CNN: Senators spar over judicial nominee Kavanaugh

[DeepModem Mom]

Senators spar over judicial nominee
Kavanaugh denies involvement in wiretapping, detainee policies
From Bill Mears
CNN Washington Bureau
Tuesday, May 9, 2006


Brett Kavanaugh, right, with White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove during a 2004 campaign trip.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee laid out sharp partisan lines Tuesday in debating the qualifications of a top White House aide nominated for a prestigious judicial post.

It was Brett Kavanaugh's second appearance before committee, where his nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has languished since 2003.

The D.C. venue is considered by many to be second only to the U.S. Supreme Court in prestige among judicial panels in the country. Four of the high court's current members served on the D.C. Circuit.

'A political foot soldier'

Democrats pressed for a new hearing to question Kavanaugh over what role he might have played in the administration's secret wiretapping program of Americans suspected of terrorist ties. They also wanted to know about any dealings he might have had with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Several lawmakers attacked Kavanaugh's experience, temperament and political ties....

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/05/09/kavanaugh.hearings/index.html

[Rose Siding]

1. He told them he didn't know anything about torture or domestic spying

"Asked whether he had a role in White House policies covering the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, warrantless eavesdropping and torture of detainees overseas, Kavanaugh said he did not know about these issues until he read about them in the newspaper."

http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=12134658&src=rss/ElectionCoverage

Now where have I heard that before?.....

http://bostondirtdogs.boston.com.nyud.net:8090/Headline_Archives/schultz_180.jpg

[struggle4progress]

2. Kavanaugh Denies Role in Detainee Policies

.. Kavanaugh's resume and a downgraded rating by the American Bar Association provided targets for his opponents. He was an assistant to independent counsel Kenneth Starr during the impeachment probe of President Clinton and he worked on behalf of the Bush campaign during the election recount in 2000.

``Your experience has been most notable not so much for your blue chip credentials but for the undeniable political nature of your assignments,'' said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. ``It feeds an impression of partisanship that is, to put it mildly, not ideal for a nominee to a critically important lifetime post'' ..

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,,-5811114,00.html