Anonymous Republican Senator Places Hold On Top Justice Department Nominees»

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/22/leahy-hold-nominee/

Anonymous Republican Senator Places Hold On Top Justice Department Nominees»


The Bush administration has repeatedly attacked the Democratic Congress for stalling on the President’s executive nominees. In January, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said it was unfortunate the Democratic leadership “has not moved forward on its obligation to have hearings and to hold votes.” Last month, Bush said the Senate is treating his nominees as “political pawns.”

Yet as Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) revealed in a letter to Bush on Thursday, an anonymous Republican is now actually holding up two of the President’s top Justice Department nominees. From Leahy’s letter:

I regret to inform you that we were stalled last week in our efforts to fill two other critical positions at the Department, when an anonymous Republican hold blocked confirmation of Kevin O’Connor to be the Associate Attorney General, and Gregory Katsas to be the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Civil Division. I was particularly disappointed with this unexpected development. … They were set for confirmation before the Easter recess, until the last-minute Republican objection stalled them.

The longest-stalled nominee is Michael Sullivan, Bush’s choice to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). He, in fact, is being blocked by conservative “gun-rights champions” — including Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) — who believe the ATF has been overzealous in enforcing requirements that dealers keep detailed gun-sale records.”

So far, however, the White House has refused to criticize these conservatives blocking the President’s nominees, instead continuing to attack Democrats. But in reality, Bush has had 90 percent of his nominations confirmed to lifetime appointments — far better than President Clinton fared.

In addition to congressional conservatives, Bush is also responsible for the hold-up on many of his nominees. In December, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) met with the White House and agreed to allow more than 84 of the President’s nominees to go through. Bush, however, insisted that unless the Senate agreed to torture advocate Steven Bradbury’s recess appointment, “he wouldn’t make a deal.” “It’s Brabury, or nobody,” said Bush.

[glowing]

1. Well of couse.. Bushie wants a Pro-Torture guy...

Otherwise someone may just decide to arrest his damn ass. Which, by the way, needs to happen. They are criminals. If it were me or any other American, their asses would be in an electric chair.

[marmar]

2. This asshat needs to be outed....

:mad:

[KharmaTrain]

3. Plus There's No FEC...

Gramps is breaking campaign laws he "fought" to enact...and will spend like a drunken flyboy cause the booosh regime has held up the confirmation of new board members so it can plant its own toadie to poison this system. It's a common tactic now this regime uses to hide its pillaging...with many departments now operating under "acting directors"...political hacks who never faced a confirmation and as long as nominations for replacement heads are gridlocks, it serves this regime just fine.

Many forget the games the GOOP played with Clinton's judicial nominations. Hatch put holds on almost all of them and this hypocrite was all in favor of using the "nuclear option" to ramrod GOOP nominations through. He didn't need to bother, Democrats rolled over. This is an important reason we need to help elect a Fillibuster proof Senate...61 seats (or 10 more than we currently have) that will prevent this shit from happening to the a Democratic President.

[babylonsister]

5. Gramps is officially over the limit:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=108x127696

[glowing]

4. AND WTF is up with anonymous.. Let's hear it.. Who is this Republican

blocking the confirmations? Why are the Dems allowing the R's to be anonymous? If this was the other way around, the R's would let it slip who's who.... I'm so tired of our "secret" govt. For The People, By The People is dead as a doornail.

[VP505]

6. It never ceases to amaze me

that a President with only 9 months left in office and a 20 something percent approval rating has any standing to making DEMANDS. One thing for sure, and I would bank on it, when the next Democratic President gets elected the Senate RePukes will block, obstruct and divert anything and everything at will regardless of their minority status.

[tanyev]

7. "unless the Senate agreed to torture...Steven Bradbury"

That's how I read it at first. :) WTF? Now L'il Boots is demanding other people start torturing, too?

[spanone]

8. why anonymous??? out him....