YO: Reid: Bush Lied About White House Role in Nuclear Option

[WilliamPitt]

http://www.rollcall.com/issues/1_1/breakingnews/8976-1.html

Reid: Bush Lied About White House Role in Nuclear Option

By Mark Preston
Roll Call Staff

Friday, Apr. 22; 03:30pm

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) accused President Bush on Friday of lying to him about the role his administration would play in a possible Senate rules change — the latest sign the chamber is headed for an unprecedented showdown over judicial nominees.

Reid released the blistering critique after Vice President Cheney told a group of Republican lawyers that he would, in his role as President of the Senate, vote to change the rules requiring judges to need only a simple majority for approval.

“Last week, I met with the president and was encouraged when he told me he would not become involved in Republican efforts to break the Senate rules,” Reid said in a statement released by his office. “Now, it appears he was not being honest, and that the White House is encouraging this raw abuse of power.”

Cheney’s remarks came during a speech before the Republican National Lawyers Association, which was meeting in Washington, D.C. Cheney made a point to stop during his address to publicly acknowledge Charles Pickering, one of the 10 judges blocked by Democrats in the 108th Congress, who was sitting in the audience. Bush eventually used his power to appoint Pickering to the appellate court during a Congressional recess. The Mississippi judge, who is the father of Rep. Chip Pickering (R-Miss.), is now retired.

“His nomination, and the others that were filibustered, were not held up for a lack of support,” Cheney said. “On the contrary, each one of them had majority backing and would have been swiftly confirmed by the full Senate, if only given the chance. These nominations were held up strictly for partisan political reasons, in an astounding departure from historical precedent,” Cheney added.

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[Jo March]

1. Go ahead on, Reid!

That's what I like: a Dem with a spine and a voice! Think I need to give the good Senator's office a call and say "thank you."

[understandinglife]

2. “Now, it appears he was not being honest, and that the White House ....

....is encouraging this raw abuse of power.”

That is the type of crystal clear messaging we need; all day, every day.

Peace.


www.missionnotaccomplished.us (The.Day.WE.BEGIN.........)

[Swamp Rat]

3. kick

:kick: ASS Reid!

[wicket]

4. Alright!!!!!

Now we're talking!!!!

:kick: :kick:

[unblock]

5. bush did tell the truth, see, he isn't involved.

cheney is. :evilgrin:

of course, banana republicans would call this "clintonesque parsing"....

[Spazito]

6. Wow, Reid doesn't waste one minute, he responds

instantly and doesn't pull his punches. He was a good choice by the Dems, imo.

[spanone]

7. Go Harry! Call the bastards what they are.

..as for Cheney, GFY.

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. kick

[mistertrickster]

9. Bush LIED!?! Hehe, kidding . . . the big story would be when did he

tell the truth on something that mattered.

But Reid calling him out is something new--Give 'em hell, Harry.

[stevedeshazer]

10. It's just getting good, I'm tellin' ya

:popcorn:

Gonna be a good week for C-Span.

[proud patriot]

11. Cool he used the "L" word

:D

[Nothing Without Hope]

12. Let's hope this rumor that the Repubs lack the votes for nuclearity

is true:

GOP SURVEY - NO SUPPORT FOR NUCLEAR OPTION (FILLIBUSTER)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1412945

ed:sp

[AuntiBush]

13. More are finally Stepping-Up to the Plate & Speaking the Truth

Thank you Senator Reid!

[AuntiBush]

14. Brilliant Post, Will

Good job! Thank you Will Pitt!

[walldude]

15. Nice to finally see some Dems fighting back hard!

This whole thing is insane, the Dems filibuster 10 judges out of 200 and the GOP claims they are under attack...