Patty Murray's Hostage

The American Spectator ^ | June 6, 2003 | The Prowler

[bruinbirdman]

Democrats in the Senate aren't just filibustering President Bush's judicial nominees. They're also blocking a number of his political nominations.

Perhaps the biggest head-scratcher is the hold up on Office of Management and Budget deputy director-designate Clay Johnson.

Johnson, who has been friends with President Bush since college, was put up for nomination several months ago. At that time, Sen. Robert Byrd placed a hold on the nomination, citing Clay's allegedly testy relationship with organized labor.

"Byrd is a slave to the unions, and would do just about anything for them," says a Senate Republican leadership staffer.

Earlier this week Byrd surrendered his hold and for a few hours it appeared that Johnson might actually receive a fair hearing, perhaps even a vote in committee. But no sooner did Bobby Byrd relent than Sen. Patty Murray of Washington stepped in to place a hold on the nomination. The reason? Demands that the Department of Homeland Security pony up $58 million to help pay for port security in Murray's home state.

"It may be that Byrd had real issues with Johnson, because of the way he tried to outsource government work to private firms," says the Senate leadership staffer, referring to Johnson's previous job as White House presidential personnel director. But the Murray hold makes little sense beyond the notion, held by some White House staffers and Republicans on the Hill, that Murray is simply trying to hold a Bush associate for ransom.

"This appears to be a new Democrat approach to dealing with us," said a White House staffer who does some work on the Hill. "If they think they can hold every Bush nominee hostage and get what they want, then they're wrong about this president. It's been more than two years and they still don't know how this guy ticks."

Republicans in the Senate are still discussing ways to move the nominations that have lain fallow in committees, both judicial and political. In all, more than 70 nominations are being delayed by Democratic obstructionists.

[mdittmar]

Byrd is a slave to the unions,yuck,yuck

[RoseofTexas]

"Republicans in the Senate are still discussing ways to move the nominations that have lain fallow in committees, both judicial and political. In all, more than 70 nominations are being delayed by Democratic obstructionists".

Can you SPINELESS PUBS!! Of course those RATS ain't gonna follow the rules when you yourself don't!! A filibuster means ALL DAY and ALL NIGHT, every hour of the day making the RATS lives miserable!! WHAT part don't they understand!! The pubs didn't strike when the iron was hot now they have to live with it!! Suffer you spineless idiots! You would have had the RATS by the nuts by now if you won't have CHICKENED out on a truly mean FILIBUSTER!! To the republicans the majority title means minority status! SO SAD :(

[Astronaut]

Patty Murray is an idiot. An IDIOT! She brings shame to the decent people of Washington, because she only represents the unwashed extreme liberal fringe of people in our state. I believe she is up for re-election in 2004, and I really hope the tired old "mom in tennis shoes" routine doesn't bamboozle the sheeple again.

[freekitty]

I know Clay Johnson and he is a very nice and smart man. He is from Fort Worth, Texas.

[harpu]

The only way the pubbies cowardly majority will control the senate is for Dashole to be defeated - summarily - in 2004 and then the rats may see the writing on the wall.

[CPT Clay]

I see Daschle, Reid(NV),Grahmn(FL),Hollings, and Edwards(NC) all losing their seats in "04. With any luck the sweep could continue to Washington state!!!!To get even luckier... Lincoln, a 1st term from Ark, Bahye(sp)Ind and Finegold in WI could also fall. Russ dosent accept $$ form PAC's. Good candidates could make CA,NY,ND,OR competetive.
Georgia looks like a pickup.
Ill looks like a loss
AK could be close it is a Dem target.

[11B3]

Patty Murray's biggest problem is she (C)an't (U)nderstand (N)ormal (T)hinking. And always will be. I don't care who runs against her - they've got my vote.

[MaggieMay]

This is Osama bin Mama. Yes, Patty believes the reason Islam love bin Ladin is the infrastructure, daycare....he has given the Arab world. I just hope and pray we can get rid of her in 2004, she is a idiot socialist and treasonous a$$.

[MaggieMay]

bump