‘Party of No’ Continues To Hold Obama Judges Hostage
‘Party of No’ Continues To Hold Obama Judges Hostage
Last June, ThinkProgress reported that Senate conservatives were using single-senator anonymous holds to deny dozens of Obama nominees the up-or-down vote Republicans used to think was so important.
Four months later, nothing has changed. Since taking office last January, only four of President Obama’s judicial nominees have been confirmed, despite the fact that President Bush’s judges received very different treatment:
Consider, for example, the judicial nominations process during President George W. Bush’s last two years in office, 2007 and 2008. Bush was deeply unpopular at the time, and he faced a Senate firmly under Democratic control. Still, a large number of Bush nominees sailed through. The Senate voted on more than one-third of Bush’s confirmed nominees (26 of 68) less than three months after the president nominated them. [...]
The story was similar in the first two years of Bush’s presidency: A Democratic majority in Congress confirmed 100 of Bush’s nominees in 17 months, even after delays due to a change in party control of the Sen. after Senator James Jeffords left the Republican Party in May 2001.
Blocking nearly every single one of a President’s nominees is unprecedented, but conservatives have played Calvinball with the Senate’s confirmation rules for decades. During the Reagan and Bush I Administrations, then-Senate Judiciary Chair Joe Biden (D-DE) followed a longstanding rule allowing a nominee’s home state senators to block a judicial nominee, but only if both senators agreed to do so. After President Clinton took office and conservative Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) became judiciary chair, however, the rules suddenly changed to allow a single-home state senator to veto a nominee — a power that segregationist Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC) used to block every single one of Clinton’s nominees from North Carolina. Yet when Bush II took office, Hatch eliminated the home-state senator veto altogether.
This time, however, the right doesn’t even have enough votes to maintain a filibuster if the Majority Leader insists that President Obama’s nominees deserve the same favorable treatment he gave to President Bush’s; the only question is how long Reid will let the “Party of No” say no to Obama’s judges.
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At this point the GOP as a whole has ZERO integrity. They will do everything they can to make it harder for Obama to do his job. They dont CARE about America. They are afraid if Obama starts to bring the economy back and DOES manage a popular healthcare reform it will highlight how incompetent and disasterous the Bush administration was and they will be out of power for a generation
October 29th, 2009 at 11:30 amAnd the GOP complains how that there are so many empty seats in the judiciary.
And that we don’t have a Surgeon General.
And that Obama took so long to appoint a FEMA director
And…
The GOP is full of shit. Legislating out of spite is no way to govern. The Dems had more class than that; it’s a shame the GOP doesn’t.
October 29th, 2009 at 11:36 amIf Democrats had their own propaganda outlet like the Republicans have Fox this kind of nonsense would have to stop.
October 29th, 2009 at 11:36 amThey’re no longer the “Party of No” — they’re now the “Party of No Vote“. Anything the GNoP disagrees with, they’re using procedural trickery to prevent from coming to a vote.
It would appear that the only “up or down” that they now support involves hookers, women other than their wives, and congressional pages…
October 29th, 2009 at 11:37 amI seem to recall the GOP saying confirmations deserved an up-or-down vote on the floor.
October 29th, 2009 at 11:37 amI can’t believe Bohner had the balls to critize the Obama Adminstration when the Repug Party has done nothing but obstruct him in every way. The People whi elect these idiots must have either a low IQ, or are totally ignorant.
October 29th, 2009 at 11:38 amThe Calvinball analogy is just exactly perfect for how the conservatives approach Obama’s presidency in general.
October 29th, 2009 at 11:39 amThis is why we need stem cell research. Someone needs a spine transplant.
Cheers,
October 29th, 2009 at 11:41 amObstructionism, I think, is not a winning plan.
October 29th, 2009 at 11:42 am#1 EugeneDebs says:
At this point the GOP as a whole has ZERO integrity. They will do everything they can to make it harder for Obama to do his job….
They will run the country into the ground if they can (as LimpBalls says, he hopes that Obama fails; he wants him to fail). They will do so for the sole purpose of (expected) political gain [with a slight whiff of racism and revenge tossed in]. They don’t mind if the United States is trashed, as long as they get to sit on top of all the pieces in the end, and get first crack at picking through the rubble for any remaining nuggets.
