ConfirmThem

tbaugh

In discussing the new Janet Neff problem, the Grand Rapids Press, in reporting that Senator Stabenow insists it is a "package deal" on the Michigan nominees, said "In the compromise to clear a logjam of judicial nominations, Stabenow and Sen. Carl Levin, D-Detroit, insisted on including Neff with the other two. All three had moved out of the Senate Judiciary Committee and were on their way to the full Senate before Brownback held up Neff."

I agree it should be a package deal--Neff should not be confirmed before Murphy and Kethridge. But I did not know they were out of committee. Are they? Or is it the case that Neff (the compromise nominee for the Democrats) has been reported out but the 6th circuit nominees have not?

Sheesh...I never see any comments on here anymore. Is it just because of the judicial season hasn't turned to confirmation battles and/or retirements anymore?

tbaugh, according to the following report, Neff has been approved by the Judiciary Committee whereas Kethledge and Murphy have not.

http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/noms/109.pdf

maybe the site will pick up again after the elections. I'll put more pressure on the Redstate bigwigs to make some improvements, such as stamping each blog post with the date, making links in comments clickable, reinstalling pingbacks/trackbacks, adding to the blogroll (e.g. the great site "Above the Law"), et cetera.

Where's Mike? Won't Big John give permission to sign?

tbaugh

Thanks, Andrew. Then let's hold Stabenow to her word--it a package deal, and Neff doesn't go through until Murphy and Kethledge do (and unfortunately it appears it will remain Sen. Stabenow after election day unless some terrific movement happens between now and then).

Brownback needs to remove his hold on Neff until Kethledge and Murphy are confirmed. It should be easy for Frist in the upcoming lame duck session to wait on Neff's nomination until after Kethledge and Murphy are voted on, then Brownback can put his hold back on Neff if he still wants. Brownback would be a fool, however, to scuttle upfront the nominations of two more Republican COA nominees by aggravating Levin and Stabenow. There is no doubt in my mind that those two liberals would love a reason to get out of their White House agreement in order to save the two open 6th Circuit seats for a Democrat president to fill in 2009.

tbaugh

I agree BoBo--so long a Frist holds off on the Neff vote until Murphy and Kethledge catch-up by getting voted out of the judiciary committee.

Second hearing on Neff's nomination refused

Neff was the pick of Levin and Stabenow. Bush chose East Grand Rapids attorney Robert
Jonker and Berrien County Circuit Judge Paul Maloney. The three were voted out of the
Judiciary Committee in September, and were headed to a vote in the full Senate until
Brownback intervened.

Kethledge and Mirphy are still in Committee - not part of the package deal in any event, and never will be related to Brownback's hold.

As I understand it, you are incorrect. The deal Levin and Stabenow negotiated with the White House includes both district AND COA nominees - no Neff, no Murphy and Kethledge.

The deal Levin and Stabenow negotiated with the White House includes both district AND COA nominees

If that's true, then Levin and Stabenow are damn good negotiators. Wonder what they have that would cause the WH to give so much?

And, if you can, is there a source for this deal including Kethledge and Murphy? Or is this "inside information" with little corroboration?