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Schumer Signals 'Nuclear' War on Nominees |
2005-02-25 |
Senate Democrats are preparing to once again filibuster President Bush's judicial nominees despite efforts by Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter (R.-Pa.) to extend an olive branch in hopes of reconciling differences. Liberal Sen. Chuck Schumer (D.-N.Y.) dismissed Specter's gesture Thursday and all but declared war on the nominees Bush resubmitted to the Senate last week. Hoping to avoid the so-called "nuclear" option that would change the Senate's filibuster rule, Specter said he would tackle the nomination of William Myers III to the 9th Circuit appeals court next Tuesday. Myers, by Specter's calculation, is only two votes shy of the 60 needed to avoid a filibuster. He would have 58 votes if all Republicans and three supportive Democrats--Senators Joe Biden (Del.), Ben Nelson (Neb.) and Ken Salazar (Colo.)--vote for his confirmation. Needing only two other Democrats, Specter suggested Schumer could be a possible convert. "Senator Schumer has made the public comment that there ought to be balance on all of the circuits, and the 9th Circuit is a very liberal circuit," Specter told reporters. "I think William Myers would give some balance to the 9th Circuit, and that is going to be one of the arguments that I am going to make." |
Posted by:Fred |
#15 Yeah, that one. |
Posted by: Wuzzalib 2005-02-25 8:33:02 PM |
#14 Do you mean the one that says whatever the liberals say it means? |
Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2005-02-25 8:03:01 PM |
#13 Are you referring to the *Living Constitution* Steve? |
Posted by: Wuzzalib 2005-02-25 7:57:09 PM |
#12 Also it telegraphs our plan and allows the Dhimis to bring a court ruling into the mix. There won't be a court ruling. Article I of the Constitution allows each chamber of the Congress to make its own rules for procedure, and the filibuster is nothing more than a procedure created some time ago in the Senate. It can be changed anytime the Senate wants to change it. |
Posted by: Steve White 2005-02-25 4:35:49 PM |
#11 Anonymoose has a great point... A smackdown (or three) might, indeed, have the effect of allowing the Donk moderates to overthrow the loonies. Certainly worth a shot as nothing constructive will happen until there is a sea change. |
Posted by: .com 2005-02-25 11:13:41 AM |
#10 Unfortunately for the dems, at this point it is *time* to teach them that they are the minority party, and will probably stay the minority party. Such a lesson will be brutal, it will have to be, but it must rattle them down to the bones to convince them that they can no longer force the Republicans to do anything. In fact, they must be slapped down, before they can surrender enough arrogance to cooperate with the Republicans, and *bargain* for what they want. And this will finally be the turning point, in which democratic moderates come to the fore as the new party leadership. |
Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-02-25 10:52:52 AM |
#9 I can't understand why they don't just make the decision TODAY? Why tease with this? Also it telegraphs our plan and allows the Dhimis to bring a court ruling into the mix. Make the change TODAY and end the speculation and postering from the left. Also it wil give the LLL all kinds of time to explain while a majority should not be allowed to rule. |
Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2005-02-25 10:35:45 AM |
#8 Specter's a RINO I'd still rather have him as Chair than Schumer, Biden, Kerry, et al. |
Posted by: eLarson 2005-02-25 9:41:37 AM |
#7 The Judiciary is their last redoubt. They'll fight to the end to retain power. Instead of seeing events in a long term pattern of ebb and flow, and therefore, a time to bend with the wind and await their turn, they're going to bury themselves. The scorched earth policy will only highten the left's aggitation to do something really stupid from which there is no return. |
Posted by: Thavins Thavirt9269 2005-02-25 9:17:53 AM |
#6 Nuclear war is so 80's. Schumer, enter the new millenium and declare Judicial Jihad. |
Posted by: ed 2005-02-25 9:08:17 AM |
#5 Specter's a RINO. |
Posted by: Ptah 2005-02-25 8:59:51 AM |
#4 Specter trying to save his ass. He mouthed off to much over the weekend. |
Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2005-02-25 7:28:58 AM |
#3 This gun grabbing prick should not even be in the United States Senate. He along with Boxer and Feinstein are treason incarnate. All I can say is New Yorkers must be some stupid SOBs for electing him. God I despise him This ultra liberal obstruction is a crime against our country. |
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2005-02-25 1:34:20 AM |
#2 Frist should invoke the Eastwood axiom... "Go ahead punk. Make my day..." |
Posted by: BigEd 2005-02-25 1:03:36 AM |
#1 When the time is ripe, respond appropriately. |
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2005-02-25 12:31:17 AM |