Cheers,
October 29th, 2009 at 11:45 amI’m sure b-kkkup will explain to us all, with links to hotair to back up her claim, that the GOPigs are justified in their action.
October 29th, 2009 at 11:49 amHas anybody ever properly explained the relevance or legality of allowing a single anonymous Senator to place a block on a vote? These people work for the American people and should be forced to step forward and fillibuster if they want to hold up the works. After they have their say put it to an up or down vote. How hard is that? If anonymous holds are acceptable what is to prevent the Republiscum from NEVER allowing a vote on these nominees? It seems that over the years the Senate Judiciary Chair sets the rule so why does Leahy allow this bullshit?
October 29th, 2009 at 11:54 amHow can Obama get the job done with republicans not allowing him to fill his roster? The Republicans are the ones thwarting and damaging this country out of sheer, spoiled spite. The American people need to remember this when they go to the polls.
October 29th, 2009 at 11:56 amfreeman will be along to tell us that it’s actually the dems who are holding up these nominations.
October 29th, 2009 at 11:57 amThe anonymous single Senator hold is perhaps the most egregious example of tyrannical rule I know of.
It is not democratic in the least.
It is cowardly and craven.
October 29th, 2009 at 11:58 amRepublicans are scum…but then we already knew that.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:02 pmRepugs have only one plan and that is to destroy this country. If they can’t make this a christofacist country then they’ll burn it to the ground. Keep watching them behave like this all you “independent voters”.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:02 pmRecalcitrant repiggies remain resolutely wrongheaded.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:05 pmI’m beyond words. This is……… wrong.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:05 pmThe repiggies are not the party of “Know.”
The repiggies are the party of “No.”
They don’t wish to govern.
They just wish to legally shift more wealth to themselves and their corporate
October 29th, 2009 at 12:07 pmmasters.
evangenital says: @20.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:10 pmIs it really even legal what they’re doing?
Being the “Party of No” is not helping them in any way. The latest WSJ/NBC poll has the Republicans now at 17%. They lost another 1% of their people in the last month when they were at 18%.
From the 10/24/09 WSJ/NBC Poll
Generally speaking, do you think of yourself as a Democrat, a Republican, an independent, or something else? (IF “DEMOCRAT” OR “REPUBLICAN,” ASK:) Would you call yourself a strong (Democrat/Republican) or not a very strong Democrat/Republican)? (IF “INDEPENDENT,” ASK:) Do you think of yourself as closer to the Republican Party, closer to the Democratic Party, or do you think of yourself as strictly independent?
Strong Democrat..…………………..24
October 29th, 2009 at 12:11 pmNot very strong Democrat ………. …. 6
Independent/lean Democrat…………… 13
Strictly Independent ……………….. 7
Independent/lean Republican ………… 14
>>>>>> Not very strong Republican………………… 7
>>>>>> Strong Republican ………………………. 10
Other (VOL)……………………….. 6
Not sure………………………….. 3
The Dems in the Senate should hold a ‘Judicial Vote Day’ where every nominee that has been through committee hearings and has been waiting more than 3 months gets an up or down vote.
The Senate Dems should announce what they are doing and why, then run votes on all the judges. With 60 votes they can dismiss whatever delaying nonsense the R’s throw up.
Judicial Vote Day!
October 29th, 2009 at 12:12 pmUSN clerk, it is perfectly legal what they are doing, because they have made it perfectly legal over the years, especially since 1994.
A fine example of this is what is currently happening with medical insurance.
Keep in mind that virtually all health-insurance companies were not-for-profit until Gingrich and his bunch let all hell break loose in 1995, allowing the companies to go for profit.
I remember that before 1995 there were really no health insurance problems to speak of, with no one being denied coverage due to pre-existing condition and the like.
Before 1995 I can’t ever recall anyone going broke due to the costs of medical care, and companies had no problem whatsoever insuring their employees at reasonable rates.
Contrast those conditions with the mess we have now.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:15 pm..but conservatives have played Calvinball with the Senate’s confirmation rules for decades.
