Frist Hints Nuclear Option?; Charles Schumer Calls for "Muskets"

His statement:

As more and more attention has focused in recent weeks on a partisan minority unfairly blocking simple up or down votes on judicial nominees in the Senate, some have claimed that any effort to restore precedent for up or down votes on judicial nominees would affect the rights of Senators when it comes to legislation.

If I must act to bring fairness back to the judicial nomination process, I will not act in any way to impact the rights of colleagues when it comes to legislation. Senate rules and practices now provide many tools for members, and leaders, to see legislative ideas brought to an up or down vote on the Senate floor and there is no need for change in relation to legislative matters.

It is unfortunate that Democrats continue to block up or down votes on President Bush’s judicial nominees, thereby keeping the Senate from doing its constitutional duty. I urge the minority to put aside its partisan blockade, which interferes with our constitutional responsibilities, and join with me to bring fairness back to the process of voting for or against judicial nominees.

Could still be saber-rattling, of course.

Meanwhile... Chuck Schumer calls the head of the Family Research Council "un-American" -- jeepers, I thought we weren't supposed to bandy about that word -- and actually goes a little further than that, too:

Several federal judicial nominees whom Democrats oppose hold strong Christian beliefs, but Mr. Schumer said their nominations are being blocked for unrelated reasons — including their views on the limits of congressional power relative to the states and their opposition to some environmental regulations.

The conservative group’s president, Tony Perkins, “stepped over the line,� Mr. Schumer said. “He said it’s people of faith versus Democrats.�

“That is so un-American. The founding fathers put down their plows and took up muskets to combat views like that — that one faith or one view of faith should determine what our politics should be,� Mr. Schumer said on the ABC News program “This Week.�

I am rather bothered by the suggestion that this dispute over liberal judges is worth having an actual civil war over. Perhaps Senator Schumer disagrees?

We don't know, and of course we cannot expect our fair-and-balanced media to inquire into what he meant.

But do remember the media was awfully upset that DeLay suggested that judges should be "held accountable."

Thanks to "someone" for the last bit.

posted by Ace at 01:00 PM

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