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.

[Dolphy]

That reads much better than how it sounded today. I have said here though that while giving in on the 60 vote thing is bad, taking names on the record is not. It's hard to tell who is bluffing. The Dems might well have figured that the Republicans wouldn't go down the 60 vote road, that they would fold first. I'm sure they figured the Republicans wouldn't risk a 24/7 filibuster on a judicial nominee giving the Dems the chance to go out and yap about the Republican agenda during a time of impending war and economic uncertainty.

[A Citizen Reporter]

"So the strategy here is to call a vote and lose it and call another vote and call another vote and keep making the Democrats vote against a Hispanic nominee, vote and vote and vote and vote so that these Democrats are on record time and again voting against the first Hispanic nominee to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals."

Here is where Rush still hasn't got an important point. If the Dems vote against cloture, they are denying him a vote completely. They aren't voting against him, per se, they are preventing him from being voted on AT ALL. It's actually no different than the RAT tactic they used during the Florida fiasco in trying to throw out the military votes.

[PhiKapMom]

I remember Cosby -- I was sitting her screaming at the TV she was wrong! Then their legal expert came running down the steps and corrected her.

When a reporter doesn't know the difference between quorum call and a vote to invoke cloture -- I have very little faith in the REST of the story! That is exactly why I have been griping about the Fox story and Garrett.

Anyone that has ever studied Government should know voting on a motion to invoke cloture even if you lose is not the same as defeating the nomination.

Fox also said this past weekend that the Al Qaeda terrorist was not in US custody but he was.

Maybe someone at Fox better start checking out sources. So glad you brought up Cosby! UGH!

[rhinohunter]

Estrada also is about Hatch. Don't forget his SCOTUS ambitions, too.

NO!!! I like Hatch OK, but we need someone who will be around for a while...like Estrada.

[PhiKapMom]

I listened to that part of his show today and was saying I Told YOU So back to my radio!

Could tell he didn't understand cloture last week which was so frustrating!

[deport]

I cannot find it that Sen Frist said he would request a vote on Tuesday but he was requesting votes on other candidates today and Tuesday. I just finished reading Senator Frist comments in the Congressional Record for Wednesday and Thursday and he did not mention a cloture vote.

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/855823/posts?page=829#829

I'm glad you found the transcript and was able to read it and didn't find a reference to a Tuesday/cloture thing. I was almost sure I heard him mention something about Tues/cloture when he was wrapping up the other night. He was talking about the dems still objecting, etc. and that no other votes would be taken that night. He mentioned something about Tuesday. I'd looked for the transcript over the weekend but it wasn't posted yet. Glad you found it.

[PhiKapMom]

His comment about Tuesday was for the other nominations that Hatch ran through Judiciary Committee -- one was voted on today. Two are scheduled for tomorrow from what I could find. That is where Tuesday came up -- two different nominations!

[deport]

I understand what you are saying. All I'm saying is that I got the impression he was talking about cloture/Tuesday when he was wrapping up. Apparently others did also and I think even maybe the news media got things confused also.

[PhiKapMom]

My guess is because he said a vote on judicial nominees for Tuesday which would translate into a cloture vote if someone had been following the debate and didn't realize there were more nominees coming to the floor.

Would have been easy to do except the press should have known that a motion to invoke cloture has to filed 48 hours in advance. That meant it had to be filed on Thursday for a Tuesday vote, since the Senate was in recess for Friday through Sunday. By checking the Senate website they would have discovered that nothing had been submitted.

[hoosiermama]

It's been 30+ years since I sat in Government class, is it still required for high school graduation? It bothers me that the media as a group does not have a basic understanding of how our government operates.

[PhiKapMom]

It bothers me too! This is basic Government. My daughter is a Freshman in College taking Government this semester so I checked out her book and there it was -- a chapter all about invoking cloture, filibuster, unanimous consent, etc.

Looks like some journalist must have skipped the course. Once you have it, I wouldn't think you would forget it!

[PhiKapMom]

It is required in OK and TX to graduate. It is a general education here at the University as well.

[hoosiermama]

I sometimes have to dig a little deep to find it, but it's all there even after all of there years. may not remember it's name but do remember the concepts. My teacher was exceptional, and I loved the class.
OTOH It also helps that my fathers has instilled in me his passion for politics, government and the law. We share regularly.

[hoosiermama]

there=these. It's been a Long day. Can't spell or type.

[justshe]

Just FYI.......I got the exact words.

To: redlipstick; All

I just rewound with my tivo type gizmo (about 10 times to get this).

Garrett said.....and I quote......" Republicans are looking for a vote Thursday to break the Democratic filibuster, knowing they'll lose. That's when Democrats will declare victory But Republicans will say the fight for Estrada will continue."


792 posted on 03/03/2003 3:59 PM PST by justshe

[PhiKapMom]

Thank you much! I have been looking for tomorrow's schedule but it is not out yet. We will see tomorrow if they submit a motion to invoke cloture.

I am trying to figure out how long he is going to think it is a win for DemocRATs and how does he know for certain that at the last minute a few DemocRATs won't switch? It is so nice of him to say the RATs will declare victory. Really odd way for him to phrase what might happen.

He should have said, "Republicans are going to submit a motion on Tuesday asking for a vote to invoke cloture on Thursday to end the filibuster by Senate Democrats. A cloture vote requires 48 hours notice. Republicans need 60 votes to invoke cloture and shut-off debate, but currently only have 55 sure votes to end debate. As it stands now DemocRATs are expected to defeat this cloture motion by a slim margin. Republicans will not withdraw Miguel Estrada's nomination from consideration and the filibuster will continue with attempts to invoke cloture continuing. The President has vowed to stick with Estrada until he is confirmed to the bench."

To me that gives the viewers the facts of what may happen without the spin! I do not believe Garrett is the conservative he professed to be.

[Cboldt]

I just read the entire Congressional Record . . . for what Senator Frist has said for last Wednesday . . . and all day Thursday

Wow. Thanks for that. I listen to the proceedings, sort-of, and perk-up fairly reliably when Frist talks. But, I can be distracted or away, so not sure I get all of it. I think there is a possibility this can be won without a vote for cloture. I feel that the GOP understands the stakes, and is determined to see this through, mindful of the political fallout for the GOP, and the nation's business. The adults are in charge.

[A Citizen Reporter]

"But Republicans will say the fight for Estrada will continue."

Actually, the Republicans have already said that. And there is nothing that is happening in Garrett's prognastication that would change that fact. I agree, this is simply poor reporting, if it's reporting at all......

[PhiKapMom]

I think so too! They just need to stay the course!

[PhiKapMom]

I am glad you weighed in on his statements. That is how it struck me as well. Less than impressed!