Hatch to Stalled Judicial Nominees: 'Hang In'

Reuters ^ | 09-05-03

[Brian S]

Fri September 5, 2003 02:05 PM ET By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch said on Friday he does not expect other stalled judicial nominees to follow Miguel Estrada's lead and drop their confirmation bids, but "we are always concerned."

"I've basically told them, 'Hang in there. We'll do our best to get you through,"' Hatch, a Utah Republican, told Reuters. "Let the process work."

Estrada got fed up with the process. After waiting more than two years for a Senate confirmation vote, Estrada asked President Bush on Thursday to withdraw his nomination to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Democrats, who denounced Estrada as a right-wing ideologue, had blocked the nomination with a procedural hurdle known as a filibuster. A majority of the 100-member Senate backed Estrada, but proponents were unable to get the needed 60 votes to end the filibuster.

Democrats are now filibustering two other appeals court nominees, Alabama Attorney General William Pryor and Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen. And they say they have to votes to block at least two more, U.S. District Judge Charles Pickering of Mississippi and California jurist Carolyn Kuhl.

Unlike the other stalled nominees, Estrada has a private practice, and backers noted there are problems keeping and attracting clients while in limbo about a possible judgeship.

Hatch, asked if he expected any other stalled nominees to withdraw, told reporters, "We are always concerned about that. But I personally don't think any of them will."

Hatch said Republicans will continue to press for the case for these and other nominees and look for a way to end filibusters against them.

Some Republicans have considered filing suit challenging the constitutionality of filibusters while others have explored trying to change Senate rules to outlaw them on nominations.

But lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle have warned such action would further strain relations in the Senate and make it more difficult to find common ground.

Democrats have said Bush could avoid future filibusters if he offers more mainstream judicial nominees.

[mhking]

But rather than blame the cause of the problem (the obstructionist Hypocrats), you vent at the GOP - thereby aiding and encouraging these very obstructionist tactics. Well done!

OK, Smart Guy, you tell me! Am I supposed to sit on my hands and watch the bus careen toward the edge of the cliff? Or am I supposed to offer suggestions from back here to help?

We all have an obligation to let our elected officials know what kind of job we think they are doing. When they're doing the "right thing" we should let them know.

And when they screw up, we damn well better let them know.

They are supposed to be the majority party. They are supposed to be driving. Then drive, dammit! Act like you want to be in charge! Otherwise, get the hell outta the way and let someone else (with more balls) drive!

If there's some plan going on, let someone in on it!

"Just sit tight" when you have your entire life and your family's on hold for twenty-eight months is no kind of damn plan!

So tell me, Einstein, what are we supposed to do, huh? Just "sit tight" while the Dems run the show in our stead?

Feh.

[TomGuy]

A couple of months ago, Hatch was more than willing to blow up computers of people who download music from the internet.

Too bad he can't seem to muster that same ire at his Dem colleagues and get the noms out of HIS committee.

[Coop]

Or am I supposed to offer suggestions from back here to help?

Yes you are.

Yet you do not. You choose to bitch, and you can't even seem to direct your anger at the appropriate target. That's kinda silly.

[AMNZ]

I gotta believe that out there amongst
BureaucratusMaximus;kattracks;mhking;Jim Robinson;Coop and other great Freepers we can relieve our frustrations by coming up with a strategy and tactics to accomplish our objectives of reclaiming our government, putting conservatives in control, and moving into a brighter future.

Obstructionist liberals are the enemy, not our fellow Freepers.

[rrrod]

i remember how most of us felt when the republican revolutin took place..now look what we have...Lott never took a stand and now frist, hatch and all the others are nothing more than monica lewinskys with out the beret...im planning on my second round of phone calls to these cowards... my phone bill will be out of site but ill feel better for having taken a stand

[sandydipper]

Hatch - another Republican empty suit. There ain't a set of balls in the bunch.

[rogue5432]

To be sure, the root cause of this is Schumer, Kennedy and Hillary (not to mention Norman Lear at PFAW). However, blame should and must be placed at the feet of Hatch, Frist, and yes, even Bush. I concur that the 24/7 line holds no water. However, Bush could easily have seated his ENTIRE SLATE of nominees last week through recess appointments--and still can come Thanksgiving or Christmas this year. Bill Clinton did it numerous times. Also, the spineless Pub senators could easily have made a parliamentary ruling from the chair that the 60-vote senate cloture rule does not apply to judicial nominees, thus forcing the up or down floor vote --Byrd did then same thing when he was maj. leader, although on a different matter, not judges. So in essence, and yet again, the Senate Republicans absolutely and positively did bend over and let Kennedy/Schumer/Clinton stick it in and break it off over Estrada, who can hardly be blamed for withdrawing. Clearly, they value their own careers far more than the Constitution, or even plain old principles. These gutless prostitutes deserve to be ousted, but as previously mentioned, in the two party system, they're the only game in town for conservatives.

