The article is written by Tom Curry. Here's Tom:
;-)
Posted on 02/01/2006 5:12:37 PM PST by Clintonfatigued
The Senate's vote Tuesday to confirm Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court to replace Sandra Day O’Connor is — along with President Bush’s victory on Chief Justice John Roberts — the biggest domestic victory of his two terms as president.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Wow, from thespian to journalist:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000347/
Man.. think you could post it a little larger next time?
Fair and even handed article from the LameStream.
Many conservatives who criticize Bush for supporting Arlen Specter in the 2004 primary misunderestimated him. Bush didn't give Specter an endorsement for free. Specter's strong support for Alito is a payoff. Specter's pro-abort RINO credentials helped keep other RINO's on board and put Alito over the top.
Also, Bill Frist's willingness to use the "nuclear option" helped make this possible. Even though Frist appeared to lose to the Gang of 14, the filibuster compromise they brokered was a conservative victory in disguise. The minute members of that gang (Graham, DeWine) made it clear that the Alito nomination wasn't "extraordinary circumstances", the filibuster was off the table.
All in all, this is one of the high points of the Bush Presidency and Senate Republicans.
Worthy of prayer.
Basically Arlen knows that this is his last term, and wanted to go out in style on the judiciary.
You might find this article interesting. Unusually even-handed, considering the source.
There's some truth in it, although it's a bit snide here and there.
One truth is that Arlen Specter is a pro, and when he leads a committee he does it right. I don't like him one bit, but you have to admire his professional competence.
One falsehood is the implication that Chuckie Schumer and the Dems shot down Miers. No. We shot down Miers, by doing the background research that Bush and his advisers, notably Andy Card, failed to do. She was a disaster. That was one of the things that stiffened Bush's spine, I believe, and encouraged him to do what was, indeed, the single best thing he has done in office: put Roberts and Alito on the Supreme Court.
Bush's popularity falls, not because Moveon recruits more members, but because his conservative base gets annoyed with him. When he seems weak on conservative issues, the base gets restless. When he stands up for something the base cares about, they get energized, and the Dems fear to oppose him.
Contrary to common wisdom, Bush is stronger the more conservative he is, and the more bold he is. The weaker he is, the more conciliatory he is toward the opposing party, the more his enemies savage him, because he is an exposed target, lacking his conservative defenders.
Right on.
"We need two more conservatives on the Court, with Janice Rogers Brown as icing on the cake.
Worthy of prayer."
If it's OK with God to pray for voluntary vacancies on the Supreme Court, it's very worthy of prayer.
The article is written by Tom Curry. Here's Tom:
;-)
This isn't the same Tim Curry who is the Sweet Transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania, is it? That would be strange.
No, it's not! I looked him up. Now I feel a little dim.
How can such an apparently (completely unbiased) win such historic victories?(har har har)
Eighteen months ago, the Senate Democrats brandished the threat of filibuster, or endless debate, to block ten of Bushs judicial nominees from getting confirmation votes. (Which as so named never ends so it seems)
Minority rules! was the triumphant principle for the Democrats as they expertly(snorty snort snort) played defense.
Success in using filibuster
"Our campaign to stop Bush's "extremist" nominees has been extraordinarily successful so far, ( nose grows as being said) boasted a Nov. 12, 2003 e-mail from Moveon.org, the (really far) left-leaning Democratic group.
Miguel Estrada, who was widely thought to be President Bush's top pick for the Supreme Court, withdrew his name from consideration after Senators filibustered his nomination, supported by more than 40,000 phone calls from MoveOn members.
So at what point did Bush turn the tide and begin the comeback that ultimately clinched victory for Alito?
You might pick as the most significant date May 9, 2003 when Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist offered Senate Resolution 138, which would made it easier to stop filibusters, by lowering the number of votes needed to stop one from 60 to 51.
(SNIP)
The author is Tom Curry, not Tim Curry.
Interesting trivia: Tim Curry was the original choice to be the Joker in the original Batman.
The money quote. If there are any Dims reading this...
Learn it.
Live it.
Love it.
We won, you lost, get over it.
I typed too fast when posting the article.
Thanks for the ping,C.
You're very welcome! : )
If you have FR friends you routinely ping to, please send this to them.
Here's an interesting take on the Alito triumph.
tooo funny...
A big Amen to that, sister!
Excellent article, Clintonfatigued. Sometimes it's easy to overlook the influence that a President has when he gathers favors after supporting a vulnerable candidate in the House or Senate.
Thanks very much! If things to well, I'll be posting a similar article in the future about Bush's triumphant filling of the next Supreme Court vacancy with a another conservative.
Arlen is a moron who voted against impeachment(and Bork) based on Scotish Law.
Good article, thanks.
The way things are playing out sure seem to confirm your analysis.
I didn't say I liked Specter, and I opposed his being named to the Judiciary chair.
But he can be a real pro when he wants to be.
Ironically, he was more responsible than anyone else for putting Clarence Thomas on the court, too.
Perhaps the credit could go to the man himself...Alito performed well. He impressed moderates, like myself, with his logical answers that didn't take political sides but followed the evidence...
I don't want judges to be political...they shouldn't be!
The only truth I see regarding Specter is that he is/was beholden as are most of the members of Congress--that is why we are in such a mess..They each cover each others' backs. Party doesn't matter one bit.
I know I'm not the one who had this idea originally, but here goes anyway:
The Harriet Miers withdrawal and the nomination of Samuel Alito was another Karl Rove masterstroke. Poor Harriet was the sacrificial lamb, a stalking horse for Alito.
