Hatch to Stalled Judicial Nominees: 'Hang In'

Reuters ^ | 09-05-03

[dead]

Remember how weak he was during the Impeachment?

Yeah, that’s when I first started to call him “Escape Hatch.”

Everyday, he was on the news floating trial balloons to try to figure out a way he could avoid making any decision whatsoever on the trial. He really just wanted it all to go away so he could get back to the business of doing absolutely nothing about anything.

[mhking]

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

I never said that. But I have said -- multiple times over the past 24 hours -- that though the Democrats did the deed, we let them do it.

The only thing I hear from you and others who have politely patted my head (you hear this PhiKapMom?) is that we need to sit back and be quiet and put the blame on the Dems.

I can't do that. We held the red scarf in front of the bull and it took the bait! What, you want me to blame the bull for seeing red?! C'mon! Be realistic!

Am I ranting!? Damn right. Does the Administration deserve my (our) ire!? Yes it does!

They made this mess. Now, we should be demanding that they clean it up, not making reservations at Tavern on the Green or Ruth's Chris.

[TexasNative2000]

Hatch to Stalled Judicial Nominees: 'Hang In'

TexasNative2000 to Hatch: 'Grow a spine'

[Tribune7]

Do me a favor as long as your fired up. Freep the Poll

[mhking]

Do me a favor as long as your fired up. Freep the Poll

Done and bumped!

[Revolting cat!]

I see, so Tom Daschle is deeply saddened and Orrin Hatch is always concerned! All systems go!

[Coop]

I think somebody needs a nap.

[TomGuy]

Some Pubbies whine and play the victim (blaming the mean old Dems--who were sharp enough to procedurally out-maneuver them) even better than Hillary. They want to blame the vast left wing conspiracy. lol.

[Chemist_Geek]

I still don't understand exactly how Democrats can filibuster judicial nominees, period.

If I recall correctly, technically, they're not filibustering the nominee, they're filibustering the nomination. They have to have a vote to consider the nominations - that is, they have to vote to vote on the nominees. Once we get to the point that a specific nominee is being considered, then a simple majority will win.

I don't know about anyone else, but if it weren't for FR I would not know about the judicial nominations being held up. Everyone is being real quiet about this, and that's not a good thing.

[Chemist_Geek]

the business of doing absolutely nothing about anything.

Good work, if you can get it...

Besides, if the Congress is bickering with itself, then it's leaving us alone...

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Ours is never, ever to reason why, mhking.

Our is simply (apparently) to keep writing those donation checks; and keep robotically voting for whichever candidate has an "R" next to their name (regardless of actual end results); and to sit down and shut up. And take it, by God.

There's an authoritarian, "nanny-"esque streak in some, hereabouts, which is just this side of Clintonian, insofar as ability to tolerate debate and/or principled dissent is concerned.

Sad... but true.

[ZULU]

"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."

Look??? Look?????

How about a) asking the Senate Parlementarian to declare the Democrats filibuster void as it violates the Constitution; or, b) How about the majority Republicans passing a Senate Rule Change forbidding filibusters on federal judicial employees?

Oral Hatch demonstrates everything that is wrong with Congressional Republicans - no guts, no backbone, no cojones, and no brain.

[mhking]

and to sit down and shut up. And take it, by God

I've noticed. Woe be unto any of us who stand up and yell, "I'm as mad as hell and I'm not gonna take this any more!"

[linn37]

exactly what is his best?

[Happy2BMe]

"The question is or at least ought to be, how can such a small, godless, minority have such influence over our courts and legislative processes?"

Answer:

U.S. Supreme Court, 2003 - The Oligarchy*

Back Row (left to right): Ginsburg, Souter, Thomas, Breyer
Front Row (left to right): Scalia, Stevens, Rehnquist, O'Connor, Kennedy

ol·i·gar·chy
Pronunciation: 'ä-l&-"gär-kE, 'O-
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -chies
Date: 1542
1 : government by the few
2 : a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes; also : a group exercising such control
3 : an organization under oligarchic control

[gogeo]

Oral Hatch demonstrates everything that is wrong with Congressional Republicans - no guts, no backbone, no cojones, and no brain.

Absolutely...the Senate as currently run is broken. Lead, follow, or get the F##K out of the way!!!

[BureaucratusMaximus]

though the Democrats did the deed, we let them do it.

I think somebody needs a nap.

You and your bushbot buddies just dont comprehend that do you?

Like I've said before, it comes down to 2 kinds of people...the ones who give a $hit, demand accountability, and expect "our" (minus the RINOS) elected republicans to do the right thing or the ones who will appease and stand idly waiting for some kind of strategery play out, sit and play nice with Dems as they castrate us and kindly show us our ba--s with a big smirk on their face.

Obviously we know where you stand.

No thanks...playing nice and appeasing has gotten us nowhere. Au contraire...its time for alot folks to awake from their nap (a self-induced dreamworld) and realize the reality that the GOP is selling out, ignoring conservatives, and appeasing/playing softball w/ the Dems. You go take a nap and think about that, and think about it before you write your check to the RNC as well.

And don't bother responding to me with some "we have to have unity in the party" bull$hit, cause thats just a copout too that doesnt make anything any better.

[rrrod]

yep......republicans in the senate need to realize there is just 2 sides ...no middle ground..make a choice and stand up!

[No_Outcome_But_Victory]

It has been a two hundred year precedent in the Senate that judicial nominees were not to be filabustered. Hillary and Schumer threw that out the window.

Hence my question, why can't, since Republicans are the majority, just do an up or down vote regardless of what the Democrats think they're doing. If they have the vote, the judge should be seated, correct?

[No_Outcome_But_Victory]

See post 59 please.