GOP Senators Threaten Filibuster Over Court Pick *UPDATED*
2009 May 26
If Obama selects an SC nominee who places feelings over the rule of law, GOP senators are threatening to filabuster.
A SC justice trying to legislate from the bench. Naw, that could never happen.
UPDATE: Sonia Sotomayor has been nominated. Here are some quotes that hopefully inspire the GOP to make good on their threat to filibuster:
“I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life,”
“court of appeals is where policy is made.”
Quotes courtesy of NYT.
[1]
Washington — President Barack Obama introduced the First Lady today as his nominee to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice David Souter. Mrs. Obama said this scenario was discussed when the two talked about the future on their first date in 1990.
“Over a hamburger, Barack said, ‘Michelle, whether or not this relationship goes anywhere, let’s pledge that whoever’s President first nominates the other to the Supreme Court. Deal?’
“Even then, I knew that everything he said came with an expiration date [ht: Geraghty, NRO]. I’d keep my part of the bargain if we went our separate ways, but I wasn’t sure he would. So I married him to keep him honest.
“You know, Souter’s seat originally should have been filled by a minority female,” Mrs. Obama continued. “It’s way overdue. I expect the Jewish and Latino communities to rally around me, as my first cousin, once removed, is a well-respected black Rabbi with close ties to Hispanics.
“When I’m seated, Alito had better continue to get coffee and answer the door during conferences,” Mrs. Obama said, adding ominously, “if he knows what’s good for the Court. No way I’m waiting on Thomas and Scalia. I don’t rule out a gender bias suit against colleagues if I’m dissed.”
Mrs. Obama continued, “My primary goal on the Court will be to repeal the 22nd amendment, an anachronism unworthy of a living Constitution.”
sarc/off
[2]
feelings. What is this? voting for the Homecoming Queen in High School?
[3]
And if they do–I am skeptical–is there any doubt that Harry Reid and the Dims will apply the nuclear option?
[4]
phineas gage permalink
And if they do–I am skeptical–is there any doubt that Harry Reid and the Dims will apply the nuclear option
Nuke not, lest they also be nuked.(someday it will be our turn to nuke)
[5]
‘Nuke not, lest they also be nuked.(someday it will be our turn to nuke)’
That’s just it, IP–our side will never do it, caving in every time. While as soon as they are in power, suddenly it will be no problem at all.
Happens every time.
The Independent Counsel law came back to bite them in the ass during the Clinton years, but in general they never pay any price as the GOP keeps bending over.
[6]
sindalin44 -
Given Souter’s votes, perhaps the seat would have been better filled by a minority female. She couldn’t have done much worse.
Republican Presidents have appointed some great justices in the past 60 years, haven’t they?
- Warren
- Brennan
- Blackmum
- Stevens
- O’Connor
- Kennedy
- Souter
Even notice how justices tapped by Democrats always turn out as expected?
[7]
A little history behind the Souter selection from Newsmax.com:
“In his 1996 political autobiography ‘Combat: Twelve Years in the U.S. Senate Rudman agreed with Phillips’ ideological assessment of Souter. Rudman wrote that he was convinced Souter would vote to uphold Roe v. Wade just by listening to Souter’s confirmation hearing testimony before the Senate in 1990.
“‘I thought that throughout his testimony, he had given clues to anyone who would listen, that neither as a believer in stare decisis (the Latin term for judicial respect for precedent), nor as a compassionate human being, was he likely to vote against Roe,’ Rudman wrote in his book.
“Rudman also revealed a behind-the-scenes strategy that the Bush administration used to make it appear Souter would side with the pro-life community.”
Warren Rudman is a former Republican (a term I use loosely) Senator from New Hampshire and a founder of the (liberal) Main Street Republican Partnership.
[8]
Ben Nelson was on Fox News Sunday, and he said he could not support an “activist” judge.
[9]
Well that must be blather, because anyone with a brain knows that an “activist judge” is exactly who we are going to get.
If “outside pressure” is what these senators need to experience in order to be persuaded to confirm, then “outside pressure” is what they shall receive.
[10]
This was a mistake on Kyl’s part.
First, the GOP should’ve waited until Obama made the nomination then filibrustered at the appropriate time. To show their hand now gives the Donks time to rethink their own strategy.
Second, if the GOP does filibuster and fail, they will seem weak an inept. Uhh, I mean weaker and more inept.
[11]
the media is already turning the very notion of a filibuster against an Obama nominee as the greatest threat to America and indeed THE WORLD since Global Warming!
While it is would be splendid if the Republicans really DID filibuster an activist nominee…I do believe they would wobbly pretty damn fast. But if they can bottle the nominee up in committee…
p.s. as I pointed out a couple weeks back, the NY Times was musing then about whether Obama would choose someone more “Centrist” for his first nominee…”like Ruth Bader Ginsburg
amazing, huh?
