February 5, 2005
FAT MAN...LITTLE BOY...BLACK WOMAN:
GOP judicial strategy (Robert Novak, February 5, 2005, Townhall)
Senate Republican leaders have decided to begin their use of the "nuclear option" -- forcing confirmation of President Bush's judicial nominations with a majority Senate vote -- on an African-American woman blocked by Democrats from a federal judgeship.
Associate Justice Janice Rogers Brown of the California Supreme Court was one of 16 Bush nominees for U.S. appellate courts whose confirmation was prevented by Democratic filibusters in the last Congress. With Republicans still short of the 60 senators needed to limit debate, the nuclear option will seek to confirm judges with a simple majority vote through parliamentary maneuvers.Republican leaders considered waiting to use drastic tactics against a possible filibuster until Bush made his first Supreme Court nomination. They decided, however, to launch the offensive about a month from now by trying to confirm Brown.
The President should bring back Miguel Estrada too. Posted by Orrin Judd at February 5, 2005 8:01 AM
Estrada does not want to be brought back if all that is at stake is a seat on the D. C. Circuit.
Posted by: Dan at February 5, 2005 9:28 AMWanna bet?
Posted by: oj at February 5, 2005 9:48 AMOJ, why should Estrada, who probably spends more in tips if he's in private practice than he would make on the DC bench, want to go through the nonsense again?
Also, the high water mark of Democratic opposition was the Gonzalez nomination. Do you really believe that the Dems want to be the party that obstructs the advancement of Black women, like Rice and Brown? How many more Black women would have to receive rough treatment from the likes of Teddy Kennedy and Chris Dodd before anger starts to resonate in that community?
Posted by: Bart at February 5, 2005 1:16 PMOJ:
Sure. I'll send you a book if Bush renominates him for a DC Circuit post, you send me a book if he doesn't. But, if you know anyone at Gibson, Dunn, you might want to talk to them first. BTW, a few months back there was talk of making Estrada Solicitor General, but everything on that front has been silent lately.
Posted by: Dan at February 5, 2005 4:35 PMIf the fiibuster is ended as a tactic, then maybe Estrada would consent. I tend to think he tired of the committee bs also but maybe a SC slot would change his mind.
The President's tactic of nominating controversial minorities is brilliant, just brilliant. A no lose proposition.
Posted by: Bob at February 5, 2005 10:36 PMA question on the bet--who wins if Estrada is sent to the Supreme Court?
Posted by: Timothy at February 6, 2005 1:13 AMDan:
If, as Bob points out, they kill filibusters and the President asks, he'll take a circuit seat.
Timothy:
America.
Posted by: oj at February 6, 2005 8:15 AMEstrada already did his bit for 'King and Country' in the first go-round. He doesn't need the aggravation and the United States is simply not worth having your character and integrity impugned on national TV by the likes of Teddy Kennedy and Leaky Leahy. Did you watch the Gonzalez hearings? If I had been the nominee, I think it would have taken about 5 minutes of listening to Biden or Leahy and then I would have gotten up and in my best Eric Cartman voice said 'Screw you guys! I'm outta here!' At some point your personal dignity matters more than your ambition or your patriotism. If I'm Estrada, I go back to my big law firm and keep cashing those 6 figure checks. Let some other slob deal with these bozos.
Approval by the US Senate proves nothing. It is a cesspool where the likes of Teddy the Lifeguard, the Grand Kleagle of West Virginia, Leaky Leahy, Hair Plugs Biden, Chuck the Paid Saudi Buttboy Hagel, the former Mr. Elizabeth Taylor, and Ted Kennedy's Designated Driver, Orrin Hatch are treated with deference and respect. I know NJ crime families with more honor and basic decency than that.
Posted by: Bart at February 6, 2005 11:06 AM