Posted on 04/29/2005 3:38:17 PM PDT by Grand Old Partisan
The idea for implementing such a motion probably originated with an Internet posting on a conservative Web site written in 2003 by the author of Back to Basics for the Republican Party, Michael Zak, who has done extensive research on the GOPs historical support for civil rights. The article brought Mr. Zak to the attention of the director of outreach at the Senate Policy Committee, Barbara Ledeen. Mr.Zak later explained his idea to a policy adviser in the office of the Senate majority leader, Senator Frist of Tennessee.
Mr. Zak also sent his option idea by e-mail to several key Senate staff members. In his proposal, Mr. Zak mentions the name of William Crum. He was a black man nominated five times by President Theodore Roosevelt for a federal post in South Carolina.The Democrats continually blocked his appointment, but Roosevelt finally succeeded by making him a recess appointment. Senator Hatch, the Utah Republican, mentioned that interesting historical tidbit on the Senate floor, but it never made it into the mainstream press.
Mr. Zak reminded the Republican leaders that Vice President Nixon tried to get the 1957 Civil Rights Act passed by bringing it directly to the Senate floor. Unfortunately, it was a Democratic Congress and the Republicans were outvoted. Mr. Zak suggested that Vice President Cheney bring the judicial nominations directly to the Senate and announce that a majority vote would be all that is necessary for them to be confirmed.
In the past, that sort of information would be buried, but thanks to the Internet and individuals like Michael Zak, its going to be harder for Mr. Schumer to pull the wool over our eyes.
(Excerpt) Read more at daily.nysun.com ...
http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/jlpp/Gold_Gupta_JLPP_article.pdf
Interesting read.
It's getting harder and harder for the Dims to live in ignorance of their own history...
Thanks for the post. I thought the moniker "nuclear option" referred to the childish tantrums the democrats were sure to throw once the Republicans restored order.
Frist's comments on the Senate floor weren't weak yesterday, but some on here want to rip him for trying to avert a complete shutdown of the Senate, which IS what will happen when we go nuclear.
His compromise, which I sense is his final offer (it dang well better be) is very good and strikes a good balance that all can support. But, if the Dems reject it, it is nuclear time, no matter what the consequences.
The Sente has been dysfunctional on the point of unlimited debate and unanimous consent for quite awhile. They like being dysfunctional. The public lacks the wisdom to see it, and the will to make it stop.
Oh, man and now we're never going to hear the end of it I guess :-)
Good and interesting point. Did Michael Zak make the same point to Frist?
I think his final-offer compromise is designed to ensure the 51st vote from weak-kneed Republican Senators.
I'm trying to cut back, at least.
BTTT
as have I... that and the racist history of gun-control in America. Tends to make leftists go into brain-cramps
Yes, the first gun controls in the USA were enacted by Democrats to keep blacks unarmed.
These are the Senators to call to help President Bush get a vote on his embattled judicial nominees:
Senator John McCain (R-AZ)
Washington, DC: (202) 224-2235
Phoenix, AZ: (602) 952-2410
Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-RI)
Washington, DC: (202) 224-2921
Providence, RI: (401) 453-5294
Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
Washington, DC: (202) 224-5344
Augusta, ME: (207) 622-8292
Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE)
Washington, DC: (202) 224-4224
Omaha, NE: (402) 758-8981
Senator John Warner (R-VA)
Washington, DC: (202) 224-2023
Roanoke, VA: (540) 857-2676
Let's go nuclear. I fail to see what the big deal is if they shut down the Senate? Even if the Repubs run it...SHUT IT DOWN !!! nothing good ever comes when the legislature is in session. More taxes silly prescription drug benefits more user fees more restrictions., and on and on.
Shut it down should be the mantra here
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