Official CSPAN2 Thread on Senate Judicial Noms

[cyberpj]

Frist started it off by talking about the "Constitutional Option" - now giving a speech using the appropriate talking points.

[Oreo]

1. The lies are flowing

It's unprecedented that judicial nominees have been blocked when there is a majority. (NOT TRUE!!)

Then he said and then it happened again and again and again and again and again and again. What a doofus.

if I hear "up or down... yes or no... " again I'll puke. He's already said it again and again and again and again and again.

[Oreo]

2. Frist is intentionally trying to limit congress' power

It's going to bite him hard. You cat killer!

[cyberpj]

3. Same ol same ol "they deserve an up or down vote" eom.

[zanne]

4. It's funny that the term "Constitutional Option" isn't catching on....

They thought they had a winner with "Nuclear Option" and it was so catchy it really became popular. Funny how things can just bite you in the ass, huh?

[cyberpj]

16. Didn't I read yesterday they were going to try to call it

yet, something else? Attribute it to some particular person?

[scarletlib]

70. The "Byrd Option"

Don't have all the details but they have now started calling it the "Byrd Option". Seems that Byrd was majority leader at some point in the 60's and some rule changes went through under his leadership at that time. Was listening to AAR --Franken's show -- and they were playing quips from McConnell's appearance on one of the talk shows repeatedly saying the Byrd Option.

[cyberpj]

79. THAT's it1 And you even heard it used. I haven't yet. nt.

[dhuss]

5. so how long do people think it will take

to "pull the trigger?" Hours? Days?

D.H.

[Oreo]

6. Cat killer said maybe today maybe tomorrow

before once again saying confirm or deny... up or down... yes or no for the 15th time

[HereSince1628]

7. I think the Dems have to start a filibuster

That will precipitate the point of order challenge that will result in the trigger being pulled.

[cyberpj]

15. Welcome to DU dhuss!

:hi:
This could go on for one or two days - but who knows?

[dhuss]

18. thanks, it kinda sucks it'll last that long

I have a project here at work I'm susposed to finish by the end of the week and i'll end up streaming this and not doing it... :shrug:

D.H.

[cyberpj]

27. LOL! True that! I'm days behind on work

trying to stay tuned to all that's going on lately. Every night I say, just put it on in the background but I can't stop watching cspan.
:dilemma:
I know I can log on here every night and get updated but I just can't stop myself from watching and staying connected here at DU!

[dhuss]

28. I know, it's like crack for political junkies... n/t

D.H.

[Dinger]

73. I'll Second That! (nt)

[flpoljunkie]

8. Rank hypocrisy, Frist! Nominees deserve an up or down vote in committee!

Something the Republicans did to 60 of Clinton's appellate court nominees. Blocking them from ever coming up for a vote in the committee keeps them from ever having an up or down vote on the floor on the Senate.

Owens got an "up or down vote" on the Senate floor--it is called a cloture vote, and she did not receive the requisite number of votes to go forward.

As Bill Maher might say, the Rethugs "NEW RULES:"

Deny the filibuster for judicial nominees, so that Dubya will get all his appellate nominees, as well as any Supreme Court nominee, with only 51 votes needed for approval.

[Oreo]

9. Justic Owen info

http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=2263

President George W. Bush has renominated right-wing activist Priscilla Owen to the Fifth Circuit. People For the American Way (PFAW) adamantly opposes the confirmation of Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen to the Fifth Circuit and is urging Senate rejection of her second candidacy.
Judicial Activism
President Bush has said that he wants judges who will interpret the law, not make it. Here he is invoking rhetoric often used by the far right, which has consistently deployed the phrase “judicial activism” to label all judges they perceive as liberal. Yet Justice Owen is herself a poster child for right-wing activist judges.

Justice Owen, while on the Texas high court, has often voted to the right of that court’s already conservative majority. In doing so she has often strayed far from established precedent, in one case prompting now White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales to write that she and other dissenters were seeking to commit “an unconscionable act of judicial activism.”

PFAW President Ralph G. Neas noted that Justice Owen’s record “demonstrates her willingness to ignore the law in pursuit of an ultra-conservative agenda, and that agenda gets in the way of her responsibilities as a jurist.”

--MORE--

[whometense]

10. All I can say is,

this guy wants to be President?????

What a dick.

[Dinger]

31. Wonder How The "Kink In The Ointment" (Cheney '08) Will Play In This?

Woodward said it recently, and I wonder what Fristula thinks about it?

[cyberpj]

42. I can't even believe I heard that!

Cheney '08
Oh My God!

Was it on Hardball or something? Because they don't think they have anyone else who could win it?

(insert Bart Simpson shudder here......)

[Dinger]

I Think It Was On Meet The Press Or Larry King

It was Bob Woodward who said it.

[cyberpj]

11. I case you missed it -

Reid started by objecting to committee meetings while the Senate debates Owen. This is a smart move because if there's a committee meeting going on with enough Democrats and moderate Republicans, Frist could call a vote on killing the filibuster and try to do it without a full Senate.

[cyberpj]

12. Is it true? I'm so used to their lies I don't trust anything they say...

Did noms get an up or down vote for 214 years - until minority changed the rules last year?

[Dinger]

13. Hey You Fuckin" Monkey (frist) They Already Had The "Courtesy" Of A Vote

He sounds like a broken record. I swear if I hear "up or down vote" or the number "214" one more godamn time...
Maybe somebody should give him a shove so he can finish his recording.
:mad:

[cyberpj]

17. He's read the talking points memo so many times it's like

being hypnotized I guess. Zombie, spewing sound bites.

[Dinger]

25. Anybody Here Notced That Frist Has The Look Of The "Undead"?

[Skidmore]

75. Looks like the Tall Man in the Phantasm movies...

only the Tall Man is way less boring.

[whometense]

44. I tried to tally

the number of ways he said "up-or-down-vote" but I went into a temporary coma and lost track.

[cyberpj]

56. LOL!

:rofl:
Well, now you can try again with Specter

[Oreo]

14. Boom

Questioning Frist on whether he voted to uphold a filibuster. Is it Schumer up?

Frist weaseling his way out

Cloture has been used to postpone.. .answer more questions. They got an up or down vote :puke:

His voice makes me cringe.

Dem up... I just have audio so I don't know who it is.
69 Clinton nominees weren't even given a hearing. Your nominees did have votes and they were rejected. When you keep telling falsehoods people start to believe it. These people did get votes. Alberto Gonzalez has said on multiple occassions that owen's activism was unconscionable

Attorney General called her shockingly unjust and unscrupulous. She did get a vote already.

YES!!! The CA judge didn't have an opponent. Take that 76% and shove it up your ass frist.

She has said Supreme court decision upholding minimum wage and 40 hour work week are the triumph of our own socialist revolution.

[DemBeans]

19. hmmmm

Reid is showing some fire early - he's calling Frist on his lies about the Dole regime.

[cyberpj]

20. Republican Talking Points Memo - (if you haven't seen it yet)

Damn! I should have made another Bingo card for this event!

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/docs/nuclear.talking.points.pdf

[zanne]

37. Thanks, cyberpj! This will come in handy.

I love things like this. It lets me know where people are coming from.

[cyberpj]

46. yer welcome - and it will be interesting to see just how many

Repubs read right from the info!

[Dinger]

21. Give "em Hell Harry!

Hell yes, they've had a vote! I love the way he brings up Gonzales...
Then he says if a lie is repeated enough, people think it's true. (paraphrasing here) Then Priscilla Owenbeing "shockingly unjust," and Brown winning in an election where she had no opponent!

Yessss!

[dhuss]

23. He looks like he's getting pissed... n/t

D.H.

[CWebster]

30. He is one tough little man

I don't always agree with him politically, but he has that brand of MidWestern plain talking determination that grounds the party in reality.

[napi21]

22. There was a constitutional law professor on the WJ this AM.

I found her to be one of the FEW honest guests, who didn't have any ajenda, and simply stated facts about the constitution, Senate rules, and what really has happened in past history.

