FRI. OFFICIAL CSPAN2 Thread on Senate Judicial Noms & Filibuster

[dhuss]

So the theory is a cloture motion is coming today, other votes coming monday (but doesn't look like THE vote).

Thu Threads:
1: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1793462&mesg_id=1793462
2: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1793867&mesg_id=1793867
3: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1794421&mesg_id=1794421

Wed Threads:
1: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1790507&mesg_id=1790507&page=
2: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1790750&mesg_id=1790750
3: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1791198&mesg_id=1791198&page=
4: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1791970&mesg_id=1791970

Here's the Nuclear Option procedure, for those who are wondering: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1791390&mesg_id=1791390

D.H.

[indy_azcat]

1. Mornin' dhuss!

Thanks for doing these threads!

:toast:

On edit:
Holy crap, that's 200!

yay!

:party:

[dhuss]

10. no problem...

I won't be around to much today, I have some work I REALLY need to finish.

If it makes you feel any better I totally missed my 100th... (starting this thread was my 101 :party: )

D.H.

[indy_azcat]

13. keep on an eye on the Lounge for Newyawkers MILESTONES

post to see yer name in lights then. Congrats!


:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. Happy Friday! Here....we.....go....! nt

[rodeodance]

3. thanks--i will have to tune in

[rodeodance]

5. and here is Kerry speech from yesterday

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x126576

[blondeatlast]

4. Thanks for running these! Since I can't stream at work, the

play-by-plays are very helpful.

[rodeodance]

6. some Repug saying that Brown not an extreemist

[rodeodance]

7. repug obviously do not like Deparate Housewifes

[indy_azcat]

8. strong willed women?

not liked by the repugs?

Having... S E X?

:eyes:

[rodeodance]

12. Hil. is a strong willed women

[rodeodance]

11. saying we are built on fundamental foundations of right and wrong

We are by human nature-good people.

[The Witch]

9. Saying that We have a debased debauched society

and Rodgers Brown was right: Says that the shift from "Father Knows Best" to "Desperate Housewives" on TV is proof that she was right all along and we're all sinners.

Oi. Those sinners elected you (lord knows why, though)

[Skidmore]

14. Who is this idiot going on and on about single moms

not having lobbyists (addressing something Owens is supposed to have said)? If these jersk are aware that single moms with concerns exist out there, why do they only way the concerns of paid lobbyists. This is just getting on my nerves.

[renaissanceguy]

15. Does anyone know who is going to

speak today?


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues/588704

[dhuss]

16. no, not really. but I hope our speeches are as good as yesterday n/t

D.H.

[maxrandb]

18. Media Circus Coming to Town

Apparently, Sean "Baby Jesus" Hannity is coming to DC to broadcast live starting on Tuesday. I'm sure this is arranged somehow with the RNC, so my guess is the actual "Nuke" option will be Tuesday or Wednesday.

And he has the nerve to call lawyers "ambulance chasers"

What an Attention Whore.

Say Goodbye to Democracy. How long until they declare Martial Law? Anyone think if the Dem's walk-out, Frist will have them arrested.

[The Witch]

19. According to Congressional Quarterly,

Frist will call for a cloture vote today and the vote will be scheduled for Tuesday the 24th. The button will be pushed "later the same day" according to CQ.

[rodeodance]

27. sad day it will be--

[Plausible]

20. so these judges are ambulance chases n/t

[maxrandb]

34. No

Sean Insanity is an "ambulance chaser".

Did you see how quickly he pitched his tent down there in Pinelas Park, FL.

Guess he wants a "ring-side" seat to the destruction of our country.

[The Witch]

17. Dodd: You need to be in the minority

before you can understand minority rights in the Senate.

In other words, "You folks don't know whatchoo talkin' about! Come back in 20 years!"

[The Witch]

21. Dodd talking to younger Senators

You will only have a few moments when you look back on your career that you will truly have made a difference... it'll be when you removed yourself from the passions of the day and done the right thing.

You won't remember these people in 10 years.

[rodeodance]

22. filly meant to check an aggressive executive branch-YUP

[rodeodance]

23. lots of talk of checks and balances from Dodd--oh i do hope the people

wake up and see what is happening--how our government has so little checks and balances the last few years!!

[rodeodance]

24. This discussion is good for our country--but sure hope for a positive

outcome (for the Dems)

[rodeodance]

25. says chief threat to the judicary is the President (from our

founding fathers)--they feared this cause the Pres.already has the right to nominate--but need check from Senate.

[The Witch]

26. Phrases I never want to hear again (from both sides)

"consitutional option"
"up-or-down vote"
"the senate has the right to change its own rules"
"break the rules in order to change the rules"
"minority rights"
"rubber stamp"
"out of the mainstream"
"litmus test"
ETA: "advice and consent"

[rodeodance]

28. yes, i agree--esp.. the 'upanddownvote'

[rodeodance]

29. now speaking to those who have only served under a Repug

president--says the day will come when you will serve inder a Democrat--and need to be carefull--very carefull.

