But things might not go smoothly for the GOP in the next Congress. The likely new chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, moderate Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pennsylvania, already has warned the White House against trying to fill any upcoming Supreme Court vacancies with judges who would try to overturn abortion rights or are too conservative to be supported by Democrats and win confirmation. "I would expect the president to be mindful of the considerations which I am mentioning," said Specter, who won a fifth, six-year term. -CNN That looks positive.
Perhaps Specter sees the writing on the wall in PA with respect to more urban than rural voters. We'll have to see if Santorum has an easy ride to re-election or not to know if that is the case.
Why is the onus just on the President to make nominations that will be acceptable to Democrats? Don't they have the onus to accept at least some of his nominations. This is back-asswards. What are the chances that Spectre won't be the chairman of the senate judiciary committee?
The onus is on him to make nominations that will be approved. In order to get the nominations approved, at least some Democrats will have to vote yes. That is, until Dubya outlaws the Democratic party as part of his plan to bring the country together!
Who was that Senator who beat Anita Hill soundly around the head as a means to the end of getting very conservative Clarence Thomas on the Supremes?
wasn't the court really liberal for a long time after FDR? what's wrong with it getting to be conservative for a while?
This is already a court controlled by conservatives. Necons in control of civil liberties for 30-45 years is JUST what America needs...
The court is conservative now and has been for quite a long while. The problem is that the court is not conservative enough. Or better said, right wing conservatives want far right activist jurists. They want school prayer, no roe v wade, ten commandents in all public places, etc.
Because if he doesn't, those nominations will be blocked. They have. IIRC, only 5 out of around 200 of Bush's judicial nominees were blocked. I personally think that a 97.5% approval rate is pretty good. Virtually nil. Committee assignments and especially chairmanships (sp?) are assigned by virtue of seniority. Unless by some miracle Specter decides to resign that post, he will have it as long as he wants.
The biggest thing that I hope for WRT Bush's reelection is that, as a lame duck president, the GOP rank and file will not be as compelled to be in lock-step with the administration which will not be able to retaliate as effectively since they will be leaving in '08.
Originally posted by andymoon Because if he doesn't, those nominations will be blocked. <b>Which means that the Democrats are only doing exactly what they say the President has no right to do. And who's the party in power? Explain that one...</b> Virtually nil. Committee assignments and especially chairmanships (sp?) are assigned by virtue of seniority. Unless by some miracle Specter decides to resign that post, he will have it as long as he wants. <b>Who does the assigning? Or is it somehow automatic by seniority?</b>
Seniority rules and they have a term limit on chairmanships now. It somewhat pointless to nominate someone who can't get the sixty vote supermajority unless one wants to makes a political point.
With all due respect, and considering all the ramifications of the situation, I would just like to go on record as saying that Senator Specter is a jackass. Thank you.
no he's a politician who realizes the situation at hand. and if republican presidents can pander to the religious right why can't he pander to his constituency?
If you think it is just the religious right who have problems with abortion, you need to investigate further...
posted this earleir today in the Changing in Admin. thread: link: http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/11/04/election.main/index.html and even better news! when i was voting, the justices worried me the most. i dont mind having conservative policy makers (in fact i lean more conservative on many issues), but i feel more comfortable w/ a more liberal judicial members.
