Cornyn threatens White House on Judicial Selection

[babylonsister]

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/legal_beat/2009/04/cornyn-and-white-house-square.html

Cornyn and White House Square off on Judicial Selection

By Seth Stern | April 24, 2009


Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn has a warning for the White House if it ignores the suggestions of his judicial nominations committee.

"Have they heard of the words 'blue slip' before?" Cornyn asked.

Cornyn and fellow Texas Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison intend to continue to solicit recommendations from a committee of home-state lawyers about who would make good nominees. Cornyn met with White House Counsel Gregory Craig about the matter last month and thought they'd come to some mutual understanding.

Only problem, as the Dallas Morning News has reported, is the White House says it will rely on the advice of the state's Congressional delegation for recommendations about who should be nominated as federal judge, U.S. attorney or U.S. marshal.

This week, Cornyn told CQ a reconstituted bipartisan committee is "open for business as vacancies come up" and hopes the White House takes their suggestions into consideration.

"It's not my intention to make threats or pick a fight," Cornyn said, but if the White House ignores their suggestions, withholding blue slips is "certainly always an option."

Despite Cornyn's threat, the White House's position remains unchanged.

While no federal judge, U.S. attorney or U.S. marshal will be nominated by the president "unless that person has the confirmed support of the Texas Democratic delegation," a statement issued by the White House says "the Texas U.S. senators will be accorded a full opportunity to share their views about each candidate whom the President proposes to nominate."

[aquart]

1. Waterboard him.

I'm not in the mood for this nonsense.

[quiet.american]

2. Lol - "Despite Cornyn's threat, the White House's position remains unchanged." nt

[Enrique]

3. the article doesn't explain what the "blue slip" thing is about

according to Wikipedia, it has nothing to do with Monica Lewinsky

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_slip#cite_note-1

In the Senate, a blue slip is an opinion written by a Senator from the state of residence of a federal judicial nominee. Both senators from a nominee's state are sent a blue slip in which they may submit a favorable or unfavorable opinion of a nominee. (They may also choose not to return a blue slip.) The Senate Judiciary Committee takes blue slips into consideration when deciding whether or not to recommend the Senate confirm a nominee. It is a means through which the practice of senatorial courtesy is carried out.
Professor Brandon Denning has suggested that "the executive branch take a more active role in identifying and publicizing what it perceives to be abuses of the procedure during the confirmation process.”<2>

[babylonsister]

6. Thanks for that and what do you know?! Another form of obstruction!

Whodathunkit?

[glinda]

4. Republicans have severe "control" issues. Geeeze.

[Ikonoklast]

5. Guess what, Mr. Stupid, elections have consequences.

Good God Almighty, does Cornyn think that the Republics can still control everything?

Just throw their own talking points back in their faces, "The President deserves the people he selects."

And if he wants to play hardball, then batter up, asshole.

Obama will be throwing a little 'chin music' your way, pal. My advice is to duck.

[lsewpershad]

14. These republican't-take licks

will have to take a lot more licks in coming years.

[jaxx]

7. Another obstructionist, imagine that.

[DFW]

8. "Come and get me, Chicket Heart"

As Bill Cosby used to say.

Come one, Cornhole, keep it up, and you'll not only give us back the
governor's mansion for the first time since Ann Richards, but you'll
get us a Senate seat as well.

[spanone]

9. stfu mr cornyn..you lost. your ideas suck. get out of the way.

:freak:

[givemebackmycountry]

10. Cornyn and fellow Texas Republicans... "We're still in charge!"

You heard me, we're still in charge!
And if you don't like we'll secede or something!
I'll hold my breath until I turn BLUE (slip)!

What an asshat.

Big John, indeed.
Big asshole, more like it.

[santamargarita]

11. Doesn't this Cornyn Fuck know his party lost...

who gives a shit what he wants!

[tbyg52]

12. Dear Senator Cornyn:

Just shut up. Better yet, shut up and go away.

With some help (party money) down here, we coulda had Noriega. :cry:

[tanyev]

13. I know the Texas secession talk is nonsense, but it might almost be worth it

if it made John Cornyn STFU.