Posted on 07/03/2006 6:01:20 AM PDT by new yorker 77
In coming weeks, Republicans on Capitol Hill plan for the first major push on judges since Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. were confirmed to the Supreme Court.
In the nearly six months since Justice Alito was confirmed, only 14 federal judges have been seated. That's the slowest six-month period since early 2004, according to documents kept by the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Policy.
The plans for renewed emphasis on judges comes after a consortium of conservative leaders expressed deep displeasure with both the White House and Republican leaders on Capitol Hill in recent months over the slowed pace of confirmations.
"We write to remind you of your duty, but also because we are concerned that if the Majority that assured the confirmation votes of Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito lose just one seat in the next election, the future of the Supreme Court and the federal appellate bench will again be imperiled by the use of filibusters," the conservatives wrote in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell and other Republican leaders in the body.
In particular, said the conservatives led by former Frist aide Manuel Miranda, Republicans' best hopes for keeping their majority in the Senate could rest on the issue of judges.
"We write because we fear that the Majority is ignoring the impact of the nominations debate on its ability to gain the support of those small margins of voters that the Majority needs to secure unobstructed confirmations," they wrote.
The 83 signers of the letter also include such conservative icons as Paul Weyrich, Alan Keyes, Richard Viguerie, Abigail Thernstrom, David A. Keene, L. Brent Bozell III and Bill Donohue.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
I like it.
---too many Senators need to grow a backbone for this to happen--
But. But. But. What about the five week mid summer recess that begins August 1?
---too many Senators need to grow a backbone for this to happen--
and a brain.
Bush can appoint a million judges, but it doesn't mean squat if the Senate won't hold confirmation hearings. Someone needs to kick Frist's ass and tell him to CLOSE, CLOSE, CLOSE!
We can't put too many conservatives on the bench. It wouldn't be fair. Our compassionate president doesn't want to make these socialists feel left out. (sarcasm)
Seriously just watch. As I have said from the 1st day GW took office there will be no true conservative Supreme Court when he leaves. W/O our outcry GW would have had that loser, Harriet Meirs, on the court.
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