Replies

Since the Democrats seem destined to pick up where Hussein left off, I suggest two words to end this shameful situation. Recess appointments! If the Democrats want to play hardball, lets play hardball.

I absolutely detest recess appointments, but what else is there to do. I would appoint them, then go on national televison and explain the need for it, showing the Democrats up for what they are.

I'd refer the public to a website that provided histories and credentials. Then let the Democrats explain their obstructionist B.S.

James Car-vile was right about one thing, this is definately war!

Recess appointments are not the solution for the judiciary. Recess appointments only last until the end of the current Congress. In the unlikely event that Bush were defeated, all of those seats would be open for a Dem president to fill immediately.

I think Hatch started showing the Republicans plan in committee the other day, when he ignored the blue slip issue for Carolyn Kuhn. I think the Republicans will find a way to work around the filibuster issue and confirm these judges anyway. One idea floated that has merit would be to have a Republican senator raise a point of order during the debate on Estrada, challenging the use of the filibuster against judges on Constitutional grounds. With Cheney sitting as president of the Senate, he could then rule that a filibuster on judicial nominees was out of order, and proceed to an up or down vote. The Dems could whine, but there is nothing they could do about it, since Cheney would be the final word. The USSC wouldn't touch any court challenge. I think this is the so-called "nuclear option" mentioned by several Republican senators.