Is The GOP’s Pissing Match On Legal Nominations Getting Uglier?
It doesn’t take a whiz (*rim shot here*) to see the GOP strategy on legal nominations.
With a threat to filibuster Dawn Johnsen’s nomination to OLC, the Harold Koh smearing, and now Indiana judge David Hamilton, Specter has become the point man for GOP piss and moan.
Which is exactly what Specter wants, given his upcoming primary fight with hard-right opponent Pat Toomey. Can you say posturing for the rabid primary base? Specter, the only Republican in the room beyond Sen. Richard Lugar who was there sponsoring fellow Hoosier Hamilton’s nomination, got his ten minutes of camera time at the hearing and then left. Classy.
Anyone think this is simply a good faith moment of conscience for the GOP? Because I’m sensing some serious dung throwing in the offing.
And so is Nan Aron of AFJ:
A few weeks ago, all 41 Republican Senators sent a letter to President Obama , threatening that they will use filibusters to prevent majority votes on any nominee who will not rule based on the political agenda of the Republican senator from their home state.
But will this whine, grumble and obstruct strategy work?
Aides on the Judiciary committee suggested to me that there are two troubling signs. First: The inability of Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell to reach an agreement on a time for a floor debate and vote on Johnsen’s nomination (Reid spokeswoman Regan LaChapelle emailed to say "we are working to get an agreement to consider the nomination, and we hope to do so as soon as possible.") And second: Sen. Arlen Specter has said he’d withhold judgment on Johnsen’s nomination until he meets with her personally.
Call your Senators today. Tell them the rule of law is not something they should game. And that you will be watching what they do.
Especially the ones who just a few short months ago were bitching up one side and down the other about an "up-or-down vote."
If your Senator tends to be a conservative Dem, it is especially important to call. Dems hold 56 seats, there are two independents and the GOP holds 41 — several of the GOP votes are in flux, which means the GOP needs to peel off a few conservative Dems to have a solid shot at preventing cloture. I’d like that not to happen.
Over the two week Easter recess, try to get some face time with your Senators if they are holding any public meetings near you and give them a piece of your mind.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’ve had it with showboating over substance. And I’m all ears on ideas on how to combat this.
NOTE: We’ll have a live chat this afternoon at 3 pm ET/noon PT with folks from the Brennan Center for Justice about restoring the rule of law and some of the issues that have come up with legal nominations thus far. Hope you can join us!
To the phones!
Morning Christy.
Thanks for setting up another great chat for this afternoon.