The gist of her 45 minutes responding to callers was that it all depends on who's in the majority at the time. When Dems were in the majority, they argued the very same thing the pubs are today..."Presisdent deserves and up or down vote on his judges". That was argued for the Carter nominations, a very long time ago. Although it was never termed the neuclear option, apparently the Dems at one time also argued in favor of a simple majority for judicial nominees.

Another comment that seems to explain WHY you have several moderate Pubs fighting to keep the filabuster was this: If the filabuster goes away, it would force the moderate Pub Senators to make a decision and vote AGAINST their Pres. It's obviously easier and better for them to simply let the Dems do their dirty work.

[cyberpj]

29. That's what I've always thought -

If the filabuster goes away, it would force the moderate Pub Senators to make a decision and vote AGAINST their Pres. It's obviously easier and better for them to simply let the Dems do their dirty work.

[CWebster]

33. Of course, in the future

the Republicans could be bitten by their own bullying today without the fillibustering option. I guess they plan to stay in power forever. They sure are stacking the deck to that end.

[cyberpj]

38. If we don't get proper election reform they could very well do that.

but of course we're so distracted by all that's going on there hasn't been time to address that properly.

[Oreo]

24. Reid going over history of filibuster

has been used on judges

20% of judges nominated have fallen by the way side. Most from filibuster

Roots found in Constitution. Each house may determine its rules.

Arrogance of power of this repub admin controlling SC house and senate. Not enough that they come to people's body and play a fair ballgame. They're going to change the rules in the middle of the game. All 10 have already had votes. 3 already retired or withdrew. We agreeed on add'l 2.

Brown accuses Sr. Citizens of cannibalizing their grandchildren

Admin unwilling to play by the rules

Change in rules takes 67 votes. Cheney will come and say it only takes 51. Paragon of virtue is going to come and say it only takes a simple majority.

Slippery slope.. once you have a rule it will be changed over and over.

[thumper9]

26. brave senators

to be around frist...you'd think they would worry about stray bolts of
lighting:rofl:

[janx]

32. Direct TV took away my CSPAN 2 !

It's gone! I called them yesterday, but there was no option to speak to a real person! :mad:

[cyberpj]

35. Try the website - audio or video usually available there. eom

[dhuss]

36. you can stream it online... www.c-span.org n/t

D.H.

[janx]

40. Thanks--I'll try it.

:hi:

[RoundRockD]

41. Janx, that happened to me a couple of weeks ago. Try unplugging your

box and restarting it.

[janx]

74. IT WORKED! Oh, thank you, thank you!

I thought CSPAN2 had been yanked! :hug:

[Dinger]

78. Awwwwwwww, It's Nice To See A Happy Ending (nt)

[blondeatlast]

43. You can often get a stream from their website, if that's an option.

It's streaming now on their site:

http://www.c-span.org/

Click on the appropriate link in the middle of the page. (C-Span 2, btw)

[CWebster]

51. They repeatedly moved ours

Just last week they moved ours way up to channel 95 and the reception is horrible. They replaced it with a fundamentalist network.

[Dinger]

60. It's On Dish Network, And I'm Taping It

Hope you get it somewhere

[cyberpj]

34. What I haven't heard anyone say yet......

If you can't nominate someone who can get 2/3 vote -- you aren't nominating an acceptable person!

I guess since the election was won at 51/49 percent -- they want to take over everything with that percentage.

Bottom line -- it's too divisive and keeps us at each other's throats instead of talking about things we can agree on!

I'm so tired of it.

[Oreo]

39. Reid listing filibusters uses

Filibuster used against Civil Rights but it was overcome.

Congressional black caucas is against nuclear option


If our right to filibuster is taken away in the senate... the administrations power will go unchecked.

...would hand dangerous new powers to the president. Part of a disturbing pattern by this white house.

Talking about Cheney locking american people out of energy conference
bush not wanting 9/11 investigation

replub have sought to destroy balance of power

radical right should not be able to dictate to the president

filibuster not a procedural gimmick. Created by founding fathers

They think they're wiser than our founding fathers.. i doubt that that's true.

