In Limbo: Dawn Johnsen's Nomination Stalls Thanks to *Democrats*

[Mr. Ected]

For several weeks--while torture revelations have dominated headlines and with the scandal still very much alive--Dawn Johnsen has been waiting. She's Obama's pick to head the Office of Legal Counsel--the same Justice Department shop that famously blessed Bush-era interrogation policies--and her strong stance on that issue has united Republicans against her. But that's not her biggest problem. Her biggest problem is that Harry Reid has not been able to muster enough Democrats to overcome a filibuster threat.

Here are the numbers as they stand right now:

Votes Against Johnsen: 37 Republicans

Votes for Johnsen: 57 Democrats plus Indiana Republican Richard Lugar

Undecideds: Republicans Olypmia Snowe and Susan Collins and Democrats Arlen Specter and Ben Nelson

Reid frames the issue by saying he needs a couple Republicans to cross the line before he has the 60 votes necessary to overcome a filibuster. But as the numbers show, it's just as much an issue of Reid not being able to muster the entire Democratic caucus in support of Johnsen.

The nomination isn't dead yet, but with Reid trying to put the onus on the White House to shore up support for the beleaguered nominee and the White House staying mum about what it role in all this is, or should be, Johnsen's nomination isnt going anywhere fast.

<snip>

If the leadership vacuum isn't quickly filled, Johnsen may have to wait until Democrats seat Al Franken (not an easy task in and of itself) to get past the filibuster. In the meantime, Reid hasn't been able to nudge Nelson, or completely turn Specter, and the administration has made little progress getting the Snowe and Collins on board. And so Dawn Johnsen waits.


http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/05/in-limbo-dawn-johnsens-nomination-stalls-thanks-to-democrats.php?ref=fp1

[Warpy]

1. That's why that son of a bitch Nelson has to be defeated

If he can be defeated in the primary and replaced with another Democrat, even a conservative one, it will be optimum.

Even if he's replaced with a pubbie, normally a terrible thing, that pubbie will be a junior Senator without the massive power Nelson wields.

Nelson really has got to go. He's the worst possible combination, a conservative ideologue with the power that seniority brings.

If I lived in Nebraska, I'd be working like hell to oust him in the primary. If he made it to the general, I'd be forced to vote third party or abstain. Since I don't, I'll send money to a viable primary opponent.

Yes, he's just that bad.