I’m sorry, but at some point, the Democrats deserve part of the blame for allowing themselves to be kicked around and used as door mats.
Of course the America/democracy hating Republiscums are going to continue with their obstructionism if the Democrats simply bend over and ask for more.
Get some f***ing BALLS DEMOCRATS! It’s your country, too, or have you forgotten?
October 29th, 2009 at 12:16 pmLunaluz says:
How can Obama get the job done with republicans not allowing him to fill his roster?
He can’t, and that’s why they are doing it. They couldn’t beat him in the election so they are trying to beat him through political maneuvering. It is not only judge appointments they are holding up. They have a hold on ALL his appointments.
I really do wish that President Obama would make them all recess appointments on the next break for Congress. The Republicans did it, so why can’t the Democrats. Why are they tolerating this? Why aren’t they out there every day pointing out how much damage the Republicans are doing by holding up these appointments?
October 29th, 2009 at 12:16 pmThe GOP:
“Obstructionism. It’s whats for dinner.”
The GOP:
“We don’t want no appointees by a n****r.”
This one is a little OT but…..
The GOP:
“Healthcare? We want WEALTHCARE instead”.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:18 pmF’ing GOP!!
October 29th, 2009 at 12:18 pmI think they should abolish the secret senator hold because it abrogates the balance of powers and denys transparency in the peoples government.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:18 pm#6 P.D. says:
————————————————————–
I can’t believe Bohner had the balls…
You should have just stopped there, it says it all.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:19 pmThe repugs are obsessed with playing political football,
and all they can do is play defense as long as the dems have the ball.
Meanwhile, they have no quarterback, and the rest of their offense
are corporate sellouts with psychopathic tendencies.
We need to kick them all to the curb, and expose their motives for obstructing our country’s progress.
I really dislike football.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:21 pmIf you vote for any repiggie these days, you deserve what you may get from them – absolutely nothing.
If you don’t vote for any repiggie these days, keep the faith and keep fighting.
Their numbers are dwindling, and they are hopping mad about it.
A cornered snake can be quite dangerous.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:21 pmYou see a boxer who doesn’t move a muscle as his opponent continues to punch him in the face.
Do you:
October 29th, 2009 at 12:22 pma) call his opponent a loser because he keeps punching?
or
b) call the boxer a moron for not moving out of the way?
So after some research what I found was that the reasoning behind allowing anonymous holds was to protect a Senator’s right to be consulted on legislation that affected the Senator’s state or that they had a great interest in. The ability to place a hold would allow that Senator an opportunity to study the legislation and to reflect on what it means before moving forward with further debate and voting. So once again we see Repigs bending rules to suit their political goals. Holding up a floor vote on Presidential nominees for six months is reprehensible. Repigs should respect the main intent of the rule and if it is abused Senator Leahy should first expose the Anonymous Senator then bring these nominees directly to the floor for an up or down vote. From what I’ve read, there is nothing in this rule that would prevent anonymous holds being put on the HC Reform Bill, as the Repigs have used this technique several times over the last couple of years to block the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006,
October 29th, 2009 at 12:23 pmthe Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act,the OPEN Government Act and the slew of blocks that Senator Tom Coburn attempted which later forced the now famous Omnibus Act (known on the Hill as the “Tom-nibus Act).
The GOP:
“We’ll make America fail for you so you won’t have to.”
THE GOP:
“We needed the elderly last August but by October, we shall shove you to the curb. Using people for our own personal gains is what we do best.”
October 29th, 2009 at 12:24 pmRather ironic the repubs whine about Obama’s Czars, when their
October 29th, 2009 at 12:29 pmstalling every single approval vote on his major appointees.
i agree with #33…and go beyond it. It is hard to hold one’s head up as a democrat these days when our alleged leaders allow such simple bullying to go on and on…What the hell good is 60 votes if we can not stop/prevent fillibusters, even get VOTES on nomiees let a lone have them seated?
