Poll: Most Want Assertive Senate on Judges

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON -- More than three-quarters of Americans say the Senate should aggressively examine federal judicial nominees and not just approve them because they are the president's choices.

That's one of the few aspects of this divisive issue that gets widespread agreement, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll released Friday.

Respondents favored conservative over liberal judges in general, 47 percent to 39 percent. As for a possible Supreme Court nominee, 52 percent said they felt comfortable that President Bush would pick the right kind of justice; 46 percent said they did not feel comfortable he would.

Senators are locked in a fierce fight over what is required to approve the more controversial federal court nominees. Republicans want them approved by a simple majority, while the Democrats want to require the 60 votes needed to override a blocking filibuster. The Democrats say a minority party needs the method to ensure checks on the majority.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/20/AR2005052000985.html

[montanacowboy]

1. Well who cares what they think?

sarcasm

[Gloria]

2. Well, if 'Muricans favor conservative judges, then let 'em have 'em

and maybe when they're screwed enough, they'll wake up...

[renaissanceguy]

25. Fine, if they start their own damn country.

But in my country...NO WAY.


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues/588704

[otohara]

3. They Just X'ed Out The First Question

by saying they trust Bush to choose the right kind of justice.

People just don't understand the importance of these choices until they end up in front of one of them some day in a court room. Which I assume, most think they will not.

[UpInArms]

4. unlike you, I assume most of them will

be before a judge at some point - whether it be for their parents' estate, their divorce, their speeding ticket, their (later as Patriot II enacts) crimes against the state (by reading anything other than proscribed doctrine materials).

It will be a sad day when Amerikans will have to see themselves in the mirror.

[otohara]

8. Ummm... I Sued Clear Channel

and even though my magistrate judge was appointed by Clinton - it was still hard. Why did you write "unlike you" , my post did not indicate that?

[UpInArms]

13. I may have misunderstood your post

you said Which I assume, most think they will not. and I thought you were saying that most people would not appear before the courts for anything in their lives.

I believe more people end up dealing with some legal issue at some point, whether major or minor, during their lifetimes. Judges and their ideologies affect us all.

Peace.

:hi:

[TahitiNut]

21. The 2nd question asked only about the Supreme Court.

Polling Data

As you may know, the president nominates federal judges, but the appointments must be approved by the U.S. Senate. Do you think the Senate should...

Give the president’s judicial nominees
the benefit of the doubt and approve
them without a lot of scrutiny ............................ 18%

Take an assertive role in
examining each nominee ................................... 78%

Not sure ........................................................... 4%



In George W. Bush’s second term, he may have the opportunity to appoint several new justices to the U.S. Supreme Court. How comfortable are you that George W. Bush would nominate the right kind of justices to the Supreme Court?

Very comfortable ............................. 29%
Somewhat comfortable ..................... 23%
Not too comfortable ......................... 14%
Not at all comfortable ....................... 32%
Not sure .......................................... 2%

[Toots]

5. Republicans are the Party of ideas they don't use Polls.

:silly:

[LostInAnomie]

6. At least that's what the polls tell them to say.

:crazy:

[MGKrebs]

7. Actually it's "poles" that they don't use.

:7

[Pirate Smile]

9. Poll: Most Want Assertive Senate on Judges

WASHINGTON - More than three-quarters of Americans say the Senate should aggressively examine federal judicial nominees and not just approve them because they are the president's choices.

-snip-
The poll found 78 percent believe the Senate should take an "assertive role" examining judicial nominees rather than just give the president the benefit of the doubt. There were majorities among each political affiliation — Democrats, Republicans and independents.

"I'm probably more on the conservative side, but I think the Senate should closely look at each nominee," said Heidi Densel, a Republican from Fort Wayne, Ind.

Democrat Carol Zebott of Duluth, Minn., said she wants the Senate to examine the judicial choices of the president because "I just think he has been making a lot of bad decisions lately."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050520/ap_on_go_co/judges_ap_ipsos_poll_3;_ylt=AntYqbWYvmMoOHmpoARzeYeGbToC;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

[Arkana]

10. Yawn.

I've lost faith in the American people--it happened when they reselected Chimpazoid.

