Posted on 05/06/2003 12:40:41 PM PDT by Stand Watch Listen
Edited on 04/23/2004 12:05:33 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
This week, the Senate marks a dismal political anniversary: Two years of partisan obstruction of President Bush's judicial nominees, culminating in two unprecedented filibusters. More are threatened. Never before has the judicial confirmation process been so broken, and the constitutional principles of judicial independence and majority rule so undermined.
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
'Gaffes' and Personal Destruction - Compulsive borking is a symptom of the left's sickness
Source: Wall Street opinionjournal.com: Published: May 5, 2003; Author: Robert L. BartleyEnding the Democrats' Obstructionism of Judicial Nominees
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: May 05, 2003; Author: Paul M. WeyrichDemocrats plan filibuster against Texan Owen's nomination - GOP criticizes 'obstructionist' tactic
Source: The Dallas Morning News; Published: April 30, 2003; Author: Todd J. GillmanSenate Hardliners Trashing Two Centuries Of Precedent [re: judiciary]
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: April 30, 2003; Author: John NowackiTwo Judges Face the Heat [Estrada - Owen]
Source: Roll Call via National Republican Senatorial Committee; Published: April 28, 2003; Author: Mark Preston and Paul KaneA Legacy Worth Fighting For [re: judiciary]
Source: CNSNews.com Published: April 28, 2003; Author: Paul M. WeyrichThe Constitution Be Damned - Democrats try to impose a religious test on judges
Source: WSJ OpinionJournal.com; Published: April 22, 2003; Author: Brendan MiniterThe Democrats Big Plan
Source: National Review; Published: April 3, 2003; Author: Byron YorkFilibuster Si, Estrada No!
Source: Weekly Standard; Published: March 17, 2003; Author: Major GarrettTalking Nonsense - The Senate Filibuster
Source: BreakPoint with Charles Colson; Published: March 13, 2003; Author: Mark EarleyEstrada & the Dream
Source: National Review Online; Published: March 12, 2003; Author: René FonsecaPresident Calls for Action on Judicial Nominations
Source: White House Office of the Press Secretary Published: , March 11, 2003.Miguel Estrada: The President Must Take His Case To The People
Source: CNSNews; Published: March 11, 2003; Author: Paul M. WeyrichLeft-Wing Democrat U.S. Senators Thwarting The Will Of 'We The People'
Source: Toogood Reports; Published: March 10, 2003; author: Wallace HonleyEstrada and the future of the judiciary
Source: Washington Times; Published: March 10, 2003; Author: Nat HentoffSupermajority Rules?: Why the Estrada filibuster is unconstitutional
Source: Wall Street Journal; Published: , March 8, 2003; Author: Douglas W. KmiecBarbara Stanley: Hillary Barks Her Marching Orders To Democrats: Bork Miguel Estrada!
Source: Toogood Published: March 7, 2003: Author: Barbara StanleyDems: We Dont Really Want Answers from Estrada.
Source: National Review; Published: March 4, 2003; Author: Byron YorkThe Minority Democrats' War In The Senate For Control Of America
Source: Toogood Reports; Published: Febraury 28, 2003; Author: Mary MostertSenate Democrats: Filibusters Are No Longer Just For The Floor
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: February 28, 2003; Author: John NowackiSenator Leahy's Comments on Senate Floor against Estrada (26 Feb 2003) (Revised)
Source: The Congressional Record (New Search required each time); Published: 27 Feb 2003; Author: | Sen Patrick Leahy (D-VT)Ted Kennedy's Grand Design
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: February 27, 2003; Author: Robert D. NovakLinda Chavez: Republicans Need To Call Dems' Bluff On Estrada Nomination
Source: CNSNES.com; Published: February 26, 2003; Author Linda ChavezSenate Democrats Can't Get Their Facts Straight
Source: CNSNews.com ; Published: February 14, 2003; Author: John NowackiEstrada: Now Its War
Source: National Review Online; Published: February 12, 2003; Author: Byron YorkDems to Miguel Estrada: Youre Not Hispanic Enough
Source: National Review; Published; February 6, 2003, Author: Byron YorkLeahys Surprise Attack
Source: National Review Online; Published: October 9, 2002; Author: Byron YorkShedded by Judiciary: Senate Democrats cast off another appointee
Source: Wall St Journal; Published: October 9, 2002Miguel Estrada May be Next Victim Of Judiciary's 'Gang Of Ten'
