ConfirmThem

By AndrewHyman Posted in Senate Rules — Comments () / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

Both sides agree that the other side is attempting a partisan power grab and violating its rights. This picture is from a recent Democratic protest at the Supreme Court (the boxes are supposed to be full of petitions).

A dispassionate analysis reveals that the Democratic Party, in 2003, conducted the first-ever filibuster to derail a judicial nominee who was clearly supported by a majority. They filibustered Miguel Estrada because this constitutionalist nominee "is Latino, and the White House seems to be grooming him for a Supreme Court appointment." Since then, the minority has been filibustering one qualified nominee after another. Any responsible majority party would be obligated to defend its prerogatives.

The minority did a hatchet job on Priscilla Owen, waged a campaign of distortion against Janice Rogers Brown, and filibustered other nominees for simple revenge. This whole controversy has been really unfortunate. President Bush now has the lowest appellate confirmation rate of any modern president, going back at least to Harry Truman, and the reason is these filibusters. This controversy has to do with much more than individual people, and involves vital issues regarding the rule of law, and the separation of powers, as discussed many times here at confirmthem.

As far as petitions and public opinion are concerned, you can get any results you want if the questions are slanted enough. For polls that show strong support for what the GOP is trying to do, see here and here. And please consider signing the petitions listed on the upper right of this confirmthem page.