[Cha]

11. Yeah, like the neocon fristians give

a shyte what the American People want.

All they care about is hate mongering radio and tv to descrecrate further the name of Jesus Christ.

[LightningFlash]

16. Well to be fair,

They also care about idiotic ramblings like comparing americans to Nazis and saying that Soddom in his underpants is bigger news than the memo which basically proves they lied point blank to go to war.

That kind of thing.

[Cha]

19. When you're right you're right!!

Welcome to DU, LighteningFlash!:)

[KansDem]

15. I vote this statement as "understatement of the century..."

I just think he has been making a lot of bad decisions lately.

Yeah? Ya think?

[librechik]

12. what if the question was "conservative vs. moderate" judges?

I'll bet that answer would have been different.

Liberals have been slandered into the stone age.

[expatriot]

17. exactly.... my thought exactly...cons have won the war of words RE:liberal

It is a small victory in my opinion that 39% of Americans prefer "liberal to conservative."

Now if you asked questions like "Would you want a judge who is strongly opposed to minimum wage laws and environmental protections to sit on the Supreme Court?" I would like to see the response to that.

[DeepModem Mom]

14. kick

[Bleacher Creature]

18. AP: Poll: Most Want Thorough Check of Judges

By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 14 minutes ago
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050521/ap_on_re_us/judges_ap_ipsos_poll

WASHINGTON - About four in five Americans want the Senate to thoroughly examine the president's nominees to be federal judges — an attitude shared by a majority of Democrats, Republicans and independents questioned in a new poll.

The rest say those nominees should get the benefit of the doubt and get approved by the Senate without much scrutiny, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll released Friday.

The widespread desire for an aggressive role by the Senate is one of the few aspects of this divisive issue that gets widespread agreement.

Respondents favored conservative over liberal judges in general, 47 percent to 39 percent. As for a possible Supreme Court nominee, 52 percent said they felt comfortable that President Bush would pick the right kind of justice, while 46 percent said they weren't.

<SNIP>

FIFTY-TWO PERCENT!!! Someone please tell me this is wrong -- what the hell is wrong with people??????

[gratuitous]

20. Who cares what 75% of Americans think?

Majority (in the Senate) rules!

[Moderator]

22. kick to combine

[wildflower]

23. AP: Poll: Most want thorough check of judges (4 out of 5 Americans)

Heard about this on Stephanie Miller. Searched and finally found it.

EDIT: I swear I searched LBN for this...sorry to post a dupe!

Poll: Most want thorough check of judges

WASHINGTON - About four in five Americans want the Senate to thoroughly examine the president's nominees to be federal judges - an attitude shared by a majority of Democrats, Republicans and independents questioned in a new poll. The rest say those nominees should get the benefit of the doubt and get approved by the Senate without much scrutiny, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll released Friday. The widespread desire for an aggressive role by the Senate is one of the few aspects of this divisive issue that gets widespread agreement.

Respondents favored conservative over liberal judges in general, 47 percent to 39 percent. As for a possible Supreme Court nominee, 52 percent said they felt comfortable that President Bush would pick the right kind of justice, while 46 percent said they weren't.

Senators are locked in a fierce fight over what is required to approve the more controversial federal court nominees. Republicans want them approved by a simple majority, while the Democrats want to require the 60 votes needed to override a blocking filibuster. The Democrats say a minority party needs the method to ensure checks on the majority.

Both sides point to the Senate's constitutional duty to "advise and consent" on presidential nominations. Republicans say that means great deference is given to the president, while Democrats say it means those put forward should be closely scrutinized.

more at

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/nation/11713275.htm

[still_one]

24. yeah, well they should have thought about that in 2004

[Beetwasher]

26. You Know What? The Nuke Option Is Going to Be A GIANT FAILURE PR-Wise, BUT

They don't care and THAT is the frightening aspect. When you count the votes, none of that shit matters.

[shadowknows69]

27. 75% of the country and the repubs are going to ignore us

that sounds like a mandate for regime change to me.