[rodeodance]

30. says if you ceed power to the executive branch you will never

get it back!!--so so right on!!

[The Witch]

31. Cornhole Cornryn up now

:argh:

I can't bring myself to use the puke smiley...

[Skidmore]

32. I can't believe this guy was a judge once.

[American in Asia]

33. ugh...

shut up already! I am soooo ready to stick my fingers in my ears and start chanting "nya, nya, nya ... I can't HEAR you!" Seriously though, he is totally obnoxious to listen to. Even in the background, while trying to tune him out and read other threads, he STILL annoys the heck out of me.

[The Witch]

35. We should do it because the papers say so!

Where's the liberal media now?

[CWebster]

36. Dean said it well:

"I am tired of being lectured to about moral values by a corrupt party"

Typical airs of a white man of the Texas ruling class.

[American in Asia]

37. Carl Levin (D-Mich) up..

n/t

[American in Asia]

39. He says..

for more than a century, required unanimous consent to cut off debate. Then in 1917 went to 2/3...

History lesson - calmly given. Senate as deliberative body. How to change our rules is based on groundrules, process, that should be defended by all of us.

[realFedUp]

38. The speeches by Dems are so statesmanlike

good for the history books, and hopefully
for the continuity of democracy.

[American in Asia]

41. no rules of the Senate

should be left up to the whim of any Senate Majority leader."

Like the way he keeps using the word "fiat".

[realFedUp]

42. yeah, except I keep thinking of the car...

:-)

[CWebster]

40. Nuclear option could be used to arbitrarily change any rule.

Good point.

[American in Asia]

43. Seek to fit the rules to the occasion...

rather than the occasion to the rules." He was quoting Senator Vandenberg (sp?), but it was a good line.

[American in Asia]

44. More from vandenberg

The rules of the Senate as they exist at any given time...should not be changed substantively by the interpretive action of the Senate's presiding officer...only by the direct and conscious sanction by the senate itself, acting within the rules, or else the rules are not worth the paper they're written on..."

Dang - can't type fast enough - great speech, great quote.

[CWebster]

45. "...otherwise all the rules of the Senate aren't worth the paper

they are written on"

[indy_azcat]

46. Levin's speech text

Hee hee, calls Cheney a dictator... I like it!

See it all at:

http://levin.senate.gov/newsroom/release.cfm?id=237992

[The Witch]

Arlen Specter up

Has he said he won't vote for the option? So far he is sounding like it!

[indy_azcat]

47. Specter Up

Hmmmm... which way will it blow?

:popcorn:

[The Witch]

50. Says both parties should concede publicly that both are at fault

but says Dems are doing this as payback....
He's really pushing for compromise it seems...

[CWebster]

48. Single bullet theory Specter up. nt

[American in Asia]

49. Specter up now...

warning of "nuclear explosion' that may end the Senate as we know it, and how we can't expect Jimmy Stewart to ride in and save teh day..

Nice touch...

Asking to liberate caucuses to vote without party straightjackets.

[CWebster]

51. Did he just say Dems wanted to fillibuster for revenge

after Clinton?

[The Witch]

53. Yup, now he's using "unprecedented"

... repub talking points ... but says bush was unprecedented with interim appointments. Sounds like he wants to wash his hands of the whole deal.

[CWebster]

57. After they already gave him the majority of picks?

How conenient that he overlook that.

[CWebster]

62. lLike the way he is giving potentially bad judges a pass? nt

[CWebster]

69. Leaders should release members...

What about other interests that might be influencing politicians.

Like $$$$$$$$$ interests that might prefer the reactionary views of some candidates?

[yellowcanine]

60. Sounds like Specter is trying to have it both ways. He really thinks

limiting debate using the nuclear option is a bad idea but he doesn't want to piss off the wingnuts by saying that. Maybe he will vote "not proven".

[American in Asia]

54. both sides behaved badly starting under Reagan

True there have been filibusters, but not a PATTERN of filibusters (as now). Angry recriminations, each party trying to get even, or really, to dominate.

Obvious issue does not involve qualifications of nominees, because of offers and counter-offers of votes.

[indy_azcat]

52. Wow

- in '94 we republicans won the senate majority, we EXACERBATED the nomination delays - didn't expect that from a repub.

:wow:

[American in Asia]

Got to agree with him on this...

that if any one of them are really so unqualified, making deals that would confirm them is "repugnant".

[BR_Parkway]

58. Interesting arguement - if you don't want them, and broker a deal

then you are breaking your oath.

Asking for leaders to release from straightjacket of partyline voting, he keeps hit it - he's begging for a release.

[American in Asia]

59. good line...

though on the conscience..

he says that the dominant party is strictly voting party line, and he does not think that's appropriate when it's a matter of a rule change that so much affects the minority.

[indy_azcat]

55. He just outlined "The Deal"

1 or 2 of the 3 'to be filibustered' judges (to be dem picked) will go thru and no filibuster.

Judges being Owens, Brown, or Pryor

[Skidmore]

61. PIck your poison.

[The Witch]

56. Saying Democrats are repugnant

for offering to confirm 1 of 7 or whatever! EXCUSE ME! We're offering to VOTE on them!