This is truly a congressional leadership with a spine right now–let us repalce Reid with someone who will actualy govern beyond fear of the big bad minority party.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:30 pmi meant to say ‘without a spine’ apologies
October 29th, 2009 at 12:30 pmWhat the GOP is doing is so hypocritical its mind boggling. The posters pointing out the Dems are rolling over are also right. I am sick to death of Dems taking a knife to a gunfight. Heck they take BEANBAGS to a gunfight. Its time. Stop with the enabling. Make the GOP either start playing the game right or change the game to scorch their nutsacks. Just pulverize them unless they get with the program.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:38 pmKaneJeeves says:
You see a boxer who doesn’t move a muscle as his opponent continues to punch him in the face.
I think you’re the first person I’ve ever heard retell stories of seeing Senator Harry Reid as a former boxer….:)
October 29th, 2009 at 12:44 pm24. Thanks for the clarification. I’ve only been a resident of the US since 2002. Before that I was in Canada, where we had that crazy national healthcare plan. And everyone could see the doctor.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:51 pmfcuk jesse helms. i bet dimes to dollars that good ol’ boy is scuking satans c0ck right now.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:51 pmOT now that I think about this last post of mine, sorry.
October 29th, 2009 at 12:51 pmObama’s nominees deserve the same favorable treatment he gave to President Bush’s; the only question is how long Reid will let the “Party of No” say no to Obama’s judges.
F’ing GOP!!
October 29th, 2009 at 12:18 pm Vote Up | Vote Down | (-1) | Report Abuse
AllRIIIGHT!! I got a vote down for quoting the OP! See that Ian, we got a vote down from these clowns!
October 29th, 2009 at 1:01 pmAs others have noted; where the hell are the Democrats? Why isn’t this a part of every speech they make…even if it doesn’t relate to the topic? If the Dems are afraid of the Repulsives then shame on them. They are enablers. The fact that the public vote continues to grow more “progressive” every month says to me that the more people learn, and the more they know, the more likely they will support their own interests and their own welfare. Repubs are bullies and Dems are wimps.
October 29th, 2009 at 1:17 pmljm, it’s a hard question. We’ve started being successful without being like the republicans….
What do we win if we decend to their level?
Americans have to see through the charade. That is our task I think, not to emulate the republicans.
October 29th, 2009 at 1:20 pmbeefswallower
You are a known commodity. That is you are a liar an ignorant punkass troll and a stupid pile of dogshit. No one needs to read your posts to KNOW you are trolling and acting like the stupid punktroll you are
October 29th, 2009 at 1:29 pmSo how do you decide which words to bold?
October 29th, 2009 at 1:40 pmFred, your point is well taken and my post might be too emotional. However, I still believe that Americans should hear again and again that the Republicans are negative, act negatively, and speak negatively and should not always get away with it. You’re right that we can assume “the task” but we certainly don’t have the platform that the Dems do. Look at how much coverage Rep. Grayson got for hitting them hard for their hypocrisy. It’s great we have sites like TP to share our thinking though.
October 29th, 2009 at 3:37 pmYawn……….
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/05/09/bush.judges/
October 29th, 2009 at 4:23 pmIf the Republicans could constantly change the rules for judicial appointments to whatever benefitted them when they were in power, then the Democrats should be able to do the same. So if the Republicans are successfully preventing Obama’s nominations from getting up-or-down votes, the blame lies more with incompetent Democratic Senate leadership than it does with the Republicans.
October 29th, 2009 at 4:57 pmSlappyMORON give it up. There is no pity for you here. Your constant begging is a waste of time
October 29th, 2009 at 5:41 pmApparently Sen. Reid can’t walk and chew gum — he’s been dealing with health care, so he can’t deal with the judges’ confirmation.
He has a staff of how many? He can’t deal with the very important matter of judicial appointments?
Finally, the MSM fails AGAIN to report this to the public — the unfairness of it all, the hazards of insufficient judges, the intransigent bullying of the Repugs — why isn’t that on the front pages?
Oh, right, Levi Johnston dissed his ex-future – motherinlaw.
I am sick and tired of the meaid falling down on the job.
The editors of the newspapers I read (3) are probably sick and tired of hearing from me, beating the same drum every time I write – but I intend to keep it up until they start doing their job.
October 29th, 2009 at 6:16 pmFilthy lying pigs. The GOOP dropped the last shred of decency decades ago.
October 29th, 2009 at 9:36 pm