Posted on 05/03/2002 9:28:39 AM PDT by SunStar
Bush Declares Judiciary 'Crisis'
The Associated Press
Friday, May 3, 2002; 11:56 AM
WASHINGTON –– President Bush accused Senate Democrats on Friday of "endangering the administration of justice in America" by balking at many of his judicial nominees.
Declaring a vacancy crisis on the federal bench, Bush said, "Justice is at risk in America and the Senate must act for the good of the country."
The sharp challenge to the Democratic-controlled Senate reflected a mounting fight between the White House and Democrats over the shape of the federal judiciary. Democrats have objected to the nominees on many grounds, including their contention that Bush's candidates tend to be conservative.
The standoff is a warm-up for what both sides predict will be an enormous fight if Bush gets a chance to fill a Supreme Court vacancy.
Bush said he has nominated 100 candidates to the federal bench and the Senate has confirmed half. Only nine of his 30 nominees to federal appeals courts have been confirmed, Bush said. Of his first 11 nominees, announced a year ago, only three have been confirmed.
Bush said his nominees "are in the solid mainstream of American legal opinion."
He said more than 10 percent of federal judgeships are vacant. He did not mention that the shortage is partially due to Republican senators who derailed many nominees of former Democratic President Clinton.
"By its inaction, the Senate is endangering the administration of justice in America," Bush said.
"I want you all to spread the word about how serious this vacancy crisis is," Bush told lawyers and law professors at the White House.
2. Just because the Senate can establish its own rules doesn't mean you can't ask the Supremes to review it and see if Senate rules don't prevent presidential prerogatives and Senate responsibilities.
3. Number 2 would take a lot of time, too. These are options, not requirements. Besides, the sooner you get started the better in terms of getting it done.
4. Nope, what I said is that this appears to be the route he's taking. It's the fastest permanent route but not the most sure. Recess appointments would be temporarily faster.
5. I didn't say he isn't. This is a list of options. However, Bush says he won't relent on appointing strict constructionists. He'd get a liberal, Massachusetts Kennedy relative through the committee in a heartbeat, but he won't do it.
Is this for real?
Why?
Laz wrote that, and you have to ask???
Of course not!
It just occurred to me that palo verde's comments looked like great rap lyrics. :o)
Dan
Do I hear a second for "politics as usual"?
It's a crisis that could threaten the welfare ......of the children.
The only meaningful comparison to the treatment of the Bush nominees is to the first two years of previous administrations, when new presidents typically get most, if not all, of their nominees through. The Daschle-Leahy stall is despicable, deceitful, arrogant, unprecedented, unseemly, and low class, all hallmarks of their lousy tenure in public service.
Is this for real?
SunStar, may I introduce Lazamataz, Laz, this is SunStar.:-)
I could endanger the social security trust fund
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