[12]
JustRand, if this wasn’t so serious that RBG quote would be funny.
This SC pick and the 3 or 4 additional picks Obama is likely to get in the next 4 or 8 years will determine the future of this nation.
We can go back in history and just counting the number of deaths alone, we can see what Liberals are capable of when they control the SC.
The murder rate increased and held steady when the SC ruled (twice) that capital punishment was unConstitutional. Look at the spike in the number of abortions in the few years after Roe v Wade and the yearly number of abortions since then.
[13]
the A/P headline is now:
“Conservative activists itching for Supreme Court fight”
They have been changing the headling on the exact same story for 3 days now…still trying to gin up the proper outrage amongst the “Eager To Be Victimized” Left!
the next headline will probably be something like:
“Conservative activists vow to dynamite the Supreme Court”
what the heck…they’re just making shit up anyway!
[14]
40 gop senators~~~maybe a dozen viable testicles in the lot.
[15]
“40 gop senators~~~maybe a dozen viable testicles in the lot.”
Maybe ….
[16]
Elected office seems to affect many in GOP like a powerful steroid, jacks up their superficial power to put up (poll) numbers at the expense of their manhood – a Devil’s bargain for which we pay the price.
[17]
Now ‘Senior White House Officials’ are saying it is urgent, imperative, that she be voted in prior to August recess.
They are always in such a rush to get through stuff that will affect us for years on end.
Slow down. Do it right.
[18]
In one of her most recent rulings Sotomayer was on the panel of judges that ruled against the New Haven firefighters (and in favor of affirmative action), a decision that resulted in the Supreme Court’s review of the case.
Basically, the City of New Haven decided not to promote any firefighters because no African-Americans passed the promotion exam.
If you watch Lou Dobbs regularly, you know all about the New Haven Fire Department promotion case. If you watch Shep Smith, you don’t (but you have greater familiarity with metrosexual/effeminine anchors).
[19]
“I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life,” Judge Sonia Sotomayer.
Imagine the uproar had John Roberts said, “I would hope that a wise Caucasian male with the richness of his experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a minority female who hasn’t lived that life.”
[20]
Guess which President first appointed Sonia Sotomayer to the Federal Bench?
1. George H.W. Bush
2. William Jefferson Clinton
3. George W. Bush
[21]
Would that be the one who looked for those thousand points of lights?
[22]
Imagine the uproar had John Roberts said, “I would hope that a wise Caucasian male with the richness of his experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a minority female who hasn’t lived that life.”
Hunt for the man
Comb the city, every street, every grate
You put a guard at every gate
Drag him out, shout the moment that you find him!
Damn!
Knock in the doors, lock up the city
Track him down through this town
And be quick about it…now!
[23]
great zot, who woulda thunk it
The rump rangers will be on high dungeon.
[24]
How quickly until the Ninth Circus swoops in?
[25]
If the 9th swoops in, that will throw it to the supreme court. This clearly is a stste matter, but the 9th circus will claim 14th amend protection for rump rangers.
[26]
As you so often put it, ‘correctamundo!’
[27]
http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=47838
[28]
Sotomajor to sit on the highest court, parlez-vous?
Sotomajor to sit on the highest court, parlez-vous?
Her colleagues she would chagrin, her aides she would knock
And her nagging could stop a cuckoo clock
Hinky, dinky, parlez-vous
Sotomajor to sit on the highest court, parlez-vous?
Sotomajor to sit on the highest court, parlez-vous?
She never could get the vote of a constitution believing woman or man
Cause the firefighters with the most merit but of the wrong color she wants to ban
Hinky, dinky, parlez-vous
[29]
THERE ONCE WAS A LITTLE CHICA NAMED SOTOMAYOR,
UPON THE HIGH COURT SHE WILL BE A PLAYER,
UPON THE CONSTITUTION SHE WILL SQUAT,
HER FORTE WILL BE JUDICIAL FIAT,
KEEP ON HAND PLENTY OF BAYER.
[30]
And her eyes have all the seeming
Of a demon that is scheming
[31]
Sotomajor, a racist, feminist and believer in Judicial Power Uber Alles!!!
But then, Obama knows the media will declare her to be the greatest thing to EVER happen to the bench!
[32]
open, boastful racism and judicial activism in your face. Who said Sharpton was the only one who could do that and get away with it?
[33]
Where is SharpTongue these days anyway?
[34]
Excellent article by Jonah Goldberg
[35]
Another look at Sotomayor:
Scenes from Judge Sotomayor’s courtroom