Posted on 06/02/2009 9:05:20 AM PDT by libravoter
Conservatives are demanding that Senate Republicans take a harder line on Sonia Sotomayor, with new signs of tension between the Hill GOP and elements of the Republican base over the direction the opposition should move in the Supreme Court fight.
In a letter to be delivered to Senate Republicans Tuesday, more than 145 conservatives – including Grover Norquist, Richard Viguerie and Gary Bauer — call for a filibuster of Sotomayor’s nomination if that’s what it takes to force a “great debate” over judicial philosophy.
But in an interview with POLITICO, Manuel Miranda – who orchestrated the letter – went much farther, saying that Mitch McConnell should “consider resigning” as Senate minority leader if he can’t take a harder line on President Barack Obama’s first Supreme Court nominee.
Miranda accused McConnell of being “limp-wristed” and “a little bit tone deaf” when it comes to judicial nominees.
Miranda, now the chairman of the conservative Third Branch Conference, served as counsel to McConnell’s predecessor, then-Senate Republican Leader Bill Frist. He left that job in 2004 amid allegations that he improperly accessed thousands of memos and emails from Democratic staffers – circumstances McConnell’s supporters recalled as they pushed back hard against Miranda’s arguments Monday.
“It’s unfortunate that one disgraced former employee of previous Senate leadership has decided to air out his grievances rather than join the conservative effort to examine Judge Sotomayor’s record,” said a senior GOP Senate aide. “Not only did this guy steal the Democrats’ playbook, he seems to be implementing it.”
The conservatives’ letter and the dust-up over Miranda’s comments come just as Senate Republicans hoped to regain control over the GOP message on Sotomayor...
Read more: "Right demands tougher fight on Sonia Sotomayor - POLITICO.com" - http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/23212.html#ixzz0HHz4ZeTS&A
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
we need to become as good at rolling them as the Kos Kids are at rolling the Obama administration.
Sign the petition at www.stopsotomayor.com.
Sotomayor has more red flags than a May Day celebration.
Tough fight?
Hell, I’d take a regular ol’ fight at this point.
“Limp-wristed” is right. I can’t remember the last time they were tough on anything.
I’m sure all the libertarian Republicans who preach the raceless world ideology are just raring to take after Sotamayor. lots of sarcasm intended.
The real objective should be to educate the public that elections have consequences.
Scream from the roof tops how Anti - American and Anti - Constitution she is.
I know it requires Balls and work by those " conservatives" in congress.
Call me crazy, but I think there’s some good cop-bad cop thingy going on between the Republicans and conservatives. Republicans will let conservatives do the attacking, while they themselves will be controlled but is building up steam for the hard questions when the confirmation comes around.
Bork her!
Mitch McConnell is rapidly becoming more and more part of the problem rather than the solution.
The Republicans badly need new Senate leadership. McConnell’s pantywaist approach will assure another abysmal election cycle in 2010.
Surely I'm not the only one who thinks that Mitch presents a rather androgynous appearance. Insufficient testosterone perhaps.
Bravo to Manuel Miranda. He may be the ideal individual to attack the racist Sotomayor. Hallelujah that true conservatives are taking the fight to the GOP spineless leadership!
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