Reid Warns of Filibuster Over Owen

Political Wire ^ | September 17, 2005

[RWR8189]

Robert Novak reports Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) "has informed" Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) "that Federal Appeals Court Judge Priscilla Owen will be filibustered if President Bush names her to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court.

"Republican senators are divided on whether former Texas Supreme Court Justice Owen is vulnerable because she underwent a filibuster for the appellate seat and was confirmed under the compromise agreement. Frist is known to believe Owen can be confirmed in the face of a filibuster.

"Republican Senate strategists believe Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is the only possible Bush nominee to replace O'Connor who would not face a filibuster."

The AP says President Bush "extended invitations Friday to key Senate leaders to meet at the White House next week to discuss" the O'Connor's spot on the bench.

[RWR8189]

The Nuclear Option: Or How Bill Frist Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Bomb.

 

[Mr. Mojo]

Alas, RINOs prevent nukes from being deployed.

[RWR8189]

We don't need the RINOS.

Warner, DeWine, and Graham have all indicated that they will invoke the constitutional option if Democrats unfairly filibuster.

All we need is two from those three.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

If the RATS are going to filibuster anyway, Dubya should go the whole nine yards and nominate Janice Rogers Brown.

[dennisw]

Linda Graham will punk out.

[Deetes]

Pick the fight. Give the Rats the big F bomb. ;-)

[beyond the sea]

Searchlight Harry is going to need that light to get out of his dim liberalism.

[California Patriot]

We should welcome a filibuster, because that is the only way to get the nuclear option. And the nuclear option, eliminating the judicial filibuster, is the only way we can possibly get a sure fifth vote on the Supreme Court, which would (could) occur when (if) Stevens or Ginsburg retires.

[SoDak]

Let me put this delicately...pound sand Harry.

[Proud_texan]

"Dubya should go the whole nine yards and nominate Janice Rogers Brown."

But before nominating Brown he should nominate Bork. After all the Rats heads blow up Brown would be easier.

[msnimje]

Reid had a minor stroke shortly after John Roberts was nominated to the Supreme Court.

What size stroke will he have after Judge Owens is nominated??

[msnimje]

If the RATS are going to filibuster anyway, Dubya should go the whole nine yards and nominate Janice Rogers Brown.

The whole nine yards would be Michael Luttig. He would be better than JRB but he is a white male, 50 years old and long time close friend of John G. Roberts.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

We don't need the RINOS.

Arlen Specter wasn't in the Gang of Fourteen, was he? And yet he's pro-Wade. Republicans may have 55 senators in name, but the median senator is still pretty squishy.

The Dems probably can't fillibuster Roberts, which is why he was good to put in place of Rhenquist. But O'Connor resigned "effective when her replacement is confirmed" - and as a practical matter that could easily turn out to be a non-resignation. There are 9 justices on the bench even if the Senate doesn't confirm a replacement; O'Connor hasn't made herself unavailable. It's not obvious that the median senator would vote to replace O'Connor with someone Bush - never mind conservatism_IS_compassion - would want.

[Tall_Texan]

I think I have a name the Democrats shouldn't *dare* filibuster if Bush were to nominate him. He's a white male Republican and yet he's a minority.

He's been on the Texas Supreme Court and is presently serving as the state's Attorney General. His name is Greg Abbott.

While Abbott is no better than many other qualified jurists Bush could pick, he has one advantage that could force the Dems to hold back their venom. He is confined to a wheelchair - partially paralyzed after a tree fell on him while exercising.

Are the Democrats going to allow themselves to be seen "beating up on a cripple" - particularly the first mobility-impaired American to be nominated to the Supreme Court? Surely, the ever-so-sensitive Democrats would rather lynch another black nominee than have to destroy a man already bound to a wheelchair.

Even if the Dems succeed in killing his nomination, they are going to lose more voters if they do, particularly women who instinctively have sympathy for those with physical limitations.

Unfortunately, I don't know enough about his positions on pro-life issues but, other than stem-cell research, the handicapped are often among the strongest pro-lifers because they realize how quickly the slippery slope of "quality of life" arguments falls down to their level when it comes to who gets to live or die.

It would be the sort of nomination that would so throw the liberals off guard that they would either overplay their hand opposing him or stand back because of the PR damage such attacks might cause.

It would once again show Bush outsmarting the Dems by thinking outside the box. While nominating Brown, Owen or an Hispanic creates problems for the Dems, they already have their opposition research done and will be loaded for bear as they were when these were previously nominated for appellate positions. Abbott will be somebody they'd have to scramble to find dirt on.

[Sandy]

O'Connor resigned "effective when her replacement is confirmed" - and as a practical matter that could easily turn out to be a non-resignation.

She expected to be replaced by October. She's not going to stick around.

[rdb3]

The whole nine yards would be Michael Luttig. He would be better than JRB but he is a white male, 50 years old and long time close friend of John G. Roberts.

I can't see how he would be heads and shoulders above Justice Brown. Both are rock solid.

If you want a Google GMail account, FReepmail me.
They're going fast!

[gulfcoast6]

I agree. Remember the song 'My bucket got a hole in it and it don't hold no beer'? Well the dims got one of them leaky buckets and hey are going to come out empty when it is all over UNLESS Frist caves.

[Bommer]

Court Judge Priscilla Owen will be filibustered if President Bush names her to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court.

All the more the reason to name Janice Rogers Brown! Let them slit their own throats!

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Green glass sand that is

[Prophet in the wilderness]

" Are the Democrats going to allow themselves to be seen "beating up on a cripple" - particularly the first mobility-impaired American to be nominated to the Supreme Court? Surely, the ever-so-sensitive Democrats would rather lynch another black nominee than have to destroy a man already bound to a wheelchair. " ...................

The first rule that you need to remember about the Democrats, is ? " Double Standard " is their middle name.
The Democrats by the media and other Democrats are held to a different standard than the rest of us.
The Democrats will disqualify him from the Supreme Court BECAUSE he is handicapped, while conveniently forgetting that their own once held the highest office in the land. FDR, but, if you were to call them on that, they will conveniently say " welllllllllllll ....... that was a different age and time, and different circumstance "