After Trying To Abolish Filibusters Of Judicial Nominees In '05, GOP Threatens To Filibuster Obama's Nominees

News Type: Event — Seeded on Tue Mar 3, 2009 7:47 PM EST

Article Source: Think Progress

In 2004, frustrated by successful efforts by Senate Democrats to block 10 of President Bush's judicial nominees, Senate Republicans threatened use the "nuclear option" to remove the minority's right to filibuster judicial nominations. "One way or another, the filibuster of judicial nominees must end," said then-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) in a speech to the Federalist Society.

But now that they are out of power and President Obama has the ability to appoint judges, Republicans are threatening a filibuster of judges if Obama doesn't appease them. In a letter to the White House yesterday, all 41 Senate Republicans "requested that Obama respect the Senate's constitutional role in reviewing judicial nominees by seeking their consultation about potential nominees from their respective states." Politico explains their obstructionist threat:

"Regretfully, if we are not consulted on, and approve of, a nominee from our states, the Republican Conference will be unable to support moving forward on that nominee," the letter warns. "And we will act to preserve this principle and the rights of our colleagues if it is not."

In other words, Republicans are threatening a filibuster of judges if they're not happy.

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{"commentId":5719908,"authorDomain":"nearing"}

nearing

As RightWingWatch points out, it’s “amazing” how soon after trying to “blow up the Senate with the ‘nuclear option’ in order to get rid of the filibuster, the Republicans in the Senate are now demanding a veto over the President’s nominees and threatening to filibuster if they don’t get their way.”

But the Senate GOP’s filibuster flip-flop should come as no surprise. In fact, their opposition to judicial filibusters during the Bush years was itself a change from their previous position, which supported filibustering Democratic-appointed judges.

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So let them!!

Why are the Dems so afraid of a damn filibuster? Let them show themselves for the obstructionists that they are!

Make sure it's done according to the books too. Bring in the phone books, porta-pottees, cots and pizzas.

{"commentId":5719908,"threadId":"517581","contentId":"2502403","authorDomain":"nearing"}

4 votes

#1 - Tue Mar 3, 2009 7:58 PM EST

{"commentId":5723211,"authorDomain":"Blearc"}

Blearc

The world record holders of the filibuster, are going to continue the practice.

{"commentId":5723211,"threadId":"517581","contentId":"2502403","authorDomain":"Blearc"}

2 votes

#2 - Tue Mar 3, 2009 10:53 PM EST

{"commentId":5730172,"authorDomain":"arad"}

Arad

I believe this pretty much fits the definition of irony.

{"commentId":5730172,"threadId":"517581","contentId":"2502403","authorDomain":"arad"}

1 vote

#3 - Wed Mar 4, 2009 10:22 AM EST

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NEARING

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After Trying To Abolish Filibusters Of Judicial Nominees In '05, GOP Threatens To Filibuster Obama's Nominees

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