LIVE THREAD: Estrada Filibuster

http://freerepublic.com ^ | March 3, 2003

[Howlin]

Live stream from C-SPAN

Comments and discussion of the live coverage of the continuing Estrada filibuster.

[maica]

If the Democrats continue to say that they are NOT filibustering the nomination, then why doesn't the Republican MAJORITY -- the one that's supposed to lead the Senate's business -- call for the vote on Estrada. If the DEMs are NOT filibustering, then there's no reason why they can't call for an up-or-down vote and be done with this. On the other hand, if they are filibustering, then why aren't the Republicans forcing them to come right out with it and get it on the record that the DEMs are, in fact, filibustering this nominee? (Appreciate any help on getting me straight with this.)

---

It requires a 'unanimous consent' to then put a motion up for a vote. Every time Hatch, as chairman, asks for unanimous consent for the senate to vote on the nomination of Miguel Estrada, a Dem Senator objects. The Senate requires a majority of 60 votes to override this refusal to allow 'unanimous consent.'

The Republicans do not want to establish the precedent of requiring 60 votes to get any future judges voted on. So they are forcing the Democrats to keep refusing to allow the vote by a simple majority.

Hope that explanation helps.

[Howlin]

I will surely do that!

[Howlin]

Man, are we EVER going to be busy, busy this coming spring and summer! If it's not war, it's trials!

[Dolphy]

I say that he sounds lame only because he went prematurely over the deepend last week without thinking the possibilities through. He automatically assumed that the Republicans caved.

[Howlin]

Fritz now defending the French!

[Sacajaweau]

She'll show up for the 6:00 news as usual.

But she's got some explaining to do since she said we're doing a lousy job on the alqueda front.

Wonder how big the crow was that she had to eat last night after seeing that hairy creep we caught!!

[Howlin]

only because he went prematurely over the deepend last week without thinking the possibilities through

There's a lot of that going around. You'd think they'd learn.

[aristeides]

In this case, a cloture vote would make 60 votes the new effective standard for approving a judge.

I don't see why the DemocRATs' mounting this filibuster (whether it's called that or not) doesn't already set that precedent. A cloture vote would at least make the RATs go on the record as supporting this filibuster.

[Spunky]

Rush "I've been under a mis-impression"

The strategy is to keep calling the vote and keep making the dems are on record time and again voting against the first hispanic nominee to this bench. This could change, but that is the current plan.

That is exactly what I heard Rush say.

I also heard him say that no one has declared they are in a filebuster.

This thing has me so confused. If they are not in a filebuster and can keep calling for the vote, why then would not 51 votes put Astrada on the bench?

[kcvl]

New Charges Coming For Waksal

By TSC Staff
03/03/2003 12:05 PM EST


Federal prosecutors have scheduled an afternoon news conference to detail new charges against Sam Waksal, the disgraced former chairman of ImClone Systems (IMCL:Nasdaq - news - commentary - research - analysis).

[TLBSHOW]

Which bluff are we saying.....the new bluff we ar told today or this bluff?


Democrats say they will filibuster until they get more information from the nominee about his legal views. Democrats have complained that Estrada is a stealth nominee who refuses to state his positions on issues that are likely to face the court.

Republicans have long considered that a bluff and Tuesday they called it, offering to compile a written list of additional questions from both parties to pose to the nominee.

"I will work toward getting answers to any reasonable list of questions that can be worked out on both sides of the aisle," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.On Wednesday, Bush repeated the offer, saying he would make

Estrada available to any senator who had questions despite what he called a "double standard" placed on the nominee.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,79594,00.html

[cyncooper]

Martha Stewart has been charged.

!

It is a good thing.

[aristeides]

They're not calling for cloture until they have the sixty votes they need. This keeps the "switch votes"/"under the table agreements" private (THE dems can't pressure their own who have chosen to switch sides.)

Thank you. At last, an explanation that makes sense.

[RobFromGa]

I agree. The main problem here is that we are in uncharted waters with this filibuster.

A game of "Chicken" is the best analogy I have seen.

[A Citizen Reporter]

See post 361 above.

[Miss Marple]

Because they need unanimous consent to get the vote, and even though they have the votes to confirm Estrada, every time Hatch or Frist call for a vote, one Rat senator objects, so the debate continues.

The Rats don't want to call it a filibuster, but I notice our guys sometimes are referring to it that way.

The idea is to get them to quit objecting to the vote. I think the repeated quorum calls are going to make those presidential candidate senators a bit testy.

[Mo1]

Hollings is up now .. Oh Dang he just yeild the floor

Now Sessions is speaking .. what did I miss .. I seem to be popping in and out

[RobFromGa]

One person does keep calling it a filibuster: Hatch has said we are in a filibuster at least ten times.

Sessions up now (R-AL)

I've gotta run.

[Howlin]

UH OH.......Newsweek is now backing off their story about AQ attacking bridges and crashing planes into submarines!

[TLBSHOW]

heck I only want to listen to todays show and Fridays again! LOL