ConfirmThem

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

Joseph Phillips urges the Senate majority to act. Here's part of his essay:

You really have to admire Democratic chutzpah. Judges that "discover" rights for homosexual marriage, that remove God from the public square and base constitutional decisions on "evolving standards" and international opinion seem the definition of radical to me. Such judicial thinking is demonstrably out of step with mainstream America, yet precisely the type of progressive thinking Democrats like to hear from their judges.

But at least Democrats know what they want and are disciplined enough to fight for it. Republicans in the Senate are so busy breaking rank, hand wringing and holding their fingers to the wind they have been unable to weave a clear and compelling message for the American people.

Frankly, I am tired of hearing Republicans whine. They have the majority. Use it!
….

Change the rules. Demand that the Senate go to the mattresses, but act! The president's judicial nominees deserve an up or down vote. Republicans owe it to their president and the entire Senate owes it to the voters….

Meanwhile, David Brooks is at it again, in the New York Times. He characterizes the effort to restore traditional up-or-down votes for majority-supported nominees as an "evangelical cause" that is at odds with "our founding documents." I guess someone forgot to tell all of those Senators serving from 1789 to 2002 that they were allowing their religious fervor to lead them astray of the Constitution. The previous column by Brooks, counseling Republican surrender, was discussed here at confirmthem.

By the way, don't miss this piece by yours truly.