Senate Republicans are frustrated by what they see as an imbalance in the number of judicial nominees congressional Democrats have approved compared to the number of nominees Republican-held bodies have approved while a Democrat occupied the White House.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania Republican, has hinted that he might shut down the Senate if more nominees are not marshaled through.
Specter said during the last two years of the Clinton's administration, 15 circuit judges were confirmed, well below the six who have been approved thus far during the last two years of the Bush administration. He also said that during the last two years of President Clinton's administration, 57 district judges were confirmed while thus far only 34 have been approved during President Bush's last two years. Specter wants to play catch-up.
"There is consideration being given to a variety of responses to this kind of conduct by the majority, and we all know any one senator can tie up this body unilaterally because this place functions on unanimous consent and waivers of a lot of technical rules," Arlen Specter said Tuesday on the Senate floor. "That would be, perhaps, even more disastrous. But, we have to find a way out of this, I suggest, because it is totally unacceptable to continue as it is running today."
Yesterday the Senate Judiciary committee approved Catharina Haynes to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and Rebecca Ann Gregory as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, however, Specter still hasn't ruled out making a drastic move such as shutting down the Senate.
— Carrie Sheffield, Web editor, The Washington Times
Comments (4)
It's a little bit late to make a stand. July 2005 was the point of critical mass. Specter and the rest of Republicans (including McCain) became part of the swarm in that year. Now they have no leverage against a world with the highest amount of uncertainty, 50/50. There are no General Petraeus' in the Senate.
Posted by Larry Stone | April 4, 2008 11:14 AM
The Republicans quit on confirming judges even before they lost the Senate in 2006. They did not push for any federal judges after gaining the confirmations of Roberts and Alito. That is one of a number of reasons why so few Republicans are making campaign contributions now.
Posted by Bill Wilcox | April 4, 2008 2:25 PM
DON'T BE DUPED !!!
Large numbers of Republicans have been voting for Barack Obama in the DEMOCRATIC primaries, and caucuses from early on. Because they feel he would be a weaker opponent against John McCain. And because they feel that a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket would be unbeatable. And also because with a Clinton and Obama ticket you are almost 100% certain to get quality, affordable universal health care very soon.
But first, all of you have to make certain that Hillary Clinton takes the democratic nomination and then the Whitehouse. NOW! is the time. THIS! is the moment you have all been working, and waiting for. You can do this America. �Carpe diem� (harvest the day).
I think Hillary Clinton see�s a beautiful world of plenty for all. She is a woman, and a mother. And it�s time America. Do this for your-selves, and your children�s future. You will have to work together on this and be aggressive, relentless, and creative. Americans face an even worse catastrophe ahead than the one you are living through now.
You see, the medical and insurance industry mostly support the republicans with the money they ripped off from you. And they don�t want you to have quality, affordable universal health care. They want to be able to continue to rip you off, and kill you and your children by continuing to deny you life saving medical care that you have already paid for. So they can continue to make more immoral profits for them-selves.
Hillary Clinton has actually won by much larger margins than the vote totals showed. And lost by much smaller vote margins than the vote totals showed. Her delegate count is actually much higher than it shows. And higher than Obama�s. She also leads in the electoral college numbers that you must win to become President in the November national election. HILLARY CLINTON IS ALREADY THE TRUE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE!
As much as 30% of Obama's primary, and caucus votes are Republicans trying to choose the weakest democratic candidate for McCain to run against. These Republicans have been gaming the caucuses where it is easier to vote cheat. This is why Obama has not been able to win the BIG! states primaries. Even with Republican vote cheating help.
Hillary Clinton has been OUT MANNED! OUT GUNNED! and OUT SPENT! 4 and 5 to 1. Yet Obama has only been able to manage a very tenuous, and questionable tie with Hillary Clinton.
If Obama is the democratic nominee for the national election in November he will be slaughtered. Because the Republican vote cheating help will suddenly evaporate. All of this vote fraud and republican manipulation has made Obama falsely look like a much stronger candidate than he really is. YOUNG PEOPLE. DON�T BE DUPED! Think about it. You have the most to lose.
The democratic party needs to fix this outrage. I suggest a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket. Everyone needs to throw all your support to Hillary Clinton NOW! So you can end this outrage against YOU the voter, and against democracy.
I think Barack Obama has a once in a life time chance to make the ultimate historic gesture for unity, and change in America by accepting Hillary Clinton�s offer as running mate. Such an act now would for ever seal Barack Obama�s place at the top of the list of Americas all time great leaders, and unifiers for all of history.
The democratic party, and the super-delegates have a decision to make. Are the democrats, and the democratic party going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee to fight for the American people. Or are the republicans going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee through vote fraud, and gaming the DEMOCRATIC party primaries, and caucuses.
Fortunately the Clinton�s have been able to hold on against this fraudulent outrage with those repeated dramatic comebacks of Hillary Clinton�s. Only the Clinton�s are that resourceful, and strong. Hillary Clinton is your NOMINEE. They are the best I have ever seen.
�This is not a game� (Hillary Clinton)
Sincerely
jacksmith...
Posted by jacksmith | April 4, 2008 7:07 PM
There is still time to give hearings for the pending nominees, and the Republicans in the Judiciary Committee are doing the right thing by making this a big issue. The nominees deserve hearings, up or down. Curt Levey from the Committee for Justice has an interesting article on this "Dramatic Showdown" that can be read here: http://www.committeeforjustice.org/blog/2008/04/todays-dramatic-showdown-over-judges.html
Posted by Nena | April 7, 2008 9:15 AM