Sen. Whitehouse: If Republicans Filibuster Johnsen, I'll Be Ready

[SpartanDem]

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) just held a conference call with reporters to discuss the nomination (and threatened filibuster) of Dawn Johnsen, President Obama's designated chief of the Justice Department's Office of Legal Council.

Whitehouse is a member of the Judiciary Committee and has repeatedly spoken out on Johnsen's behalf. Though it's uncertain whether Republicans will ultimately seek to block Johnsen's nomination, Whitehouse is prepared in the event that they do. "I actually have a little bit of ammunition gathered in the event that I happen to be...on the floor defending this," Whitehouse said.

Whitehouse is armed with a surfeit of statements from a number of Republican senators, including one by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) who once said that no presidential nomination should ever be filibustered

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/04/sen-whitehouse-if-republicans-filibuster-johnsen-ill-be-ready.php

It'll be interesting to see how this plays out the GOP threatened to sink her nomination if Obama released the CIA memos.

[babylonsister]

1. Good for Senator Whitehouse. And rethugs have been blocking

her for awhile.

From April 2nd:

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/analysis/693
Dawn Johnsen Has GOP Hard Liners Quaking in Their Boots. Is She the Wyatt Earp Who Could Bring Justice to Bush Era Outlaws?

[Nancy Waterman]

2. I love this guy.

He is one of the few in the Senate with any real courage!!

[beac]

3. Senator Whitehouse makes me wish I lived in Rhode Island.

He's a truly honorable man.

[HopeOverFear]

4. Johnsen is totally and completely for torture prosecutions

which is why they're holding her back. She's probably pissed right now.

[tomp]

7. why? who's holding her back? republicans?

from the way obama and holder have been proceeding (or, rather, not proceeding) you'd think it was they who wouldn't want her. that's why i don't think she'll be confirmed, because the idea of prosecutions is only window dressing for obama. one way or the other i expect her to be shot down, and then obama can say, "see, there's not strong support for prosecutions." how can you have the office of legal counsel in favor of prosecutions while rahm is on tv saying, "no way!"?

[babylonsister]

8. You need to google this. Obama and Holder WANT her in,

nominated her, but the rethugs have been holding her confirmation up for awhile.

[HopeOverFear]

10. that makes no sense, Obama NOMINATED HER

you're saying he did that just for show? That's ridiculous.

[tomp]

11. we'll see. nt

[Cha]

5. Thank you, Senator Whitehouse!

This is an important nomination and I'm glad they're armed and ready.

[Qutzupalotl]

6. Excellent.

K&R

[annabanana]

9. He FLAYED Gonzales during the US Atty interrogations...

It was beautiful to watch..

[doh_phooey]

12. GOP, the party of NO