Another Flight Suit for the NEO-CONS?

New York Times Columnist NEIL A. LEWIS covers the spectacle in the clubby Senate chamber: Angered by Democrats' Filibusters, Republicans Stage Their Own

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12 — The Senate on Wednesday began an extraordinary 30-hour through-the-night session initiated by Republicans to dramatize what they say is the unfairness of the Democrats in blocking four of President Bush's judicial nominees.
So cots to sleep on (long enough for a photo op?) were rolled into the Senate chamber last night so the NEO-CON Republican members could stage a media spectacle with the White House instead of working on the problems we need solutions for TODAY.

UPDATE: Says Dean, "Three million people have lost their jobs and the Republicans are worried about jobs for four right-wing ideologues. Over 400 Americans have been killed in a needless war and the Republicans are worried about the well-being of these four right-wingers. We just sent $87 billion to Iraq that we could have used for healthcare, education and jobs here at home, and the Republicans are worried about these four judgeships."
Republicans called the exercise an important and needed display of "justice for judges" while Democrats said it was a stunt and a preposterous waste of time.
Despite losing the popular vote, and mandate, to Al Gore in 2000 (by about 500,000 votes) the voice of the Republican moderates is silent as idealogues like Senator Rick "man on dog" Santorum lead George Bush and the NEO-CONS' fight to stack the courts with those who think like them and their most conservative voting base.
Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, an assistant Republican leader and a principal architect of the session, told reporters, "We'll work well into the night on Thursday night, and we will do what is best for this country and what is best for the Constitution to try to restore the tradition and precedent of the Senate to get up-or-down votes on judicial nominations for the sake of this country and for the sake of the independence of the judiciary."
Hmmmm, what about the result that life time appointees can have on our individual freedoms?
Republicans are angered that although they have 51 votes, a slim majority, they have not been able to get all of President Bush's judicial nominees confirmed. The Democrats have succeeded in blocking, so far, four of Mr. Bush's nominees to the federal appeals courts, the level just below the Supreme Court, while confirming 28 appeals court judges.
Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois voiced the prevalent Democratic view, saying, "This is all about grinding red meat for their conservative wing." Conservative activists have, in fact become increasingly vocal in their condemnation of the Republican caucus for not doing more on the judges issue.
Sounds like another flight suit to me. If you have a chance, check out some of the theatrics (from both sides) on CSPAN today. "Hypocrisy," trumpets Senator Tom Harkin D-IA.

(this posted as continuing coverage shared with DeanTV.org)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Gay Saudi Arabia

Five Things Dean Supporters Can Do Right Now to Fight Terrorism