A GOP Breakthrough?(no more blue slips)

[spotbird]

“Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Orrin Hatch has taken an aggressive new step in an effort to break through the obstruction of six Bush judicial nominees from Michigan.”

(more)

“The two Democrats who returned negative "blue slips" for the nominees, indicating they would not allow the nominations to go forward.”

“In the past, the opposition of both home-state senators has often been enough to kill nominations, but in a letter to Levin and Stabenow Friday, Hatch announced that he will schedule hearings for the nominees despite their opposition.”

(more)

http://www.nationalreview.com/york/york072103.asp

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First they reduced the power of the blue slip so that both Senators must agree; now they are eliminating it altogether. As each of the powers the minority has to protect itself from the arbitrary acts of the majority is taken away, how are the Republicans so sure that they will never again need those protections?

[patdem]

1. Well seems to me if 'majority rules'....GORE WON!

and get over it! :grr: :evilgrin:

[DUreader]

2. How are they sure? ESS and Diebold, Mediawhores and defunded Govt'

That is a wrap.

[w4rma]

3. I think the Dems would get behind a filibuster on this one

just to show why blue slips need to stay.

[pw]

4. I agree on filibuster

This is just a naked example of "one set of rules for us, another set for the rest of you peasants".

Either the republicans think they're not going to ever have to contend with democrats using these new rules against them, or they're trying to lock in whater they can get by whatever means they can.

[jbfam4]

5. Utah people

should be outraged that this crybaby Senator is at it again.

AT least Hatch didn't call in the police. We should protest this by thousands of calls and e mails to his office.