Cardin and Whitehorse are added to Senate Judiciary. What do we know about them

[LynneSin]

http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/2006/11/some-freshman-dems-land-plum-committee.html

Sen.-elect Ben Cardin, D-Maryland: Environment Public Works, Foreign Relations, Judiciary, Budget, Small Business
Sen.-elect Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island: Environment Public Works, Judiciary, Intelligence, Budget, Aging

I'm going to assume the other 8 kept their seats - Leahy, Biden, Kohl, Schumer, Feingold, Feinstein, Durbin and Kennedy. Say what you will about any of these senators but none of them were 'Gang of 14' and back in 2002 when we had the majority they did a damn good job of keeping activist judges off of the bench.

I thought perhaps Kerry would get his seat back (He lost it in 2004 when we went down in numbers) but I guess they decided to put two new members on the committee - Cardin and Whitehouse

So any feedback is appreciated. This Judiciary Committee is why I put up with Lieberman - it'll all be worth it if we can keep another Alito from getting on the Supreme Court

[Greeby]

1. How do you figure?

If Shrub gets to nominate another bootlicker like Alito to the SCOTUS, you can bet Lieberworm will vote yes

[LynneSin]

2. ATTENTION EVERYONE: SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE 101

#1 All nominees MUST be reviewed by the judicial committee
#2 Judicial committee votes on the nominees to determine if their nomination gets a floor vote
#3 If Judicial nominee gets the majority vote they move on to the next vote - the floor vote
#4 If the Judicial nominee doesn't get the majority then their nomination dies in committee

Lieberman is not on the Judiciary Committee and oh, he voted against Alito for the final vote

Please, if you're not 100% sure - google it

[Greeby]

3. I stand corrected

:blush:

[LynneSin]

4. Sorry if I'm snarky - everytime I post about the Judiciary

people keep thinking that the floor will be the ones to decide. But with dems in control - it'll be the democratic judiciary commitee IF they stick together

[BootinUp]

5. Its Whitehouse not horse. :)

[cali]

6. Hi, Lynn

Committe Chairs work with Reid re new Senators assigned to their committees. I think we can comfortably assume that Leahy, bless his partisan, liberal heart, wouldn't let anyone on the committee who wasn't committed to keeping reactionary judges off the bench.

[sandnsea]

7. Filibustering Alito

Probably being punished for that. At least they didn't put Casey on though, so that's something.

They have a weird way of appointing committees, imo. Brown is on Ag, but Tester isnt?? Okaaay.

Be an interesting two years. Do we think Stevens should go ahead and retire now, or take the risk that we might get a Dem Pres in 2008?

[LynneSin]

8. I'm wondering why Casey isn't on Education & Labor

In Pennsylvania - the Casey name is golden when it comes to Labor, a big change from what Santorum meant to Labor.

Alot of that good vibe is from Casey's dad, but Jr. was also a major union supporter himself.

I found it odd they didn't put him on that committee

I never expected Casey to be on Judiciary which is why I had no problem supporting the guy. And now that we have control of the senate, I highly doubt that reactionary anti-abortion bills will be commonplace on the floor debate like it was with the republican controlled senate

[beaconess]

23. Maybe he didn't want that Committee or there are Senators with more

seniority who do.

[cali]

11. I thouroughly doubt that Kerry is being punished

I can't see Leahy doing that. And Stevens retirement is probably linked to his health.

[LynneSin]

13. Judiciary and Foreign Relations are two of the biggest committees

Some people, like Joe Biden, that's all they have because they are such hectic positions. Of course he's now chair of the Foreign Relations.

Kerry, perhaps, figured that if suitable replacements were found that he would give up his seat. I know he's still on foreign relations and probably has site on another presidential run

[TayTay]

16. You mean Casey, right

Cuz Kerry is on Commerce, Finance, and Foreign Relations. He was never on Judiciary. ANd he will Chair Small Business.

[hopein08]

19. That must be what they mean...but it is confusing me too n/t

[election_2004]

21. And why isn't McCaskill on Agriculture...???

After all, Jim Talent was. If she wants to get reelected in 2012, she needs to get Reid to put her on the Agriculture committee once the next session begins.

[sandnsea]

24. Why isn't Tester?

Hell I don't know. Brown is, right? :crazy:

[beaconess]

28. There are all sorts of reasons that Senators end up on different committees

[LiberalEsto]

9. Cardin voted against the Iraq war nt

[LynneSin]

10. Well, we're safe there - down to Whitehouse

:D

[Stinky The Clown]

12. Can't say about Whitehouse, but Cardin's a safe, reliable Dem liberal.

Cardin won't disappoint. He's pretty much in the mold of Paul Sarbanes, except, maybe even more liberal.

I suspect Whitehouse will be much the same, but can't say for certain.

[election_2004]

20. I believe Whitehouse supports same-sex marriage....

That says it all right there.

[hopein08]

14. Is there a full list online of the committee assignments?

I keep see posts like this with bits and pieces of committees but I'd like to see a full list. Anybody know?

[TayTay]

17. Here you go:

http://democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=265867&

Right from the Democrats own mouths. We will have to wait until January to see who chairs the sub-committees.

[hopein08]

18. Many thanks TayTay!!

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

15. Cardin is solid

He's been very progressive on judiciary issues for years in the House.

[beaconess]

22. Cardin is VERY good on issues the Judiciary Committee deals with

Kerry wasn't on Judiciary. You're probably thinking of Edwards. He, of course, left the Senate when his term was up in 2005 and his seat was not filled because the number of Dems on the Committee was reduced.

I don't know much about Whitehouse, but Senate Dem leadership wouldn't put any problematic Senators on Judiciary, I don't think. They need the Committee Dems to keep bad judges and legislation from getting to the floor.

Judiciary Committee looks is a dream come true.

[nickshepDEM]

25. Cardin came out against Alito...

He's a solid liberal.

[savemefromdumbya]

26. Cardin will do fine

[Alexander]

27. "Whitehorse" is a city in Canada.

In fact, it's the capital of the Yukon Territory.

I believe you meant "Whitehouse", as in Sheldon Whitehouse?

:shrug: