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Gang of 14 to Meet on Alito
News Max ^ | Nov. 1, 2005 | Carl Limbacher

Posted on 11/01/2005 12:17:12 PM PST by conservativecorner

Liberal and conservative activists have been spoiling for a fight over the Supreme Court for years. But now that the time for brawling has arrived, a group of centrist senators might take the wind out of everyone’s sails.

Yes, the "Gang of 14” is set to meet again.

A Senate staffer confirmed to Newsmax Monday night that the Gang would meet Thursday morning to discuss the nomination of Judge Samual Alito, Jr. to the Supreme Court.

Story Continues Below

The "Gang” is composed of 14 members of the Senate; John McCain (R-AZ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Mike DeWine (R-OH), John Warner (R-VA), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), Joe Lieberman (D-CT), Robert Byrd (D-WV), Ben Nelson (D-NE), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Mark Pryor (D-AR), and Ken Salazar (D-CO).

The group first met in early summer when they agreed that judicial "nominees should only be filibustered under extraordinary circumstances.” Their agreement, however, left "extraordinary circumstances” undefined to the discretion of each of the signatories.

Can Pheromones Fix Your Relationship? Drink Less Water! Men: Attract Women Now Start Your Day With a Cup of Motivation

The agreement went untested as a result of the overwhelming brilliance of Chief Justice John Roberts. This time around, Democrats appear likely to offer strong resistance, and perhaps even a filibuster. As a result, the Gang will likely decide the fate of Judge Alito and the future of the Supreme Court.

Appearing Monday on Imus in the Morning, Sen. McCain said he expected Alito’s conservative credentials would ignite rumors of a Democratic filibuster.

"It’s going to mean,” McCain elaborated, "that the Gang of 14 will meet sometime in the next couple of days and we’ll try and see what everyone’s temperature is. I would certainly like to avoid filibustering and blowing up the Senate.”

Senator Warner also believes the Gang will play a vital role in the nomination. "There is a potential,” he says, "for the Gang of 14 to perform a pivotal, if not decisive, role.”

A few Republican members of the Gang have already made their stronger opinions known. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) appeared Sunday on CBS's Face the Nation. He warned Democrats that a filibuster against Judge Alito based on his conservatism would "not stand.”

Jeff Sadoski, spokesman for Sen. DeWine, told Newsmax Monday night that DeWine, based on the present information available, does not believe the Alito nomination constitutes an "extraordinary circumstance.”


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 109th; alito; rinos
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1 posted on 11/01/2005 12:17:12 PM PST by conservativecorner
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To: conservativecorner

If McCain pulls a power play here, I and a lot of other people are going to PO'd to the max.


2 posted on 11/01/2005 12:19:04 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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To: conservativecorner

Perhaps the "Gang of 14" members can swap recipes while they caucus?


3 posted on 11/01/2005 12:19:21 PM PST by RexBeach ("The rest of the world is three drinks behind." -Humphrey Bogart)
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To: DoughtyOne

I can't believe Lindsey Graham would participate in this.


4 posted on 11/01/2005 12:20:16 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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To: RexBeach

Perhaps the Republican participants can hand over their resumes. If they screw this up, they should get a nice opportunity to use them.


5 posted on 11/01/2005 12:21:31 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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To: DoughtyOne

Yeah, something happened to the senator after he left the House and entered the Senate.

Perhaps his shoes are too tight?


6 posted on 11/01/2005 12:26:42 PM PST by RexBeach ("The rest of the world is three drinks behind." -Humphrey Bogart)
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To: DoughtyOne
I can't believe Lindsey Graham would participate in this.

Then you don't know much about John Edwards' and John McCain's little buddy.

7 posted on 11/01/2005 12:26:45 PM PST by JohnnyZ ("She was appointed by a conservative. That ought to have been enough for us." -- NotBrilliant)
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To: conservativecorner

First:

" Can Pheromones Fix Your Relationship? Drink Less Water! Men: Attract Women Now Start Your Day With a Cup of Motivation"

Did Ted "the swimmer" interupt the article with a run by ad?


Second:

I am very weary over 14 Senators meeting to decide the fate of a nominee. That is the job for the Judiciary Committee and then the FULL senate. There is no way that this little cabal should have this kind of clout. Maybe the democrats like operating this way, but these so called Republicans should be stripped and whipped on the floor of the Senate (figuratively speaking that is).


8 posted on 11/01/2005 12:27:30 PM PST by MissouriConservative (I would love to change the world, but they won't give me the source code)
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To: conservativecorner

I'm tired of the Gang of 14. They are nothing but fence-riders.

Next election will clear some of them out.


9 posted on 11/01/2005 12:28:29 PM PST by Cedar
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To: DoughtyOne

Lindsey Graham is one strange person.


10 posted on 11/01/2005 12:30:57 PM PST by Siena Dreaming
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To: conservativecorner
This is the part of the 14 I don't get. If a judge was previously approved, how could he be considered extreme now? If he is extreme now, why wasn't he extreme for the lower courts? Why are they allowing extremist of any kind on the lower courts?
11 posted on 11/01/2005 12:31:33 PM PST by Andy from Beaverton (I only vote Republican to stop the Democrats)
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To: conservativecorner

12 posted on 11/01/2005 12:32:06 PM PST by pogo101
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To: DoughtyOne

This "gang of 14" crap needs to be brought to an abrubt halt. The Rino's on that "gang" need to stripped of every committee seat they have and informed they can sit on Republican committee seats when they are sure they want to be Republicans.


13 posted on 11/01/2005 12:32:09 PM PST by Dreagon
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To: MissouriConservative

You are so right. I'd like to know the difference between a judge legislating from the bench and allowing 14 misrepresentatives to hijack the entire senate.


14 posted on 11/01/2005 12:34:19 PM PST by AmericanChef
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To: DoughtyOne

McCain cannot vote to sustain a fillibuster on Alito, and then run for president in 2008. He would be finished instantly.


15 posted on 11/01/2005 12:34:46 PM PST by oceanview
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To: oceanview

He may not know it yet, but he already is.


16 posted on 11/01/2005 12:37:13 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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To: RexBeach

LOL, that would account for it... heh heh heh...


17 posted on 11/01/2005 12:37:43 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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To: conservativecorner

"The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again!"


18 posted on 11/01/2005 12:38:05 PM PST by Semper Paratus
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To: conservativecorner

"Can Pheromones Fix Your Relationship? Drink Less Water! Men: Attract Women Now Start Your Day With a Cup of Motivation"

HAHAHAHAHA!


19 posted on 11/01/2005 12:38:11 PM PST by NapkinUser ("It is a damn poor mind indeed which can think of only one way to spell a word." -Andrew Jackson)
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To: JohnnyZ

Yes, he has been going south for a while now. I'm not sure why.


20 posted on 11/01/2005 12:38:14 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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