[Coop]

And while you're calling them, be sure you tell them how you would have done things differently. You know, offering constructive criticism instead of just hollerin' and yellin'.

[mhking]

Yet you do not. You choose to bitch, and you can't even seem to direct your anger at the appropriate target. That's kinda silly.

I'm sorry, are you telling me that I'm supposed to sit still when the REPUBLICAN MAJORITY sits on their collective thumbs and allows the Democrats to run ruffshod over them, set the rules and control things?!

Oh, great and wise one, please tell me more so I may continue to enjoy my Kool-Aid in peace!

Direct my anger!? What the hell do you think I'm doing!? The GOP doesn't even seem to know that they're engaged in a Mexican cluster-f***!!!

I'm damn pissed at the Dems for changing the rules, but they won't listen when I tell 'em to play right. So WTF am I supposed to do, join hands and sing "Kumbaya!?" Huh?!?

Frist and Bush and Hatch and the rest of the Administration needs to know that we think they're screwing up. They need to either s*it or get off the pot.

At this rate, the Dems, now that they've been so emboldened, are going to slam the door on every single nominee that the White House sends to the Hill. And why? Because we LET THE DEMOCRATS SET FREAKIN' POLICY that's why!

[Coop]

Oh, great and wise one, please tell me more so I may continue to enjoy my Kool-Aid in peace!

I did tell you more. Come up with a solution. You apparently will not or cannot.

Direct my anger!? What the hell do you think I'm doing!?

Throwing a tantrum, like a 4-year old. But at least they're cute.

[rrrod]

while i dont claim to have all the answers ..ive never been accused of not taking a stand against those who wish my country harm..and i equate the cowardice of the republicans in the senate with the RATS.

[mhking]

I did tell you more. Come up with a solution. You apparently will not or cannot.

OH. I'm sorry for disturbing your Karma. Enjoy your Kool-Aid in peace.

In the meantime, I've already called Frist's office to express my displeasure. And through the aegis of my connections with Project 21, commensurrate letters will arrive today at Frist's office, as well as the White House.

You want solutions, yet you discount the 24/7 filibuster. You discount the "nuclear option."

How about putting the breaks on every and anything else until the nominees are voted on, period. Up or down, no compromise, no capitulation, no joining hands. And that means no business until this business is taken care of.

But that's asking Frist and company to get some backbone. Which they obviously don't have.

I can't believe this. On one side, I've got family and friends who insist I've sold my soul because I'm conservative. And on the other, I've got friends who are so damned concerned with "playing nice" that they don't want to get the job done! And when I point out the problems, I get patted on the head and told that I'm throwing a four-year old's tantrum. I can't win. Why do I even bother? Hell, why do any of us bother? I guess we're supposed to sit still and enjoy our demise in peace? "Oh, let's wait for the apocalypse together..."

No thank you.

[Tribune7]

Remember the Pubs have just a one vote majority and at least four of them are closet Dems.

If there were 51 strong, bascially conservative Republicans in the Senate, Estrada would have got on. As it stands now, I'm not even sure he would have got on without the cloture factor.

[Coop]

and i equate the cowardice of the republicans in the senate with the RATS.

No doubt. And that's what I find so disturbing.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

I can't believe this. On one side, I've got family and friends who insist I've sold my soul because I'm conservative. And on the other, I've got friends who are so damned concerned with "playing nice" that they don't want to get the job done!

PREACH it, brother mhking -- ! :)

[nickcarraway]

Hatch is the one who said he would rubber stamp any appointment Clinton made.

[Coop]

You're right. You're the real victim here. Shame on me.

Go read your first however many shrieking posts, and then compare them with your last post, which actually contained some type of plan of action.

[afraidfortherepublic]

If Hatch is so "concerned" why didn't he approach his big buddy, Teddy Kennedy, and tell him to call his minions off and let this nomination come to the floor for a fair hearing and a vote! I used to like Hatch, but more and more he's behaving like a limp noodle when it comes to standing up for our principles. Remember how weak he was during the Impeachment?

[afraidfortherepublic]

How about putting the breaks on every and anything else until the nominees are voted on, period. Up or down, no compromise, no capitulation, no joining hands. And that means no business until this business is taken care of.

Good plan!

[rrrod]

right you are ...what happens to these republicans after they have been in dc too long?? is it the water?