Frist backs rule change on judges (forbid filibuster for far-right judges)

[papau]

http://thehill.com/news/072104/frist.aspx

Frist backs rule change on judges
By Alexander Bolton


Conservatives and members of the Senate Republican leadership say that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) is committed to using a controversial procedural tactic that would rewrite the chamber’s filibuster rule.

While Frist said he was actively considering changing the Senate rules several months ago, it now appears that the majority leader is on board with an effort by leading conservative senators to execute the tactic, which would prohibit lawmakers from filibustering judicial nominees.

The most logical time to change the rules would be this fall or at the beginning of the new Congress in January.

Senate Democratic leadership aides have warned that if Republicans stripped senators of the power to filibuster judges, it would lead to a freeze in bipartisan relations that they compare to a nuclear winter. They say that Democrats would bring the chamber to a standstill in retaliation, but Republican proponents note that Democrats have, for the most part, done so already.<snip>

The evolution of Frist’s position seems prompted by the realization that Democrats will continue to filibuster judicial nominees and by growing pressure from conservative groups.

http://www.rollcall.com/pub/50_10/news/6324-1.html

Fall Showdown Seen on Judges
By Paul Kane
Roll Call Staff July 21, 2004

With the number of judicial filibusters growing by the week, Senate Republicans are preparing for a major floor action in the fall highlighting their allegations of unprecedented Democratic obstructionism.

[Monte Carlo]

1. When Kerry's President, let's see if Frist is still so eager.

We're going to hear a lot about the founding fathers and the sanctity of the process, then.

[Mountainman]

2. What the repukes don't get is that we want obstruction of wingnut judges

When I hear the repukes talk about unprecedented Democratic obstructionism, I say, "great job, keep it up!"

[samsingh]

3. eventually it will have to apply to far left judges

then what?

[Democat]

4. What the hell kind of quote from the article is this?

They say that Democrats would bring the chamber to a standstill in retaliation, but Republican proponents note that Democrats have, for the most part, done so already.

Republicans "note" - how about they "accuse" or "allege" instead?

When a Republican says anything, it's a fact. When a Democrats says something it's an allegation or attack.

Right wing media.

[The Zanti Regent]

6. What did the Nazi Party do to Congress under Clinton?

What did those Nazi Senators do to all those Clinton Judicial nominations?

[flpoljunkie]

5. The Republicans are being totally disingenuous about judicial vacancies

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64802-2004Jul20.html

The Senate has confirmed 198 of Bush's judicial nominations so far. Of the six other nominees blocked by Democrats, two -- Charles W. Pickering Sr. of Mississippi (5th Circuit) and William H. Pryor Jr. of Alabama (11th Circuit) -- were given temporary judicial appointments by the president.

Miguel A. Estrada, nominated for the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, withdrew. Three others -- Priscilla R. Owen of Texas (5th Circuit) and Carolyn B. Kuhl (9th Circuit) and Janice Rogers Brown (D.C. Circuit), both of California -- are being filibustered.