Parties Set Stage for Showdown on Ct. Choice (Reid warned Bush on Alito) [View All]

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT: Parties Set Stage for Showdown on Court Choice
By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK
Published: October 31, 2005


WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 - With the announcement of a new Supreme Court nominee expected as early as today, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic leader, warned President Bush on Sunday not to pick one of the candidates said to be on the president's short list, Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr.

"I think it would create a lot of problems," Mr. Reid said on "Late Edition" on CNN.

This morning, CNN and news agencies reported that the president has decided to nominate Judge Alito, of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit....

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Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, fired back Sunday, saying that if the Democrats staged a filibuster against Judge Alito or Judge Luttig because of their conservatism, "the filibuster will not stand."

Mr. Graham's warning was significant because he played a crucial role earlier this year in helping block a Republican effort to change the Senate rules - known as the nuclear option - so that Democrats could not filibuster judicial nominees. His comments on Sunday indicated that this time, he would support that rule change; Democrats have threatened to retaliate with a battle that could snarl Senate business for months....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/31/politics/politicsspecial1/31cnd-confirm.html?hp&ex=1130821200&en=08c6b143aff1cb6f&ei=5094&partner=homepage