Question on judge nominees and the filibuster and historical precedent

[LittleClarkie]

When I hear that the filibuster is being used on the judge nominees so that they don't even make it out of committee, and then I hear that several of Clinton's nominees weren't approved either, the question that comes to mind is this:

Is that the way with most nominees who aren't approved, before Bush that is? Did they generally make it out of committee and then are voted down? Or did most of the ones who were not approved not make it out of committee either?

In other words, how does this NORMALLY go, when the President isn't being an asshat about the situation.

[papau]

1. 60 Clinton appointees did not get committee hearings/vote

but the good news is that they were not filibustered - 'cause that would have been wrong.

In 4 years Bush has lost 10 out of more than 200.

[rainy]

3. They were not filibustered because they never made it

to the floor. They were killed before reaching the body. At least the Dems let them through to the floor for debate.

[proud patriot]

2. "205 approved 10 not approved , say thank you and move on"

Senator Boxer said that yesterday at a move on
event ...I like it, when are the republicans going
to say Thank You and be gracious ? HAHAHA I crack
myself up , republicans and gracious just don't go
together ...

[XuChi]

4. would it hurt anything

to just be honest and say that the filibuster had never been used this way before?

[LittleClarkie]

5. That's part of the reason I asked

I wanted a sense of how we're playing this and if we're operating in good faith.

However, the other side is not exactly operating in good faith nor are they being truthful, so if there is a leg to stand on for using the filibuster in this way, I'm okay with it, I think.

[snippy]

7. When democrats ran the Senate any Senator had the power to put a "hold"

on any nomination for any position, including judicial nominations. Many of Clinton's judicial nominees were denied a vote through this process. For several months some shit-for-brains Senator named Inhofe put a hold on every Clinton nominee regardless of the position being filled or the qualifications of the nominee.

[POAS]

6. In 1994

Republicans filibustered a judicial nomination. At that point Orrin Hatch is quoted as saying, "one of the few tools the minority has to protect itself and those the minority represents.”

Again from Senator Hatch, "While the debate about vacancy rates on our federal courts is not unimportant, it remains more important that the Senate perform its advice and consent function thoroughly and responsibly. Federal judges serve for life and perform an important constitutional function without direct accountability to the people. Accordingly, the Senate should never move too quickly on nominations before it." (Congressional Record, June 22, 1998)