Wednesday, January 25, 2006
It Was There, But I Didn't Notice
But a better mind than mine did. Lorie Byrd at Polipundit has good thoughts on the Alito vote here. Money quote:
Every Democrat on the Judiciary Committee voted against Judge Alito, and virtually every Democrat is certain to do so on the Senate floor as well.
This is a new and unprecedented standard, and Republicans should return the favor if a Democrat becomes president.
From this day on, every Republican senator on the Judiciary Committee has an obligation to vote against any judge to the left of Attila the Hun. Indeed, every Republican senator has an obligation to so vote on any judicial nomination that comes to the floor.
If a future Democrat president wants to nominate a liberal, or even moderate SCOTUS Justice, he will only be able to do so with a Democrat Senate. Just as a Democrat Senate would only confirm liberal nominees, a Republican Senate will only confirm conservative nominees.
This is the new standard that Democrats have created, the Alito Standard.
And, given that the red states elect 62 senators, Democrats will regret the Alito Standard for years to come.
I, for one, am not sure what Attila's political affiliation was in the context of early 5th Century society, but I recognize the allusion. It may be similar to ignorant people thinking Hitler was not a socialist.
Every Democrat on the Judiciary Committee voted against Judge Alito, and virtually every Democrat is certain to do so on the Senate floor as well.
This is a new and unprecedented standard, and Republicans should return the favor if a Democrat becomes president.
From this day on, every Republican senator on the Judiciary Committee has an obligation to vote against any judge to the left of Attila the Hun. Indeed, every Republican senator has an obligation to so vote on any judicial nomination that comes to the floor.
If a future Democrat president wants to nominate a liberal, or even moderate SCOTUS Justice, he will only be able to do so with a Democrat Senate. Just as a Democrat Senate would only confirm liberal nominees, a Republican Senate will only confirm conservative nominees.
This is the new standard that Democrats have created, the Alito Standard.
And, given that the red states elect 62 senators, Democrats will regret the Alito Standard for years to come.
I, for one, am not sure what Attila's political affiliation was in the context of early 5th Century society, but I recognize the allusion. It may be similar to ignorant people thinking Hitler was not a socialist.
# posted by Roger Fraley @ 7:45 AM 
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Dear Ms. Byrd,
I confess I do not read your column but if the one Roger printed is typical, I am content in the realization, I have not missed much.
I suppose it would be inappropriate for me to suggest you smash your laptop and take a vow of silence based on one quote, so I will not. I will, however, suggest that you w/draw your cranium from your fundament. Natural light makes it easier to read history, or have you conveniently forgotten how the Republicans on the Judiciary Commitee obstructed the appointment of President Clinton's judicial nominees to an unprecedented degree?
I am not so naive as to believe that the current level of partisonhip and divisiveness is solely a product of the Republicans. Largely, yes. Solely, no.
What makes you think that any standard has been set? If you are unable to remember the obstructiveness of the Republicans on the Judicial Committee prior to 2001, perhaps you should study the actions of the Judiciary Committee regarding its vote on John Roberts which occurred slightly more than 5 months ago on September 22, 2005. The vote was 13-5 in favor.
I have no doubt that Judge Alioto will be confirmed. The good news is that it may shortly be possible to but machine guns on the open market.
Your pal in .50 cal,
Tony Sokolow
I confess I do not read your column but if the one Roger printed is typical, I am content in the realization, I have not missed much.
I suppose it would be inappropriate for me to suggest you smash your laptop and take a vow of silence based on one quote, so I will not. I will, however, suggest that you w/draw your cranium from your fundament. Natural light makes it easier to read history, or have you conveniently forgotten how the Republicans on the Judiciary Commitee obstructed the appointment of President Clinton's judicial nominees to an unprecedented degree?
I am not so naive as to believe that the current level of partisonhip and divisiveness is solely a product of the Republicans. Largely, yes. Solely, no.
What makes you think that any standard has been set? If you are unable to remember the obstructiveness of the Republicans on the Judicial Committee prior to 2001, perhaps you should study the actions of the Judiciary Committee regarding its vote on John Roberts which occurred slightly more than 5 months ago on September 22, 2005. The vote was 13-5 in favor.
I have no doubt that Judge Alioto will be confirmed. The good news is that it may shortly be possible to but machine guns on the open market.
Your pal in .50 cal,
Tony Sokolow
# posted by 
: 9:34 AM
: 9:34 AM
"If you are unable to remember the obstructiveness of the Republicans on the Judicial Committee prior to 2001...."
What was the vote on Justice Ginsburg's nomination, again? Oh, yeah, 96-3 (and the non-voting senator was a Democrat). And the vote took place only six weeks after the nomination. Those damnable obstructive Republicans.
