Dems Succeed in Halting Action on Owen (15 minutes ago)

[underpants]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=512&ncid=703&e=1&u=/ap/20031114/ap_on_go_co/senate_talkathon

WASHINGTON - After two straight nights of often droning, sometimes angry debate, the Senate returned to normal order Friday, with Democrats maintaining their filibuster on a judicial nominee they say is too conservative for the American mainstream.

With a 53-42 vote, Democrats succeeded in stopping further action on President Bush (news - web sites)'s nomination of Texas judge Priscilla Owen to a seat on a U.S. appeals court. Sixty votes were needed to end the filibuster and bring on a final confirmation vote.

It was the fourth time Republicans have failed to advance the Owen nomination. Despite the nearly 40 hours of exhaustive debate on what the GOP says is Democratic obstructionism on judges, they failed to win a single new Democratic vote. As in past votes, only two Democrats, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Zell Miller of Georgia, voted with the Republicans.

[librechik]

1. WooHoo!

good thing Diebold wasn't involved in the vote...

[beyurslf]

2. We all know about Zell Miller

but what is Melson's story? Why would he side with them on this?

[mndemocrat_29]

4. Has Nelson sided with us on any of the nominees?

I thought I heard that he sided with us on one, but I can't remember which.

[Rainbowreflect]

5. His reply to my letters on this subject is that he thinks

they should all get an up/down vote.

[Guaranteed]

8. Which is the Republican position.

Which means he's a fucking Tory.

[La_Serpiente]

3. Woohoo

I am sending a letter and a check to the DNC. Thanks for standing strong.

[Guaranteed]

6. Right ON...

We're gaining strength by the day.

[bushisanidiot]

7. Is There A list on the web of who voted which way on this?

just curious. :)

[PDittie]

9. No one's changed their vote

The Repubs were hoping that by stirring voter "outrage" (*cough*bullshit*cough) they would get to 60.

Not one defection.

Thank a Dem Senator today for holding firm.

[wryter2000]

10. Yay, Dems!

This one's for you. :beer:

[Snellius]

11. So much for Chafee being a RINO

Chafee voted nay. Jeffords voted yea.

[Jacobin]

12. This 30 hour charade energized the Dems and gave them a platform

to point out the hypocrisy and stupid tactics of the Repugs.

Backfired on them bigtime

[Voltaire99]

13. Bravo

At least Congressional Democrats can do something right. If they've handed Bush everything else he wanted, their rare courage on judicial appointees is at least commendable.

But I'm not as sanguine as they about the nation's temper. To call Bush's extremist right wing nominees "too conservative for the American mainstream" is to be hopeful - hopeful that the mainstream hasn't gone over fully. We'll find out in 2004 if that's true.