GOP Presses for Timetable on Roberts Vote

[ConfuZed]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Republicans, determined to get John Roberts seated in time for the Supreme Court's fall term, pressed Democrats Tuesday to agree on a timetable for a final vote amid political wrangling over how much of Roberts' past legal writings must be made available to the Judiciary Committee.

Sen. Arlen Specter, the committee's chairman, said that if he can't get an agreement for a final confirmation vote before Sept. 29, he may start hearings during the last week of August. That would interrupt the Senate's traditional monthlong summer vacation.

``Unless we can get assurances, we may have to go to August 29,'' said Specter, R-Pa., who said his preference would be to start hearings on Sept. 6. Specter refused to give a deadline for his decision.

``We are looking for ways to have commitments or assurances that we can vote Judge Roberts no later than Thursday, September the 29, which would enable us to swear him in on the 30th, and have him get his seat on October 3,'' Specter said. ``If we cannot have those kind of assurances, then it may be necessary to go to the August 29th date, because there are many unpredictable factors which can arise to delay the proceedings.''

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5168590,00.html

[Lerkfish]

1. so, where's the fire? whats the hurry?

why do two weeks make any difference?

why does bolton have to be a recess appt.?

Planning something, are we, neocons?

[54anickel]

6. You're not the only one wondering what the rush is all about

Bush Uses Smoke and Mirrors to Obscure Roberts Record

http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=19308

People For the American Way President Ralph G. Neas said today that the White House is releasing a relative handful of already publicly available documents written by Supreme Court nominee Judge John Roberts in order to hide the fact that critical documents from his tenure in the Reagan and Bush I administrations are being withheld.

Despite the fact that such documents have been provided to the Senate in previous Supreme Court nominations, the Bush White House is refusing to give the Senate Roberts’ papers from his tenure as a Deputy Solicitor General during the Bush “41” Administration. And while a limited number of Roberts’ papers are already available from the Reagan presidential library, the White House is slow-rolling release of the overwhelming majority of the documents so there will be insufficient time for Senators to assess the papers before Roberts’ confirmation hearings.

snip>

Neas said the White House is pursuing a dual strategy to obfuscate Roberts’ record: stonewalling on the documents, while simultaneously pressing for confirmation hearings in August to push the Roberts nomination through with unprecedented speed.

“What’s the rush? What questions do they want to avoid? John Roberts lacks a public record on key constitutional issues, yet the most ideological members of the radical right are wildly enthusiastic about this nomination. What do they know that we don’t?” Neas asked. “This is the highest court in the land. The American people deserve a painstaking and thorough examination of this nominee.”

[ClintonTyree]

2. We cannot let them ram this ultra-conservative down our throats...

unless he's fully vetted, and that means seeing ALL of the material the Democrats want! This deadline bullshit is way out of line.
bush HAS NO political capital anymore, turd-blossom and his cover-up spent it all. The Slugs are in no position to dictate anymore, although they'll still try like hell.

[MGKrebs]

3. "Specter refused to give a deadline for his decision."

:banghead:

[Todd B]

4. So a timetable is ok for a SC nominee but not for Iraq?

They'll set a timetable for a vote on a Supreme Court nominee but not on withdrawing from Iraq?

Shows you were the GOP priorities lie...

[AllyCat]

17. My thoughts exactly n/t

[CAcyclist]

5. Fine, Then Release All The Papers

The huge pro-roberts blitzkreig in the newspapers and the Repubs now trying to fast-track this appointment really make me think we are making a huge mistake by focusing so much energy on Rove. We need to be fighting this Roberts appointment - if he was really so moderate, the newspapers wouldn't be deluging us with all these stories about how great he is.

And as for that, I haven't heard anything substantial that backs up these news stories about how great he is. Every decision he makes seems to be a bad one in my opinion.

[jayctravis]

7. Why do they even bother with the advise and consent part?

If it's just a freaking formality like they're acting, then why is it in place? Perhaps this is the question the lawmakers need to look at.

[MGKrebs]

10. Why even have proportional representation?

They keep saying they want an "up or down vote" on everything, no fillibusters, minimal to no debate, fast track, midnight votes. Well, since they are the current majority, there would be no function for a minority party if everything just went right to an up or down vote. It's ludicrous. 48% (or more) of the country are not being represented fairly, and the Repubs don't care.

[AlGore-08.com]

8. They're trying to create another "win/win" situtation for themselves

They nominate somebody who they know will get instant good press and a certain amount of "moderate" Dem support based on his insider status and personal charm...

Then they refuse to cough up his papers while demanding a time table and a quick confirmation, threatening the nuclear option, so that Dems will be too afraid of the negative consequences if they push back...

And if the Dems push back, we get negative publicity for attacking somebody who "seems reasonable" to the underinformed public...

[wurzel]

9. The sooner the WH releases the information the sooner the vote.

[samsingh]

11. response to GOP

we should stay the course, do it right, not rush into anything.

oh - and what's the timetable for withdrawal from Iraq?

[movonne]

12. Let's start by giving us a timetable on Iraq, and then we will

get back to a timetable on Roberts....

[Roland99]

13. A timetable? That's what the terrorists want!!

[jsamuel]

14. Wow... HAHAHAHAHA

Now THEY want a timetable!

:rofl:

[ck4829]

15. They are counting their chickens before the eggs are hatched

"We can vote Judge Roberts no later than Thursday, September the 29, which would enable us to swear him in on the 30th, and have him get his seat on October 3".

He is so sure that Roberts will be confirmed, but he might be correct.

[dweller]

16. something's burning...i smell smoke

where is it coming from???

dp