bunning voted in the Quorum call the other night.... I know he maybe back and forth but he was there for those votes

[deport]

The Republicans must realize that if they lose this then they lose the next two years as well.

---

The 60 # is needed any time the democrats chose to use it over the next two years..... so whether they win or lose this one the potential to lose to a cloture vote is there as long as they can filibuster. Thems the rules ol' boy


Finished your chores and the dishes yet?

[cyncooper]

I just got home and was cleaning out my mailbox when what do I find? Why this missive clearly dated this past Wednesday saying the Republicans would stand by Estrada.:

Wednesday, February 26, 2003 4:22 PM

Dear friend,

To date over 20,000 supporters of President Bush have signed our petition urging Democrats to end their filibuster of Miguel Estrada. This overwhelming show of support for the President has helped to create awareness among the American people about the Democrats continued obstruction.

Our Republican Senators remain steadfast in their determination to make sure that Miguel Estrada's nomination receives a vote before the full Senate. In fact I am certain that many Republican Senators were inspired by President Bush's radio address this past Saturday. In his address the President stated:

I nominated Miguel Estrada for the Court of Appeals because he's a man of talent and character who will be an excellent judge. Yet after 21 months, he still cannot get an up or down vote from the Senate. Democrats are stalling Miguel Estrada's nomination, while they search in vain for a reason to reject him. Some senators who once insisted that every appeals court nominee deserves a vote have abandoned that principle for partisan politics. Their tactics are unfair to the good man I have nominated, and unfaithful to the Senate's own obligations.

I call on the Senate Democratic leadership to stop playing politics, and permit a vote on Miguel Estrada's nomination. Let each Senator vote as he or she thinks best, but give the man a vote.

Let's keep the pressure on the Democrats. Below are three things you can do today to help put an end to this filibuster.

1) Sign our petition. If you have already done so please forward this message and tell others that they can sign our petition by visiting: http://www.nrsc.org/index.cfm?FuseAction=SignUp.Home&Petition_id=41

2) Let Democrats know that their treatment of Miguel Estrada will not be forgotten. Write to Democrat Senators and let them know that you will be working to see that they are defeated in 2004. To see a list of vulnerable Democrat Senators as well as their contact information please visit: http://www.nrsc.org/nrscweb/estrada/senators.shtml

3) DONATE TO THE NRSC. Your donation will go to making sure that we have the necessary resources to expand on our Senate Majority in 2004. To make a donation via our secure online server please visit: https://donate.nrsc.org/index.cfm?mode=account&category_meta_id=349

Thank you for your support of the Republican Party. Together we can make America a better place to live, learn, work and raise our families.

With warm regards, I remain

Gratefully yours,

Senator George Allen

Paid for by the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. www.nrsc.org

[deport]

welcome aboard.... but things change once the true filibuster begins because then you start the speech limits of two per legislative day, etc. Of course they can play with with motions, etc all of which can drawn out... But this gentleman filibuter will change to different tone if they go full bore.

Whe don't you fly your state flag. Be Proud....

[Political Junkie Too]

The Republicans must realize that if they lose this then they lose the next two years as well. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 60 # is needed any time the democrats chose to use it over the next two years..... so whether they win or lose this one the potential to lose to a cloture vote is there as long as they can filibuster. Thems the rules ol' boy Finished your chores and the dishes yet?

You can't blame him for that one -- he was quoting me and a reply (he should find a way to offset a quote from his own posts).

I know that 60 votes is always there in the future, but if the Democrats are beaten back now, they will be reluctant to push to the wall over and over. If they win, they will be emboldened to do it always.

-PJ

[TLBSHOW]

President Bush needs to win this battle over the Estrada confirmation.


And all of this must be what is talked about at every minute of air time that our side gets should be about this, not only the next 2 years is at stake but the constitution is at stake which is as important as The President. I believe a real push to repeal the 17th amendment must be done too. While we get all eyes and ears focused on this battle with the rats and commies.

[woofie]

The 60 # is needed any time the democrats chose to use it over the next two years..... so whether they win or lose this one the potential to lose to a cloture vote is there as long as they can filibuster. Thems the rules ol' boy

I dont want to play by those rules...waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!