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: September 09, 2002; Author: Paul M. WeyrichToward Priscilla Owen, Not Even The Pretense Of Fairness
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: August 01, 2002; Author: John NowackiThe Owen Nomination: Liberals Don't Let Truth Stand In Their Way
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: July 18, 2002; Author: John NowackiDemocrats Hold Judicial Nominations for 406 Days and Counting
Source: CNSNEWS.com; Published: June 21, 2002; Author: Christine HallJudge The Senate Judiciary Committee Not By What It Says, But What It Has Done
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: | June 06, 2002; Author: John NowackiThe Left Keeps Trying -- And Failing -- To Smear Brooks Smith
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: May 16, 2002; Author: John NowackiPickering Battle Places Congress on Verge of 'Institutional Crisis'
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: March 07, 2002; Author: Jeff JohnsonMake them pay for 'Borking': David Limbaugh rebukes spineless Republicans to support Pickering
Source: WorldNetDaily.com; Published: March 5, 2002; Author: David LimbaughThe GOP's Post-Pickering Strategy
Source: National Review Online; Published: March 1, 2002; Author: Byron YorkPickering Fight Shows Liberals At Their Worst
Source: Roll Call.com; Publblished: February 21, 2002; Author: Mort KondrackeStill Pestering Pickering
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: February 19, 2002; Author: John NowackiDismantling Democracy through Judicial Activism
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: February 12, 2002; Author:Tom Jipping'A Troubling Pattern': Ideology Over Truth In Judicial Confirmations
Source: Too Good Reports; Published: February 10, 2002; Author: Paul E. ScatesDemocrats Blast Bush Judicial Nominee
Source: CNSNEWS.com; Published: February 08, 2002; Susan JonesThe Next Big Fight: The first major judicial-confirmation battle of the Bush administration.
Source: National Review: Published: Feburary 6, 2002; Author:Byron YorkSYMPOSIUM Q: Should the Senate Take Ideology into Account in Judicial Confirmations
Source: INSIGHT magazine; Published: February 4, 2002;
Authors:
Ralph G. Neas -- YES: The ideology of nominees for the federal judiciary matters more now than ever
Roger Pilon -- NO: Since judges apply law, not make it, the Senate's concern should be with judicial temperamentWhat is the Judiciary Committee Trying to Hide?
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: January 29, 2002; Author: Thomas L. JippingBlasting Conservative Judges: Liberals Launch Their Campaign
Source: cnsnews.com; Published: January 24 2002; Author: Matt PyeattJudicial Confirmation Lies, Deception and Cover-up
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: December 11, 2001; Author: Thomas L. JippingSenator Leahy Does Not Meet His Own Standards
Source:.cnsnews.com; Published: December 07, 2001; Author: By John NowackiSenator Daschle Must Remove 'Leaky Leahy' From Judiciary Committee
Source: Too Good Reports; Published: December 4, 2001; Author: Rev. Louis P. SheldonA Disgraceful Blocking of Nominees
Source: The Wall Street Journal (ltr to ed) Published: December 3, 2001Mr. Leahy's Fuzzy Math
Source: Washington Times;Published: December 3, 2001; Author: EditorialSen. Patrick Leahy; Our Constitutional Conscience?
Source: Too Good Reports; Published: December 2, 2001; Author: Paul E. ScatesJudicial confirmations called significantly low
Source: Washington Times; Published: November 30, 2001; Author: Audrey HudsonPatrick Leahy - Words Do Kill
Source: PipeBombNews.com; Published: November 29, 2001; Author: William A. MayerJudicial Profiling
Source: The Wall Street Journal; Published: November 27, 2001Sen. Leahy's judicial hostages
Source: Washington Times; Published: November 21, 2001Judges Delayed is Justice Denied
Source: CNSNews.com ; Published: November 20, 2001; Author: Thomas L. JippingPartisanship is Prevalent with Leahy's Judicial Confirmations
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: November 15, 2001; Author: John NowackiLeahy And Daschle Are Coming Face To Face With Their Own Words
Obedient Democrats
Source: CNSNEWS.com; Published October 26, 2001; Author: Thomas L. JippingWhy is Daschle Blocking Judges needed to Try Terrorists when we Catch them?
