GOING NUCULAR:

Bush urged: Seat judges over recess (Alexander Bolton, 11/12/03, The Hill)

Some key Republican senators want President Bush to to overcome Democratic filibusters by appointing conservative judges to the federal circuit courts when the Senate recesses.

While the White House is so far taking a cautious approach toward the idea, the president is believed to be open to this approach.

While federal judges are named for life, a recess appointment would expire at the end of 2004 unless the Senate acted on the stalled nominations.

If Bush went along, his action could be viewed as an escalation in the partisan battle over judicial nominees that has already bogged down the Senate this week and endangers the prospect of a pre-Thanksgiving adjournment.

[T]he president offered Miguel Estrada a recess appointment to the D.C. Circuit, but he declined, a GOP source said . Estrada ultimately withdrew his name from consideration after attempts to end the filibuster failed seven times.

May as well-they'll have enough votes to break filibusters in '05.

Posted by Orrin Judd at November 12, 2003 7:36 PM