NYT: Democrats Seek Greater Voice in Nomination, Tell Bush It Would Ease

[Pirate Smile]

Democrats Seek Greater Voice in Nomination, Telling Bush It Would Ease Process

WASHINGTON, July 9 - As President Bush and members of the Senate open a face-to-face dialogue over filling the vacancy on the Supreme Court, Democrats are encouraging the president to quickly seek their views on individual nominees as a way of avoiding a contentious confirmation battle.

"I would hope that he goes over some names with us," Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic leader, said as he prepared for a bipartisan breakfast session on Tuesday at the White House. "I don't think the country needs a squabble on this right now."

Mr. Reid and other Democrats credited the administration with steps taken so far to reach out to the Democrats via phone calls by the president, his chief of staff, Andrew H. Card Jr., and the White House counsel, Harriet Miers. The Democrats say a review of the prospective candidates could further ease the way by allowing Mr. Bush to hear their views before he announces his nominee.

"There are a lot of potential people who I think it would be fairly safe to indicate to the president that, unless something came up that none of us expect, they could make it through," said Senator Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, the senior Democrat on the Judiciary Committee. "Conversely, there are a number of names who I would say would have a very difficult time."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/10/politics/politicsspecial1/10congress.html

[brentspeak]

1. If the Democrats want to get any leverage on this

they need to get in front of the cameras en masse, and make it clear to people watching what ultra-right justices will do to this country. They need to persuade Americans that their lives and their children's lives and their grandchildren's lives will all be adversly affected by right-ideologues. The Democrats need to do this both in the national media and in the local media, so that constituents in Republican-held districts will put their Republican Congress members' feet to the fire.

[sojourner]

2. wish it weren't so, but I'm afraid they're going to continue with their

whiny rhetoric and sniveling begging............instead of acting with courage (along lines you suggest).

[stepnw1f]

4. Just As Long As The Media Allows Dems to Speak

The media's coverage of Democrats is intentionally bad. I do see there to be a political slant. If a democrat speaks, there's three right wing asshole pundits to trash them.

Imagine having your words constantly twisted by those in the media. Then your message gets hacked to fit into a perfect sound byte. Finally, your message is marginalized.

Thank God, though, for Air America Radio, Sundance, IFC, Link, Radio Power.org, DU, and the rest of the internet. We are slowly creating a new kind of media through digital global grassroots. A media that serves the people. Yes we are to the left, but all can decide for themselves which side of the political spectrum they are with faux on the other side. At least now, people have something to chose from. That's the goal. The corporate mergers have consolidated the media, pinching our journalism and controlling number of sources people had to choose from. We have more... more shit.

But I see hope on the horizon and am confident we are already winning. If there is one thing I know, is American was built on a Democracy, that protects your right to CHOSE!

MONOPOLIES are for fascist dictators. Not Democratically elected leaders.

[TahitiNut]

3. "Please, pretty please, Mr. Presuhdent, can we please say something?"

What're ya gonna do, Harry? Hold your breath and turn blue?

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[Voltaire99]

5. Heh. Anything to avoid a fight.

Harry'd be willing to let Gonzales torture him, too.