Source: Banner of Liberty; Published: October 26, 2001; Author: Mary MostertPat Leahy's Passive Aggressive Game
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: October 25, 2001; Author: John NowackiOperation Obstruct Justice
Source: Washington Times; Published: October 25, 2001; Author: T.L.JippingDaschle wins struggle over judicial nominations
Source: The Washington Times; Published: Oct 24, 2001; Author: Dave BoyerLeahy doctrine ensures judicial gridlock
Source: Washington Times; Published October 22, 2001Senate's judicial powergrab: Tom Jipping tracks Dems' assault on courts
Source: WorldNetDaily.com; Published: June 28, 2001; Author: Tom JippingDems Will Shut Down Judicial Confirmations
Source: CNSNews.com Commentary from the Free Congress Foundation; Published: June 13, 2001; Author: Thomas L. Jipping
Where are the Republican ads on Univision over this? No money or no spine?
Hear, hear. I got my monthly solicitation from the RNC and sent it back empty with notations, circling the BS about needing to support W, noting "why me when the Senate GOP does not?". I said further that W's reelection committee will get all the $$ I can afford and the RNC gets zilch until Estrada/Owens are confirmed. I said a whole lot more, too. It felt good. Hope it does some good....
Sen. Charles Schumer advocates an overhaul of the nomination process by eliminating the president's appointment power and instead giving President Bush and Sen. Daschle "equal roles in picking the judge-pickers."
As if anyone will believe that was Schumer's idea. Little Tommy put him up to it, dontcha know. The rats will never understand that the Constitution 'aint broke' and doesn't need any 'fixing'. They just need to suck it up and call for the vote.
This [the filibustering] is a problem that must be solved, one way or another, within the Senate. The cleanest way is for a Senator to raise a Point of Order during the debate on Estrada or Owen, that "The Cloture Rule cannot be applied to a judicial confirmation because it violates Article II, Section 2, clause 2, which provides for a simple majority decision on such nominations."
For this important purpose, Dick Cheney should be in the Chair as President of the Senate. He then rules without debate (since Points of Order are non-debatable), that, "Rule XXII cannot be applied to judicial nominations because it violates the majority vote requirement."
Rulings of the Chair can only be overturned by a majority vote of the Senators present. Since the Democrats cannot muster a majority against such a ruling, the filibuster will then be dead for all time with respect to all judicial nominees. Then, if the Democrats don't like that result, they can take it to court and be pitched out on their ears.
Sounds good to me.
This subcomittee strikes me as a good idea. It will force the Democrats into the open -- having to somehow defend their actions. The question is whether Cornyn will get any media coverage for his efforts.
only two have failed so far to get an up/down vote... Estrada/Owen. All isn't lost. Exactly. This is a game, folks. It's a charade being put on by the Democrats to show their base what tough, principled liberals they are. They obstruct two judges, the press reports only on the two judges, and the Democrats out in the hinterlands think their courageous Senators are out there fightin' crime on their behalf. Meanwhile, the last time I looked, Bush has gotten 122 judges confirmed. There are 83 still to go, so we're 60% of the way there. If that's coming as a surprise to anyone, welcome to the wonderful world of Democratic Media, where Democrats always win. You wouldn't believe the media if they told you the war was a quagmire; don't believe everything you read on this, either. Frist will continue to schedule cloture votes on Estrada and Owen, and the Democrats will continue to score Great Victories, which will be promptly trumpeted in the media. In return for this, everybody else gets through. Please cool all jets. The object of this game is not to ram through two judges. It's to get 205 of them confirmed. This is happening as we speak, no matter what the media is telling you. Remember, it's not the media's job to tell you what's going on. The media's job is to trumpet the accomplishments of Democrats, and to tell you horrible things about Republicans. If you need anything else, you'll just have to track it by yourself. You can do that here. The time will come to raise serious Holy Hell about Estrada and Owen, but right now we only need enough Holy Hell to make it sound like we're suffering pain. We gotta do that or the Democrats will have to pick a third judge to screw with. So long as we suffer and moan over the two they're already blocking, the media charade works and the Democrats are happy. As for altering the rules on filibusters, let's be careful what we wish for. The Democrats ran the Congress for 40 years, and the filibuster was all we had. We may need it again someday. |
I had a few "personal" run-ins with him when he was the AG in Texas -- trying to get dead-beat parents to belly up to the bar so the public dole wasn't used unnecessarily. It eventually got better but, although Cornyn's office claimed massive amounts of credit, IMHO, osmosis and bad publicity was the main reason his office got off the dime.
Cornyn is a great bureaucrat and a fair TV personality and "might" one day turn into a fair politician . . . but, based on my experiences, he's got the cojones of a white-tailed doe.
Wow, I guess so. You heard something, eh? Damn, I did not know that.
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