"So, Senator Schumer, you find Harriet Miers unqualified? Well try this guy on for size. 15 years on the appellate bench."
After the confirmation of Alito, they probably had to give Rove oxygen, he spent so much time ROFLHAO.
Nobody knows for sure. One theory is that Rove was distracted, protecting his back from the Fitzgerald investigation, and Andy Card pushed Miers at the suggestion of Laura Bush.
The nomination very nearly sank Bush for good with his conservative base. I think Alito has undone the damage, but the base will hold the President to another true conservative appointment if another opening appears. We're still 5-4 liberal on the court.
No question that Spectre can help get through nominees when he wants to. But he's rarely publicly on the conservatives' side, and he certainly didn't push for Alito until the hearings were practically a done deal. We don't know what Bush or Santorum promised, but we know what Spectre delivered--no public support of conservative nominees, that's for damn sure. Only after the Gang of Fourteen sellout did he stop foot-dragging and vocally stabbing conservatives in the back, because he knew that if the RINO squad was flailing for a way out, there was action going to happen with or without him, and he didn't like being on the ground instead of riding the tiger.
"Also, Bill Frist's willingness to use the "nuclear option" helped make this possible."
That is exactly right. That is pure and simple the only reason any conservative nominations moved, that Frist at least publicly claimed he'd play hardball. He was a big wuss who didn't force it, or we'd have all our judicial nominations through by now, too. Terrence Boyle, Bill Haynes, Brett Kavanaugh, Gerry Myers, and Henry W. Saad aren't going anywhere soon from the looks of it, either.
"Even though Frist appeared to lose to the Gang of 14, the filibuster compromise they brokered was a conservative victory in disguise. The minute members of that gang (Graham, DeWine) made it clear that the Alito nomination wasn't "extraordinary circumstances", the filibuster was off the table."
I don't think for a second the actual sellout was a victory. And Frist still lost to the RINO backstabbers, but conservatives won. What definitely did happen is that the sellout galvanized the Right into fighting RINOs publicly, forcing those RINOs who'd hoped to turn the Gang's sellout into a victory for 'moderate' nominees into vocally opposing any such thing. That red-state backstabbers on the GOP side were immediately forced to explain that they WEREN'T taking the Constitutional option off the table is significant evidence against your theory. Frist's lack of leadership before and after the sellout.
"All in all, this is one of the high points of the Bush Presidency and Senate Republicans."
Absolutely. On this we all agree--one more conservative justice, and we might just get our Constitution back.
Laura Bush picked Harriet Miers along with Andy Card.....Bushie gave his wife a wish because he loves her and he absorbed ALL the flack and shrapnel....just like a nice husband does. It will NOT happen again.
I wish I knew the truth about the Mier's nomination. I can't imagine they would have asked Mier's to take all the abuse ahe did just so they could nominate Alito. I never supported Harriet and if she did agree to be the sacrificial lamb, i'd be amazed. I also think Bush is a gentleman and would never allow her to look like such an idiot to the whole world.
Having said that, I love Alito. I have 3 cats One is Thomas, one is Robert and my new kitty is named Alito.
(He's black with the white under the neck and belly and white feet. I did'nt plan the others to be named after judges; it all just worked out. I need one more so I can have a Scalia....
Dooes one believe polls? They tend to be dependent on the way questions are asked. Even those who, for instance, are unhappy with Bush's handling of the war, will perfer him over his opponents. What do they offer as an alternative? Nothing, or nothing good.
Dubya has solidly delivered on his judicial nominees, as well as national defense and tax cuts. Although he needs to fight harder for the latter, to make 'em permanent!
save for later read.
Thus the most significant date of all is Nov. 2, 2004, the day that, thanks to efforts by National Republican Senatorial Committee chief Sen. George Allen, GOP strategist Dick Wadhams and others, the Republicans scored a net gain of four seats in the Senate.
Yup.
But we need another 7 just to counteract the RINOS to get something done.
I have a fantasy of GWB calling all the Senate RINOS into the oval office and reading them the riot act. He then gives them 5 minutes to decide if they are with him or against him.
Outside is 7 limos ready to take them to the DNC if they so decide to bolt.
I think there are many on this website who post, that would volunteer to drive the limos.....
> One falsehood is the implication that Chuckie Schumer and the Dems shot down Miers. No. We shot down Miers
I think Miers was offered as a sacrifice. After the slaughter, they weren't going to get away with it again during Alito's hearing. Though BFT was allowed to make a fool of himself.
"One falsehood is the implication that Chuckie Schumer and the Dems shot down Miers. No. We shot down Miers, by doing the background research that Bush and his advisers, notably Andy Card, failed to do. She was a disaster. That was one of the things that stiffened Bush's spine, I believe, and encouraged him to do what was, indeed, the single best thing he has done in office: put Roberts and Alito on the Supreme Court."
Strategery. The base needed to be fired up for the midterm elections. Bush has taken so many hits from the leftists for the last five years. To Bush, nominating Miers fired up the base and Bush is a big boy. He knew he could take the heat from the Right and it wouldn't affect him.
Plus Miers is a friend of his. She didn't have to do too much. Go around, shake some hands, answer a question of two and sit back and let politics take its course. She was never embarrassed by anyone, her personal life was never attacked. Plus, she knew she wasn't qualified.
When all was said and done, we got Alito and Miers is back home tending to her garden with a big ole note from GW saying "thanks for taking one for the team. Love ya, George"
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