Posted on 02/11/2006 6:52:52 PM PST by new yorker 77
WASHINGTON -- Claude A. Allen, President Bush's domestic policy adviser and previously a Cabinet secretary in Virginia, has resigned his White House post.
"Although this is a difficult decision, it is the best decision for my family," he wrote Bush on Wednesday in a letter released by the White House.
Allen, 45, was tapped in January 2005 for the adviser's post. A staunch social conservative, he previously had served since May 2001 as deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
On Monday, he briefed Washington news media on the president's fiscal 2007 budget.
"The message I want to leave with you today is that, as far as the administration's proposals are concerned, when we look at core safety-net programs that impact low-income individuals, the state of the union is not only strong, but in this area the programs are effective and are working," he said.
A former state secretary of health and human resources under Gov. Jim Gilmore, Allen became known as an advocate of federal spending to promote abstinence until marriage and as a foe of abortion rights.
Bush picked Allen for a seat on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2003, but that nomination stalled in the Senate. Among liberal groups lining up in opposition to the black Republican was the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Bush said in a statement yesterday that during the past year, Allen "has helped develop policies that will strengthen our nation's families, schools and communities. Claude is a good and compassionate man, and he has my deep respect and my gratitude."
...
(Excerpt) Read more at timesdispatch.com ...
That link has not been updated.
It also does not show that Susan Neilson was confirmed last year.
I would not hold firm to this website.
It was the first one I linked to.
He was threatened with a filibuster.
Committee Vote or Floor Vote is irrelevant.
His nomination was stalled and threatened by liberals.
That's a filibuster.
Judge Susan B. Neilson
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Confirmed October 27, 2005
http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/judicialnominees/neilson.html
It was the first one I linked to.
Nominated to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but was filibustered by Senate Democrats.
http://www.nndb.com/people/610/000101307/
That's the Chuck Schumer argument.
No floor vote is no filibuster.
Sorry, stalling a nomination with threat of filibuster is a filibuster.
Bush Names New White House Domestic Policy Advisor
January 6, 2005 - Thursday
"Mr. Allen had been nominated to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals where his nomination was filibustered by Senate Democrats."
http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=PR05A02&f=PR04J07
You can't filibuster something that never got out of committe. Hatch never brought his name up for a committee vote.... Thus there was no floor debate to filibuster about.
He most likely would have been filibusted had he made it to the floor. But Hatch never gave him that opportunity.
What's the difference?
He's not on the bench because of Senate Democrats threat to filibuster.
Claude Allen was filibustered by Senate Democrats.
Take a look at the bench. He's not there. A Filibuster.
Clint - This is what I'm talking about.
That's right .. because THEY didn't have anything to do with his advancing.
Sick! These people are sick. Such a brilliant mind - what a shame.
The difference is the truth.... A senate filibuster never occurred.
Yes they most likely would have filibustered him and may well have been successful had he be given a floor debate. But no floor debate occurred as Hatch never gave him a Committee vote thus his named was never sent to the full Senate...
THEY HAD A PICNIC FOR ALLEN
Claude Allen's nomination ran into the toughest opposition from Maryland's two Democratic senators, who maintained the Virginian was unfairly chosen for a seat previously occupied by a Marylander.
Other critics branded Claude Allen as a conservative extremist and questioned whether he had adequate experience for an appeals judgeship. But supporters contended Allen was getting unfair criticism from liberal interest groups and would adhere to the rule of law if confirmed.
Sen. Paul Sarbanes, a Democrat and Maryland's senior senator, has signaled no yielding in his all-out opposition to the Virginian's nomination.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031779147891&path=!news&s=1045855934842
You're essentially right. It was a de-facto filibuster, even if the 'Rats never had to talk.
Allen's departure from public life is the public's loss. Hopefully, he'll be back in a few years.
But it may not be the Merriam-Webster definition of a filibuster according to the Queen's English circa 1682.
Claude Allen was filibustered.
Yep.... A fight amongst the Senators over which state the nominee should be from....
Not a filibuster.... No cloture vote, no floor debate.
You must be the life of the party.
I know Claude Allen would not welcome your attitude after being filibustered by Senate Democrats as shown in numerous publications.
Show me the cloture vote. Better yet show me the Judicial Committee vote on Allen.
The truth ..... just the facts will do.
The profile page says there WAS a filibuster.
Words used to mean something. The Senate demanding 60 votes to okay a judicial appointment means that cloture is not possible, which is what ends a filibuster. What was missing was talking on the Senate floor without stop to avoid a vote to confirm. Republican leadership was missing when there was no demand to follow historical tradition. The fact he didn't make it out of committee means there was opposition from Republicans so a majority vote was not possible. All IMHO.
I don't think so. The guy sounds like he's tired of 14 hour days. No time with his kids. No time with his wife. This is also why a lot of elected people get divorced.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.