May 25, 2005

HAVE YOU HUGGED A MODERATE TODAY?:

PRISCILLA OWEN CONFIRMED 56-43

We congratulate Judge Owen, President Bush and all those whose hard work and dedication have made this possible.

MORE:
Chafee votes against Owen's confirmation (JOHN E. MULLIGAN, May 25, 2005, Providence Journal)

Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee was the only Republican to vote today against the confirmation of Priscilla Owen as a federal appellate judge, as a four-year partisan battle over judicial nominations ended.

The Rhode Island Republican had been one of the 14 senators who signed a bipartisan deal to prevent the effort to ban judicial filibusters.

He expressed hope yesterday that President Bush will henceforth make judicial nominations that can win enough bipartisan support to preclude filibuster threats.

Owen's nomination was confirmed on a 56-43 vote, with two Democrats, Sen. Robert Byrd, W.Va., and Sen. Mary Landrieu, La., crossing party lines to support her.

Posted by David Cohen at May 25, 2005 12:44 PM
Comments

Who crossed the aisle?

Posted by: Matt C at May 25, 2005 12:47 PM

I suggest that by invoking cloture 81-18 but only confirming 56-43 she will almost certainly be filibustered if nominated to the Supreme Court.

Posted by: Pat H at May 25, 2005 12:56 PM

Yay!

Bring on the other perfervid right-wing nutcases, baby! That or the Scalia cloning procedure!

Posted by: Matt Murphy at May 25, 2005 1:00 PM

I think that Byrd and Landrieau voted for Owen, and Chafee voted "No."

Posted by: David Cohen at May 25, 2005 1:07 PM

At least five more nominees will follow Owens into lifetime employment, including The Lady To The Right Of The Ayatollah. Bad enough, but we also have to listen to David's complaints that he's not getting EVERY right-wing judge.

Posted by: Casey Abell at May 25, 2005 2:10 PM

Indeed, Senator Byrd did vote to confirm Judge Owen.

Yes, you heard that right. Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-KKK, the "KKKonsience of the Senate" and Defender of the Filibuster, the Democrats' point man on obstructionism; yes, that Robert C. Byrd, voted for the "extremist" judge whose nomination he helped bottle up for four years.

Ye Gods!

Posted by: Mike Morley at May 25, 2005 2:32 PM

So, who didn't vote? And why not?

Posted by: Sandy P. at May 25, 2005 3:24 PM

Mike - Why not? This was a free vote for him. He's savvy enough to build up an appearance of moderation on meaningless votes to help him be more extreme on meaningful ones. The only reason others didn't join him is they're not in red states, and they don't want to encourage Bush to nominate her for the Supreme Court.

Posted by: pj at May 25, 2005 3:40 PM

Sandy: Inouye (D-HI)

Posted by: John Resnick at May 25, 2005 3:58 PM

The Nelsons must have death wishes.

Posted by: oj at May 25, 2005 4:09 PM

Kent Conrad, too. I was also amazed that Dorgan voted against cloture. He should have been beaten last fall.

Posted by: jim hamlen at May 25, 2005 4:33 PM
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