Obama's Judges Blocked At Historic Rate

[onehandle]

Source: Huffington Post

As the first congressional session of Obama's presidency draws to a close, what began as a slow process of confirmation has ballooned into a full-blown judicial crisis. The Senate has overseen the slowest pace of judicial staffing in at least a generation, with a paltry 39.8 percent of Obama's judges having been confirmed, according to numbers compiled by Senate Democrats. Of the 103 district and circuit court nominees, only 41 have been confirmed.

By this time in George W. Bush's presidency, the Senate had confirmed 76 percent of his nominees. President Clinton was working at a rate of 89 percent at this point in his tenure.

While the confirmation process is slower now (a function of a packed legislative calendar and Republican obstruction), Obama's nominating pace also lags behind his predecessors. His 103 total nominations compare to 142 by Clinton and 130 by Bush at this same juncture.

Ronald Reagan had twice as many judges confirmed by this time in his presidency, with his 87 confirmations dwarfing Obama's total. George H.W. Bush had moved 70 judges through the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/14/obamas-judges-blocked-historic-rate_n_796435.html

[defendandprotect]

1. What would have been going on had we done this to GOP....???

they also did this to Clinton --

so over decades now more and more right wingers are reaching powerful positions

which essentially more liberal/progressive candidates are being purged.

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. Isn't it obvious what's happening?

Republicans are using military strategies to take over this country. First the media, then the courts.

[whathehell]

10. With the help

of a milquetoast president and an equally milquetoast senate leader?

Could very well be.:eyes:

[tomm2thumbs]

3. don't worry, Obama now has his boxing gloves on. he already told us

he won't let this sit without a big 'ol fight

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. And he's such a sport, he's giving them a year head start.

[tomm2thumbs]

5. yes, jolly good sport

because he knows, as Howard Dean oft says,

'if you don't use your majorities, you lose your majorities'

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. It's time to get Machiavelli on their ass.

[Tx4obama]

11. Yes he can, BUT......

Regarding recess appointments:
Recess appointments only last until the end of each congressional session. Any appointments Obama would have made in 2010 would have expired Jan 2011. Even judges appointed during recess appointments eventually have to be voted on & confirmed by the Senate to make them permanent. IF Obama makes any recess appointments the best time to do so would be during the first recess of the new 2011-2013 session, that way they'd last closer to two years before they were to expire.”

Regarding the current republican obstruction of the nominees:
One of the problems is that it only takes 'one' republican senator to put a 'secret hold' on a nomination. Senator Claire McCaskill has been fighting the secret holds for most of 2010 and being quite vocal about getting that rule changed. IF the rules are changed the 'first day' of the new congressional session then with the elimination of secret holds things should get a little bit better. And if the dems get the filibuster reform that they're talking about then they won't have to have 60 votes anymore for cloture.”

Here's a list of Obama's judicial appointments (includes judges confirmed and those waiting in limbo): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_federal_judges_appointed_by_Barack_Obama

Links regarding the possible filibuster reform coming in January 2011:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4622280
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/13/filibuster-reform-coalition-launches_n_795774.html

[NeonDog]

8. Thanks Harry Reid, for showing us how not to govern

We might want to ask Senate Demoncrats just who's side they are on.
Judges...tax reform/overhaul...DADT..All these could have been taken up long before now...my god who wants to go back to their home state before the election with strong tax breaks for the middle class, small businesses, and manufacturing in hand????

[denverbill]

9. Don't know why they are blocking them. He's probably appointing conservatives anyway.

He hasn't got much a track record to suggest any progressive is going to be appointed.

[SkyDaddy7]

13. According to your comments/opinions is it not time to...

to change your avatar?

[gratuitous]

12. But we handed the wealthy another two years' credit to party on with

So there's that. Besides, what's a few judicial vacancies? Nothing to get too jazzed about or even all wee-wee'd up for. Certainly nothing anyone should complain to their pals in the popular media about, lest you be painted as some kind of malcontent.