"The good news is that it may shortly be possible to but machine guns on the open market."
From your lips to god's ears.
What was the vote on Justice Ginsburg's nomination, again? Oh, yeah, 96-3 (and the non-voting senator was a Democrat). And the vote took place only six weeks after the nomination. Those damnable obstructive Republicans.
"The good news is that it may shortly be possible to but machine guns on the open market."
From your lips to god's ears.
It would seem that the majority of the Senate was more favorably inclined toward J. Ginsjurg than they are toward J. Alito. What's your point? That because the Republicans did not oppose the appointment of J. Ginsburg, they were not obstructionist? Well, don't let any nasty facts interfer w/ your opinion.
"My lips to God's ears?" In fact, I think the Great Spirit has more important things to which to attend than to listen to me, but your comment suggests that you believe it would be beneficial to be able to but machine guns on the open market. Oh Doug. Why do you do me like you do w/ your 6.5mm Nambu while I admire you afar w/ my trusty BAR?
"My lips to God's ears?" In fact, I think the Great Spirit has more important things to which to attend than to listen to me, but your comment suggests that you believe it would be beneficial to be able to but machine guns on the open market. Oh Doug. Why do you do me like you do w/ your 6.5mm Nambu while I admire you afar w/ my trusty BAR?
# posted by : 2:58 PM
: 2:58 PM
Nambu's are sheit. The M-2 Browning Machine gun in .50 BMG (of course) goes for around $25,000 as do the great BARs. You must be doing well to consider these purchases. Your recollections about extraordinary Republican obstructionism is fantasy. Still like you though.
"What's your point?"
That seems a rather obtuse question. I'll not speculate on the reason. If the comment and its reason were unclear, I'm afraid further discussion of the issue would be fruitless.
"...your comment suggests that you believe it would be beneficial to be able to but machine guns on the open market."
Taking "but" for "buy", yes.
"Why do you do me like you do w/ your 6.5mm Nambu while I admire you afar w/ my trusty BAR?"
And here I figured you more for a Chauchat man; perhaps a Sten on the weekends. Live and learn, I suppose.
That seems a rather obtuse question. I'll not speculate on the reason. If the comment and its reason were unclear, I'm afraid further discussion of the issue would be fruitless.
"...your comment suggests that you believe it would be beneficial to be able to but machine guns on the open market."
Taking "but" for "buy", yes.
"Why do you do me like you do w/ your 6.5mm Nambu while I admire you afar w/ my trusty BAR?"
And here I figured you more for a Chauchat man; perhaps a Sten on the weekends. Live and learn, I suppose.
Roger,
As for my recollections regarding Republican obstructionism being "fantasy", I think "history" is a more appropriate term. Go and read the record.
The slowdown began when the GOP assumed control of the Senate in 1994. One figure I came across stated that GOP controlled senate failed to confirm 20% of Pres. Clinton appointees as opposed to Pres. Bush in which the De,ocats have blocked 3.6%.
In a 1997 year end report to Congress on the federal judiciary, C.J. Rehnquist pointed out that 1 in 10 seats on the federal judiciary were vacate; 26 had been vacant for at least 18 months; and 1/3 of the seats on the Ninth Circuit were vacant. He rebuked his fellow conservatives for "serious delays in the appointment process" a tactic he said was threatening the nations quality of justice.
Read history, don't revise it.
As for my recollections regarding Republican obstructionism being "fantasy", I think "history" is a more appropriate term. Go and read the record.
The slowdown began when the GOP assumed control of the Senate in 1994. One figure I came across stated that GOP controlled senate failed to confirm 20% of Pres. Clinton appointees as opposed to Pres. Bush in which the De,ocats have blocked 3.6%.
In a 1997 year end report to Congress on the federal judiciary, C.J. Rehnquist pointed out that 1 in 10 seats on the federal judiciary were vacate; 26 had been vacant for at least 18 months; and 1/3 of the seats on the Ninth Circuit were vacant. He rebuked his fellow conservatives for "serious delays in the appointment process" a tactic he said was threatening the nations quality of justice.
Read history, don't revise it.
# posted by : 1:12 PM
: 1:12 PM
I thought you were takling about this. Yes, it's true the party in power in the Senate when it's different than the President's party gets much more inefficient as the terrm ends in the hope that their party's candidate will live in the White House and be the one nominating the judges. All, I believe, of Clinton's first term nominees who were delayed in the wanhope he would be defeated were confirmed in the second. As long as you're not fillibustering them, dragging your feet at the end of the term is normal. I'll do the research on confirmation rates and email it to you. Oh, and because we're friends, I'll tell you that Doug insulted you with his speculation about which full auto guns you would like. Also that anyone on your side of the aisle voted against Roberts is proof of Democrat obstructionism not the reverse. See ya'
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