Free Republic

Democrats Threaten to Stop Senate Business if GOP Changes Rules on Judge Confirmations By David Espo The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrats served notice Tuesday that they will slow or stop most Senate business if Republicans unilaterally change the rules to assure confirmation of President Bush's controversial court appointments. Any such change would mark "an unprecedented abuse of power," Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., wrote Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn. Reid, the Democratic leader, exempted military and national security legislation from the threat, and said Democrats would not block passage of measures needed to assure continuation of critical government services....

It's just plain wrong for a handful of senators – Democrats or Republicans – to prevent the Senate from voting on any presidential nomination. The Constitution is abundantly clear: the president is empowered to nominate officials and judges; the Senate is required to "advise and consent" – or not. The Senate is not authorized to manufacture a procedural obstacle course that prevents the body from voting on the president's nominees. Senate Democrats successfully blocked a vote on 10 presidential nominations during president Bush's first term. They are preparing to do the same thing in the second term. The remedy is...

When Senate minority leader Harry Reid held an impromptu press conference on Tuesday, reporters were somewhat stunned by his pleading tone and urgent manner. Reid pleaded for Republican Senators not to resort to the so-called "nuclear option" in changing parliamentary rules that would cut the necessary confirmation vote for judges from 60 to a mere majority. Reid essentially threatened to shut down the Senate if the parliamentary tactic were used. Reid's urgency may be the result of a closed-door -- what some Republican staff called secret -- Senate Republican caucus luncheon on Tuesday afternoon. Rumors were circulating in the Capitol's...