[The Witch]

63. WHOA

Just said "If it has to do with rules affecting minority rights, the deciding factor should not be party lines." He might just be OK... saying that the nuclear option will hurt Senate much more than these judges will hurt law...

Now pointing out that these judges are sworn in their job description not to be activist and that their judgments are subject to correction...

:scared: Now talking about Supreme Court :scared:

[dhuss]

64. Hi Sen Specter

:hi:

D.H.

[indy_azcat]

65. says a group of 12

should not decide who gets confirmed and who does not.

[indy_azcat]

66. lambasting pro-nuclear option commercials

Interesting angle - "save the republic"

not clear how to do that based on the debates

[The Witch]

67. Blasting outside groups

and ads on both sides. "The issue ought to be returned to Senate." Says Dems should say we won't filibuster and Repubs shouldn't pull the trigger. Somehow I'm actually OK with this at this point.

[indy_azcat]

68. but it'll only work

if republicans actually 'vote their conscience' on the nominees - e.g. there's a 'hope' that bad nominees would actually NOT be confirmed by a simple vote.

Like that'll happen.

So we're back to the filibuster as the only tool of the minority.

[indy_azcat]

70. Just tied it into the Bolton nomination

Hey, we were supposed to be distracted from that with the underpants and all that jazz....

:spank:

[American in Asia]

71. Jim Jeffords (I-Vermont) up...

and not liking the "nuclear option"

[indy_azcat]

72. Next: Jimmy Jeffords - VT

Started off "cautioning against Nuclear option"

ETA: Do Independents get a full hour during the debates too?

:think:

[American in Asia]

74. blames administration for

lack of consultation and just wanting to win or resubmit. 95% is pretty good. Checks and balances now. He's running down the democratic points pretty well.

[CWebster]

75. That point about resubmitting

underlines their determination to have it their way.

[American in Asia]

will be a new majority leader in Jan 2007

who, Repub. or Democrat, will not be bound by the promises made now.

Good point.

[DemBeans]

73. interesting...

I think Specter is parroting some of the Republican talking points in order to placate the far right. He's being plenty critical of the nuclear option.

I think the most important part of that is his repeated plea for Frist to allow Republican senators to vote their conscience. The pressure on them must be brutal.

Specter looks like a dying man. Maybe he wants to have curbing the radical right as his final legacy.

[BR_Parkway]

76. Yeah, everytime he speaks, he asks Frist to release

I hope he votes his conscience, I think he'll vote no.

[justsomegirl]

77. Jeffords:

I refuse to be a rubber stamp in my last 14 months of office.

[CWebster]

78. Refuse to rubberstamp...nt

[indy_azcat]

79. I refuse to spend my last 19 months in the senate

being a rubber stamp for Bush.

Go Jeffords Go.

:bounce:

[CWebster]

80. Dayton. He should be good. nt

[American in Asia]

81. Dayton (D-Minn.) now.

[indy_azcat]

82. Parlimentarian

we don't need no stinkin' Parlimentarian?

hee hee, nice one dayton!

[American in Asia]

84. he's doing great...

so will they propose up or down vote to all executive nominations? Noooooo...only judicial.

So will they apply to all judicial nominations? Noooo....

So how can they contend the constitution requires this? Where does Constitution permit senate leadership or one senator to make the distinction between one judicial nominee or another, or between judicial and other nominees covered within that section of the Constitution?

Cannot apply one definition (and one set of senate rules) to one set of nominees, and another to another.

Excellent points...

[indy_azcat]

83. upperdown

ETA:
^ What A in A said up thar
|



Notes hypocrisy of limiting up or down to only judicial noms - says if it goes nuclear then it should apply for EVERYTHING (emphasizing the magnitude of this debate)

[indy_azcat]

85. blanchie lincoln - AR

JINX to the next one

[American in Asia]

86. LOL!

Waited for you this time! :toast:

[indy_azcat]

87. you can have next

Lunch time

:donut:

[BR_Parkway]

88. If my child came home with a 95% on a paper, I wouldn't stamp my

feet and yell that it wasn't good enough!

[American in Asia]

90. speaking with passion..

this is more important than party.

when will it stop? will this happen next week or next year on Soc. Security?

Let's all take time to think about what nuclear fallout is all about.

Members on both sides considering a short-term compromise for the remainder of this session. Hopeful it can be achieved. Regretful that current political environment has put us in this situation at all.

[rodeodance]

93. yes, the human cost is what she is talking of.

[DemBeans]

89. hmmm

This is the first time I've been impressed by Lincoln. I'll have to remember this moment the next time I throw my hands up and call for the head of a dino - on occasion they come through.

[CWebster]

91. She's doin' okay. nt

[rodeodance]

92. Sen. Lincoln Dem AK is doing a great articulate job -she comes

across well.

[rodeodance]

94. Lamar Alexander is a bore!! what a whinner!!

[dhuss]

95. NEW THREAD

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1796724

D.H.