John Cornyn will block anyone except his nominee for North Texas U. S. Attorney

[Ardent15]

Sen. John Cornyn said Thursday that he would block anyone except Sarah Saldana as the next U.S. attorney for North Texas, setting in motion a showdown with Democrats who have other contenders in mind.

Saldana, an assistant U.S. Attorney who leads the fraud and public corruption division in the Dallas-based Northern District, was picked by Cornyn and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison after they interviewed a string of candidates. Saldana and others were also evaluated by a bipartisan committee of legal experts appointed by the Republican senators, Cornyn said.

“It’s the president’s prerogative to nominate anybody he wants,” Cornyn said. “But it’s the prerogative of the Senate to decide whether those individuals will be confirmed.”

Under Senate rules, senators can block nominees in their home states whom they oppose.

Texas House Democrats, including Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Dallas, have rejected Saldana in favor of Dallas County Assistant District Attorney Terri Moore and Dallas civil lawyer Roger Williams. Other names could be considered, and a spokesman for the chairman of the House Democratic delegation, Lloyd Doggett, said Wednesday that “consultations” are ongoing.

But the senators, Johnson said Wednesday, “are having a hard time accepting that there’s a Democrat in the White House.”

In a conference call with reporters, Cornyn acknowledged that Moore and Williams had been interviewed by the special panel and the Republican senators. Still, he couldn’t support them for the post.

“We thought Sarah Saldana was the best candidate, and that’s why we sent her name to the White House,” he said. “My hope is the White House will choose her and make that appointment. At this point I’m not prepared to support any other individual.”

Cornyn’s comments mark the latest shot in a feud over the selection of

U.S. attorneys and other federal appointments that must be approved by the Senate.

Since Barack Obama is now president, Texas Democrats want to make the nominations without interference from the Republican senators.

But on Wednesday, the senators sent the White House a list of names they would accept for each of four U.S. Attorney slots in Texas. Doggett also released a list of names backed by Texas Democrats. That list did not include a recommendation for the Dallas position.

Doggett and his aides could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday.

Johnson did not say why Democrats were now cool to Saldana, a candidate with strong Democratic credentials.

The seasoned prosecutor had a key role in the Dallas City Hall corruption trial, but Johnson said that had no bearing on their decision not to back her. Some local Democrats have complained that the case was politically motivated.

Cornyn warned Democrats against a partisan fight.

“In the end, if the president or our friends on the other side of the aisle insist on making this a partisan process, and do not go through the federal judicial evaluation committee, I will not” submit the paperwork to clear their nominations, he said.

---
<http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/topstories/stories/100909dnmetusattorney.1f8ebe39e.html>

Hey Senator, there's a liberal black Democratic President now. Tough luck for you!

[BlooInBloo]

1. "there's a liberal black Democratic President"...

I predict that will be the only thing in your entire post that DUers will care about.

[Mz Pip]

2. Corny

warns against democrats being partisan while being partisan himself.

add this to the already long list of why I can't stand Cornyn.

[indepat]

3. It's a shame Dems don't seem to have the cajones to play hardball occasionally as 'pukes

do every instance and thereby do a little nut-crushing on their own. ;)

[Igel]

9. I'm confused.

What's wrong with Seldana?

(Okay, I'm now in Texas, but Houston, not Dallas.)

http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/sarah-saldana.asp?cycle=08

I mean, she maxed out in contributions to Edwards, then Clinton, then Obama (with the Obama contribution being split, and the HRC contribution coming after an initial Obama contribution). Then a bit more to Obama's "victory fund." $9700 for dems in 2008 doesn't make her a flaming repub partisan.

I wonder what Democratic Party functionary or official she pissed off or didn't stroke properly.

Or is it just one of those instances like when little kids get in a huff: "No, I don't want to shoot hoops--I did until you said *you* wanted to play it, but now I want to play, uh, uh, Go Fish."

[gratuitous]

4. Dear Mr. Cornyn

Elections have consequences, and your party is in the minority now. Shoulda repealed that "majority rules" thingy when you had the chance. But then, you never dreamed that your majority wouldn't be permanent now, did you?

[SoCalDem]

5. Then that area can go without.. checkmate, Mr Cornyn... or

Obama can make a recess appointment..like Bushie used to do all the time..

[damntexdem]

6. I guess we'll just have to get along without a U.S. attorney for a while.

We'll find out whether we really need one.

[Engineer4Obama]

7. I can't help but hear that ridiculous commerical when ever he's mentioned

Big John Big John, Big ol John.

[MagickMuffin]

8. You can Thank the DSCC for NOT supporting OUR Candidate in last years election

Chuck Schumer refused to help our candidate Rick Noriega defeat Cornyn. Bill and Hillary campaigned for Rick, Hillary tried to get the DSCC to send Rick money, but NOOOOOOOO Chuckie thought it was way more important to give the money to incumbents who already had millions in their coffers mostly from Lobbyists. So, I will continue to BLAME Chuckie Schumer for Cornyn.

Rick Noriega a military veteran who served in Afghanistan, helped with Katrina/Rita, and Border Patrol. He would have been an excellent Senator.

Now Texas is stuck with this A**wipe.

[awnobles]

10. Thanks

for the reminder. You are right.

[MajorChode]

11. I hope Terri Moore gets it

I've seen her speak at local union meetings. She's very intelligent, knowledgeable, and a solid Democrat.