Senator Cornyn(TX):The Constitution and the Judiciary - Where's the check on Senate filibusters?

Wall Street opinionjournal.com ^ | May 6, 2003 | Senator John Cornyn (TX)

[Catphish]

Meanwhile, the last time I looked, Bush has gotten 122 judges confirmed.

Plenty of circuit court judges have gotten through but there are judges and there are judges. The problem is at the appeals court level where the President can really put his ideological stamp on the judiciary.

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.

The Rebublicans never filibustered an appeals level appointment in all their time in the minority - not once.

[onyx]

Great post!

[EERinOK]

My new stock answer for RNC NSRC etc is now. I've been hammering every solicitation I recieve with letters of reply and $1.00 (on scale with my confidence in the new majority)

I'll contribute to individual candidates, but I have had it with the RNC and NSRC. They cite all the great things they are doing about national security like it's their job to sit on their butts and actually doing their jobs on one issue was going way out of their way..

They need to be told: The voters and supporters did their job last November. Its time for the Senate majority to do theirs.

[eureka!]

"They need to be told: The voters and supporters did their job last November. Its time for the Senate majority to do theirs."

Yep. Thanks for your efforts. I'll continue mine...

[thetruckster]

"MR. CORNYN WHAT ARE YOU PREPARED TO DO ABOUT THIS??"

I like Cornyn. He is a just and fair kind of guy who can get things done. We need more like him (who actually have some power). I'd like to see Cornyn take over doofus DeLay's spot. Cornyn, a much wiser man, can work with people instead of insulting them. DeLay needs to go back to finishing school.

[cksharks]

There is one other but I caint think who right know.

[Nick Danger]

there are judges and there are judges. The problem is at the appeals court level

I did not know that. How many appeals court nominees have been confirmed? How many were nominated? Has Bush gotten more than half through yet?

[solo gringo]

I have heard that a recess Appt.can be made and when it expires the president can appt.for life and can be confirmed by the senate only.Can some one shed some lite on this Thanks solo

[Stand Watch Listen]

Here's some's info on recess appointments.

http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL31112.pdf

[pjd]

The Republicans say they are hesitant to use this option because they afraid that the Democrats will then use it against them if the Dems get control of the Senate again.

I think that the Republicans are insane if they think that not using this now will prevent the Democrats from not using it in the future.

Just ask yourself, 'What would Daschel do?'.

[Stand Watch Listen]

Just ask yourself, 'What would Daschel do?'.

OR...perhaps what did Clinton do!

[cksharks]

Nick was trying to be a smartass but here are the three,Pryor,Kuhl, and Pickering.

[pjd]

You are right. Daschel definitely inherited his actions from Clinton.

What the Clinton years did was to 'normalize' the idea that if something isn't illegal it is ok. But what a lot of people don't realize is how damaging such a philosophy is to a free society. It means that people will then do *anything* if it's not illegal, so to have a civil society we will need laws for every conceivable action. A police state.

That is the real damage that Clinton brought us and Daschel has perpetuated.

[deport]

Yes that's the ones............ So it could be a total of five being filibustered if they get them to the floor for debate.. Pickering is available to be brought to the floor but I'm not sure if Kuhl and Pryor have completed or had committee hearings yet...........

[Nick Danger]

How many appeals court nominees have been confirmed? How many were nominated? Has Bush gotten more than half through yet?

I'm sorry, "no answer" is not correct.

You are not our new Jeopardy champion.

Vanna, let's show the people how many appeals court judges have been confirmed.

 

Court of Appeals
Nominee	Nomination	Hearing	Comments
District of Columbia Circuit
Roberts, John	5/9/01		Returned 11/20/02
Estrada, Miguel	5/9/01	9/26/02	Returned 11/20/02
First Circuit
Howard, Jeffrey	8/2/01	4/11/02	CONFIRMED
Second Circuit
Parker, Barrington	5/9/01	9/13/01	CONFIRMED
Raggi, Reena	5/1/02	8/1/02	CONFIRMED
Third Circuit
Smith, D. Brooks	9/10/01	2/26/02	CONFIRMED
Fourth Circuit
Boyle, Terrence	5/9/01		Returned 11/20/02
Gregory, Roger	5/9/01	7/11/01	CONFIRMED
Shedd, Dennis	5/9/01	6/27/02	CONFIRMED
Fifth Circuit
Owen, Priscilla	5/9/01	7/23/02	Returned 11/20/02
Clement, Edith	5/9/01	10/4/01	CONFIRMED
Pickering, Charles	5/25/01	10/18/01	Returned 11/20/02
Sixth Circuit
Cook, Deborah	5/9/01		CONFIRMED
Sutton, Jeff	5/9/01		CONFIRMED
Gibbons, Julia	10/9/01	4/25/02	CONFIRMED
McKeague, David	11/8/01		Returned 11/20/02
Neilson, Susan	11/8/01		Returned 11/20/02
Saad, Henry	11/8/01		Returned 11/20/02
Rogers, John	12/19/01	6/13/02	CONFIRMED
Griffin, Richard	6/26/02		Returned 11/20/02
Seventh Circuit
None
Eighth Circuit
Smith, Lavenski	5/22/01	5/23/02	CONFIRMED
Riley, William	5/23/01	7/24/01	CONFIRMED
Melloy, Michael	7/10/01	1/24/02	CONFIRMED
Ninth Circuit
Kuhl, Carolyn	6/22/01		Returned 11/20/02
Clifton, Richard	6/22/01	5/9/02	CONFIRMED
Bybee, Jay	5/22/02		CONFIRMED
Tenth Circuit
McConnell, Michael	5/9/01	9/18/02	CONFIRMED
Tymkovich, Timothy	5/25/01		CONFIRMED
Hartz, Harris	6/21/01	10/25/01	CONFIRMED
O'Brien, Terrence	8/2/01	3/19/02	CONFIRMED
Eleventh Circuit
Steele, William	10/9/01		CONFIRMED
Federal Circuit
Prost, Sharon	5/21/01	8/27/01	CONFIRMED