Posted on 07/09/2005 1:22:00 PM PDT by wagglebee
(CNSNews.com) - President George W. Bush has invited a small bipartisan group of Senate leaders to the White House on Monday, July 11, Sen. Chuck Schumer is telling fellow Democrats.
"During that meeting, he (Bush) will almost certainly discuss potential nominees to the Supreme Court. I think that's an important first step in the process of meaningful consultation, but we must make sure that this is more than just a courtesy call," Schumer said in a message to fellow Democrats.
"Bush must engage in real, meaningful consultation before making any decisions," Schumer is telling "friends" of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
According to the Drudge Report, Schumer, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, recently was overhead on a cell phone, telling an ally, 'We are contemplating how we are going to go to war over this" -- "this" being Bush's upcoming Supreme Court nominee, whoever it may be.
A conservative advocacy group says because of that comment, Schumer should withdraw from the Supreme Court confirmation process.
"He has already acknowledged he won't give any likely nominee a fair hearing," said Tom Minnery of Focus on the Family's political action committee.
"Sen. Schumer went so far as to admit he's not concerned about the judicial backgrounds or qualifications of the man or woman the president ultimately selects," Minnery said.
"For him to say, 'It's not about an individual judge' but about 'the overall makeup of the court' makes it clear his only interest is in obstructing any nominee who doesn't subscribe to his brand of judicial activism."
Minnery noted that the U.S. Constitution obligates senators to offer their advice and consent on court nominees - but "all Sen. Schumer is prepared to offer is his disgust and contempt. For that reason, Minnery concluded, Schumer "should recuse himself from talking part in the confirmation process."
In his July 8 message, Schumer urged Democrats to sign a petition calling on President Bush to consult with the Senate and the American people in an effort to choose a judge who will serve the broad interests of our entire nation, not just a narrow partisan agenda."
Schumer's message says the DSCC would like to have 30,000 signatures on that petition before Monday's meeting with President Bush.
"Together, we can show George Bush that the American people want all parties to engage in the meaningful consultation that will result in a Supreme Court nominee we can all be proud of," he said.
"Meaningful consultation is not just checking names off a list or making a courtesy call with no real chance for discussion," Schumer said.
Schumer chairs the DSCC.
I don't think he should give them any names...I think he should just talk about the process with them.
All of our work since 2000 has been leading to this point. Please do not blow it.
No, I think that this is all they'll get.
Strategery at work. Sometimes W can be the Zen Master. I hope it is the case this time.
He "must"? Really?
I hope Bush invited Schumer to the meeting.
Then he can read the transcript of the cell call, to the gathered group.
He can tell the gathered group that "advise and consent" with democrats is not possible, because of Schumers attitude, eg. block anybody.
He could then tell the democrats to get the phuque out of his office.
Dear Chuckie: You and your Party are treacherous, underhanded, and lying. Why would we want to consult with you?
Schummer and Reid should BOTH shut up.
All the prez has to ask himself: If the situation were reversed, what would the demoncRATS do? Knowing their obstructionism and name-calling, Pres. Bush knows his path, and it's not the path of least resistance.
A mere courtesy, i'd bet.
The Prez knows exactly who he is dealing with, with the Dems.
The problem is a loon from Arizona and his aspiring entourage waiting to get their names in the news and get invited to have Katie sit on their lap while Matt spit shines their shoes before they face the spittle-spewing gang orgy with Chrissy Matthews
After our showing of 420,500 signatures collected by volunteers in 30 days here in the liberal state of WA that 30,000 number is pretty pathetic.
I agree, you can find 30,000 people in the US to support absolutely ANYTHING.
Nope bush will wimp and say please mastah schumer mastah reid don't beat me anymore.
DSCC = Dimocrat Senatorial Crabbiness Committee
(And you thought one of the Cs stood for Communist. Well, maybe, but look at Schumer and tell me he doesn't have something to do with crabbiness.)
I would love to be a fly on the wall and would bet Schumer is going to wish he never opened his trap. Have a hunch this meeting is going to be about the President telling them what he is going to do and telling them he expects his nominee to get an up or down vote.
Would take the advice of the democrats and let it go in one ear and out the other -- that miserable bunch of Senators haven't earned the right to open their mouths now after what they have put the President's nominees through. Reid, Schumer, Hillary, Fatso, and the rest can stuff it! If the RATs filibuster his nominees for SCOTUS, they are going to wish they never crossed this Texan. Bet also brings up the other judges that the RATs have not given an up or down vote for -- IOTW -- taking the RATs to the woodshed time!
If they don't want to play ball, that nuclear option is still on the table.
Bunch of Bravo Sierra by Schumer that Pres Bush has to consult with the American people -- he did that during the election when he said he wanted strict constructionists as his nominees not a litmus test. That's why a lot of us worked so hard to give him a second term. He already had his consultation with the American people and we picked Pres Bush over that jerk Kerry supported by Hillary and Schumer and Fatso.
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