Memos of special interest on Hill

Washington Times ^ | 11/15/03 | Charles Hurt

[kattracks]

Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee have worked in close concert with outside special-interest groups to defeat President Bush's judicial nominees, according to internal Democratic staff memos.

In one memo to Sen. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois obtained by The Washington Times, Washington lawyer Miguel A. Estrada is singled out as "especially dangerous" because "he is Latino." Mr. Estrada, born in Honduras, withdrew his nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in September after being filibustered for eight months.

[MamaLucci]

Regarding your post #33, it looks like Dubya's fighting a stealth war on two fronts.

[Howlin]

Democrats on the Judiciary Committee have long proclaimed their independence from outside interest groups and angrily deny accusations that they considered the race of Mr. Bush's nominees before blocking them.

So, if they are claiming that those "groups" are not involved in their "process," I suppose it was just a coincidence that EVERY SINGLE ONE of those "outside interest groups" just HAPPENED to be in the press room at the United States Capital yesterday morning immediately after the "Senate Sleepover" finished, right?

And I suppose we can assume that, rather than proclaiming their independence from those groups by not offering them the chance to speak, those "outside interest groups" grabbed the microphone from Tom Daschle, commandeered the floor, and practically jumped for joy at what they perceived as a victory for "their" side?

[Howlin]

No kidding!

You seem to be really enjoying this........LOL.

[MamaLucci]

Anything that wipes the perpetual smirk off of Dick
Durbin's ugly mug fills me with great joy.....is that wrong? :) LOL!

[mabelkitty]

Mr. Ashcroft, your country is calling.....
These hearings will be televised 23/7.

I tip my hat to Sen. Miller. He obviously has clueless Democratic friends who feel comfortable passing him their memos.

[mabelkitty]

I'm thinking this was strategery - international news for the 30-hour fillibuster due to the judicial nominees, and lo and behold, they were right.

Looks like they gave the Dems rope...looks like they hanged themselves en masse.

They had an out, though. Up or down vote. They chose suicide.

[Howlin]

Hey, we take our kicks where we can get them!

When you read nasty stuff about John Edwards, rest assured I'm somewhere smiling!

[mabelkitty]

This is "theft in office" - using public funds for personal use.

[ampat]

A serial leaker is bound to happen given the out of control actions of the democratic senators.

[MamaLucci]

Who knows what will be next...

At the very least it has to be causing some sleepless nights for a number of rats.
Perhaps they celebrated their "triumph" over the GOP's 39 hour talkathon a bit too early.

[prairiebreeze]

I guess Durbin. He just looks like such a "do-boy", to use the DNC phrase.

Prairie

[MamaLucci]

"Elaine would like the Committee to hold off on any 6th Circuit nominees until the University of Michigan case regarding the constitutionality of affirmative action in higher education is decided by the en banc 6th Circuit," said the memo. "Rumors have been circulating that the case will be decided in the next few weeks."

So, Senator Kennedy, Elaine Jones gets to pick federal judges, not the President?
The more I read this memo, the more angry I become, and if the RNC
doesn't pounce on this, they are even more inept than they already appear.

[prairiebreeze]

New memo ping!

Prairie

[prairiebreeze]

thanks for the ping. Pretty amusing to see the Dims struggle against leakers. Not amusing at all to see the extent of their treason...

Prairie

[StriperSniper]

Senators Feinstein, Durbin, and Edwards sit on both committees.

Exactly what I was thinking.

Supposedly both leaks didn't come from staffers. Hannity said "we would be suprised to know who he got it from", so it has to be someone the public knows, that cuts out the staff and points to the Senators. With these, "The 14 internal documents obtained by The Times — which did not come from a Senate staffer ". So now we have to figure out which of the three Senators could have done it.

Durbin, no way. Career politician with nothing else obviously going for him. What else would he do? Anything would be politically related so he wouldn't jeopodize that.

Edwards, Hmmm. I've said before, if he can't make the jump to the top(President) now, he seems to want out of politics and back to mega-money lawyering. He may have a grudge against the Dims for lack of support. But I don't know if he want's to take the risk of alienating leftists by taking down Dims, that would probably hurt his future more than help it since the right would never trust him.

Feinstein, my bet out of the three. While as partisan a Dim as there is, she doesn't need to do anything for money. She may be ready to enjoy herself soon, and with the growing danger from the DPRK her home might be in the line of fire. And speaking of fire, her home state has just been devastated do to her party blocking measures that in the least could have alleviated the situation, like Dashole did for his. And just a personal impression, she has been around the block a couple times so she know the danger is real, and comes off lately as such.

So, that's my take with the limited info available so far.

[Dog]

Kay thanks for the ping...

Mama Lucci .....you hit the nail on the head....the RATS have a leaker in their party who seems to be ticked off at them..

[Dog]

Striper .....who recently joined the Intel Committee out of those three you listed....I heard Orrin Hatch say this could be coming from someone who recently joined the Intel Comm.

[dixiechick2000]

"Hannity said "we would be suprised to know who he got it from", so it has to be someone the public knows..."

IIRC, Sean stated that the leaker was known by the public.

[StriperSniper]

Don't know, since I hadn't followed it before the memo became news. I do believe that Finestein is a long term member though, so that would leave the other two. And out of those two, I don't think anyone would ever think Durbin could be a traitor to the leftist cause, which if it was him would comport with Hannity's assertion that "we would be surprised...". But I still can't buy that, since any Dim Senator would be a surprise.

dc2 - Yes, that's what leads me to believe it has to be a Senator. Plus his vow to absolutely protect his source, even under threat of imprisonment.

[the Real fifi]

The memos came from outside organizations and I suspect someone there leaked them, not anyone on the Judiciary, all of whose members and staff are too partisan for honor.