Democrats Threaten to Stop Senate Business if GOP Changes Rules on Judge Confirmations

TBO.COM ^

[Sub-Driver]

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.

"To shut down the Senate would be irresponsible and partisan," Frist said in swift rebuttal. "The solution is simple: return to 200 years of tradition and allow up or down votes on judges."

The exchange marked the latest development in a long-simmering struggle over Bush's court appointments. Democrats blocked votes on 10 nominees during the last Congress, attacking them as too conservative to warrant lifetime appointments.

Accusing Democrats of obstruction, Republicans sought to make an issue of it in the elections last fall, in which they gained four seats.

Bush has already renominated some of the judges, and Reid has said previously the Democrats' position has not changed.

[Phsstpok]

I acknowledged your point in my post:

"or someone I haven't named"

There are plenty of them, whether obvious RINOs or simply mealy mouthed politicians who won't be able to resist the spotlight, if it's offered to them.

Who's the most "loyal" conservative Republican in the Senate? Are you 100% sure that they wouldn't jump ship if it meant that ABCNBCCBSPBSNPR would crown them the new "best Republican in the World?"

As I stated, though there are a few, there are VERY few honorable people in that body, on either side.

[doug from upland]

It is not the nuclear option; it is the CONSTITUTIONAL OPTION.

[goldstategop]

Go ahead and do it Dingy Harry. Hold up the Senate's business. I'd love it if you helped to kill Big Government. The American people would thank you for doing what the Republicans have never been able to have the guts to do: shut down the government. Yeah, that's a brilliant measure. It sure worked when Clinton shut down the government, didn't it? You liberals are a veritable fount of bad ideas! (laughing)

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[TheForceOfOne]

Chain, chain, chain, chain, chain, chain Chain, chain, chain, chain of fools

[Carry_Okie]

We need to make the "stop the Senate" the real filibuster initiated by Democrats over the judges, 24-7. Having them do it over this procedural move merely provides the Democrats ammunition that they stopped the Senate because of 'an unprecedented power grab on behalf of radical conservative judges.'

There is no need for the nuclear option until the Democrats have held up Senate business for over a month.

[FreeReign]

"The solution is simple: return to 200 years of tradition and allow up or down votes on judges." To heck with tradition, Senator Frist, just say that you're going to follow the CONSTITUTION and nothing else!!

The Constitution is neutral on this. What Frist said was dead-on correct.

Ya know, there seems to be a new trend over the last few days. Not just on this subject on this thread but on this and other good news threads. For instance the military weapons sting. The Honduras gang bust and now this, a good chance at a rules change. All good news.

Yet all I hear on these threads is irrational whiny complaints. It's like long red DU nails dragging across a chalk board.

*Screech*

[Frapster]

hey - Indiana's democrats just did this about a week ago. Effectively killing 150 some odd bills in the state legislature. bleh

[xzins]

Fight fire with fire. Serve notice that rules will be changed to prevent slowdowns.

We can't count on the media to side against the slowdown as they did with Pres. Clinton when Gingrich attempted a similar thing.

Therefore, power is the card that is shown. Let it be known that it will be played totally if total political war is declared; or partially, if partial war is declared.

[leprechaun9]

Open a hearing on the Senate Impeachment vote of Billy Clintooooooooon! Release the log book of visitors to the evidence repository (to see who actually looked at the House evidence!)!

The oath that each Senator took prior to the Impeachment required them to make their decision based on that evidence. Let's make the log public!

[Frapster]

Having just moved to Indy from Texas and having watched this occur in both states and speaking from experience in watching the anticipated fallout in Texas... don't hold your breath.

[walrus954]

Don't know if this has been posted yet, but I recently read that, since so many things in the Senate require unanimous consent, the Democrats have many tactics to delay things.

[Don@VB]

"Open Question...Is there any precedent for filibustering judicial appointments that have cleared committie?"
Yes, I think so.



Yes,

I remember Abe Fortas went down in flames. I didn't realize he had been filibustered. Thanks for the info!

[penowa]

"Who's the most 'loyal' conservative Republican in the Senate? Are you 100% sure that they wouldn't jump ship if it meant ABCNBCCBSPBSNPR would crown them the new 'best Republican in the World?'"

I wouldn't willingly put my money on any of them, but if I had to bet it would be the guy from Oklahoma, now the senior senator since Nichols is gone (sorry, I'm terrible at remembering names.) I have a feeling he wouldn't sell out the country for the ravings of the MSM or to get re-elected, but who knows? There may be none who don't have a price. Most days I'm ashamed to call myself a Republican and align myself with the spineless "mealy mouths" as you so aptly put it. The only reason they are the least bit acceptable is in comparison to the other side of the aisle.

[Cinnamon]

Dems fight like sissies.... they appoint judges to legislate from the bench because they know their causes have no chance in the american mainstream. That is why they fight tooth and nail over judge appointees. They see Bush's appointments as too conservative to warrant lifetime appointments.... si it's ok to have lifetime IF you're lib, but conservative oh no! lmao

[Modok]

Frist, push the nuclear button the already...

[etcb]

I suppose any rule could be changed, however, if you eliminated the unanimous consent procedure, you would then need to have a vote on all proposed actions that are now agreed to by that procedure. Democracy is not always easy, but it usually works out. I predict that when the filibuster rule is changed, the Democrats will act up for a while and then settle back down. Our system has survived major disputes in the past and will survive this one also.

[Howlin]

You are so right. And when they do it -- and they will -- they will be blamed, not us.

[Jorge]

Any such change would mark "an unprecedented abuse of power," Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., wrote Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.

You mean a simple majority of Senators would NOW be able to confirm judges?

What a shocking abuse of power!

[PhiKapMom]

ROFLOL!!!!!!!!!!! That was one of the funniest things I have read -- passing that one on to more people I know! Priceless! That was perfect -- I will be chuckling about that one for days!

[pulaskibush]

Nuke-em high and let the Dems shut down the Senate. %90 of what they pass is crap anyway. More people will vote Repub and conservative in 2006.