[blondeatlast]

45. "It's always the corporate interests." Give 'em hell!

He keeps saying the radical right wing--gotta be proud of that!

[cyberpj]

52. Agreed. I wasn't crazy about Harry at first but he's really doing well

and deserves all the support we can give him.

Now if only the rest of the Dems would get a spine and start talking up THE TRUTH with a little more force!

[blondeatlast]

47. "Tehy think they're wiser than our founding fathers." nt

[Oreo]

48. timing for current debate

repubs 42 minutes
dems 41 minutes

[Q]

49. "cowardly Demcrats"

Who WAS that fool calling Democrats 'cowardly' and demanding that Democrats give Bush's lacky judges an up or down vote? Just caught the last of his rant.

[Oreo]

50. Cat Killer

Frist

[flpoljunkie]

53. Allen trying to up the ante with wingnut base in competition with Frist

for GOP nod in '08.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-05-18-judges_x.htm

"Look, for months I've been saying we ought to go for it," said Sen. George Allen, R-Va. "We ought not be timid and we ought to go for it."

[blondeatlast]

54. Leahy--STFU!

Let the Minority Leader do his damn job, okay?!

[blondeatlast]

55. Spector up--this could be interesting. Has he drank the kool-aid? nt

[blondeatlast]

57. Yep, he drank the kool-aid. Damn. nt

[dhuss]

59. a while ago a bunch of right-wingers didn't want him on the committee

cuz he wasn't right-wing enough for them...

D.H.

[blondeatlast]

62. I have respect for him, even though I'm pretty far left.

I hope he hasn't lowered his standards.

[cyberpj]

63. I remember that. eom.

[cyberpj]

61. "I've heard so many numbers used so many ways my head is spinning"

Have to agree with that.

Except now he's giving us more!

[Oreo]

58. Specter

We may be embarking on a historic debate...

a ruling is likely to be sought to change from 60 to 51 unless a compromise could be reached.

Decided because it was payback time for treatment of clinton's nominees. Unprecedented to engage in pattern of filibuster.

Filibusters are combo of power struggle as to which can control the judicial selection process. Both sides have been at fault. Both claim they're victims. I have heard so many numbers spun so many different ways that my head is spinning

[cyberpj]

65. Now tying the situation to prospect of possible new Supreme Court nominee.

Seems to be giving both sides of the issue at this point.

[kentuck]

66. Specter is not in good health....

and I think he will be as honest with himself as he can possibly be. I respect that.

[cyberpj]

69. I had the same thought. Cancer has a way

of making you look a lot more honestly at your life and contributions. (Spoken from experience.)

[blondeatlast]

64. Gotta get ready for work--can't stream there. I'll watch this space!

Keep me posted, thanks.

[cyberpj]

67. Have a good one! Either we or others will be here..... eom.

[Dinger]

68. Specter Says "Constitutional or Nuclear Option," Then

he just says "option." Not sure what that means or if if it means anything. Now he says Nuclear Option. Another "option" Now he says "Constitutional/Nuclear Option"

[dhuss]

71. He's been going right down the middle of the road so far... n/t

D.H.

[cyberpj]

72. He says he hasn't yet decided - and sounds open to both sides. nt.

[cyberpj]

77. Now suggesting to bring them out for votes and have party leaders

release their people from party line voting.

[whometense]

82. Nice idea, isn't it?

Actual advice and consent??? What a concept!!

[Oreo]

76. He's giving options

Doesn't want to lose filibuster

many of my colleagues worry it will impair the ability of the congress

I suggest to bring to floor nominees one by one with up or down votes to allow party line voting.

[cyberpj]

80. Encouraging people to vote their conscience - I just don't trust that. nt.

[cyberpj]

81. "So far each side has made only public relations moves" -

Talking about how "party line" politics is bad.

And still giving options for voting.

Encouraging work for the people, not the party.

Good speech I think.


Now starting to profile Owens.

[cyberpj]

83. STARTED A NEW THREAD HERE:

This one's getting a little long.....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1790750