Top Judiciary Democrat splits with Reid, will vote for Roberts

[rawstory]

RAW STORY: http://rawstory.com

The Democrats' top senator on the Judiciary Committee -- Sen Pat Leahy (D-VT) -- told the Senate this morning he will back President George W. Bush's nominee to the United States Supreme Court.

A rush transcript acquired by RAW STORY from the close-captioned service provided to Congress follows.

#

ULTIMATELY MY VERMONT ROOTS HAVE ALWAYS TOLD ME TO GO WITH MY CONSCIENCE. THEY DO SO TODAY. JUDGE ROBERTS IS A MAN OF INTEGRITY. I CAN ONLY TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD HE DOES NOT HAVE AN IDEOLOGICAL AGENDA. FOR ME, A VOTE TO CONFIRM REQUIRES FAITH THAT THE WORDS HE SPOKE TO US HAD MEANING. I CAN ONLY TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD THAT HE WILL STAOERT COURT TO SERVE AS AN APPROPRIATE CHECK ON POTENTIAL ABUSES OF
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{10:45:32} (MR. LEAHY) PRESIDENTIAL POWER. I RESPECT THOSE WHO HAVE COME TO DIFFERENT CONCLUSIONS./ AND I READILY ACKNOWLEDGE THE UNKNOWABLE AT THIS MOMENT, THAT PERHAPS THEY'RE RIGHT AND I'M WRONG. ONLY TIME WILL TELL. ALL OF US WILL VOTE THIS MONTH, BUT ONLY LATER WILL WE KNOW IF JUDGE ROBERTS PROVES TO BE THE KIND OF CHIEF JUSTICE HE SAYS HE WOULD BE IF HE TRULY WILL BE HIS OWN MAN. I HOPE AND TRUST THAT HE WILL BE. LY VOTE FOR -- I WILL VOTE FOR HIS CONFIRMATION.

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Top_Judiciary_Democrat_splits_with_Reid_will_vote_for_Robe_0921.html

[Greeby]

1. At times like this

I feel he deserved to be told to go Cheney himself :mad:

[Cha]

3. God, that's right..I totally

forgot about that..is leahy suffering from Stockholm Syndrome?

[Johnywolf]

14. :)

yup

[still_one]

2. does the past have any understanding of the future?

bush lied about Iraq

bush ignored the warnings on 9/11
bush ignored the warnings on katrina

bush lied about the drug prescription plan

the administration was involved in outing a CIA agent

what has bush done in the last 6 years that give us any reason to trust him now?

I say NOT a damn thing, and that is what my instincts tell me

[Dr Fate]

11. "I look forward to working with these liars & criminals..."

That should be a standard line in speeches DEMs give after they vote for Rove/Jerry Fawell appointees.

[howmad1]

52. Ya gotta wonder; how big was the payoff?

[noahmijo]

4. To me this is WORSE than voting in favor of the IWR

With the IWR (for those of us who actually read the thing) understand that it's a total toss up; on one hand those who voted in favor of it believe that as a last resort and only as a last resort should war be used...but the problem with that was we didn't have a normal trustworthy president who would obey the provisions on the bill.

Voting yes on the confirmation of Roberts there is NO excuse ZERO excuse you know exactly what you're in for you know exactly what you're getting there is no point in pandering to the flat earthers.

I will compile a list of those who voted yes for Roberts and those "Democrats" should eventually be forced out of their positions and claim their rightful positions as towelboys for Jerry Falwell.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

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

[belle]

6. Whoa. Fuck. I sure the hell hope the old bastard knows what he's doing.

I always had a lot of confidence in his judgment before...egh.

[western mass]

7. Damn you Sen. Leahy.

"I CAN ONLY TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD HE DOES NOT HAVE AN IDEOLOGICAL AGENDA."

We accept you're not going to tell us about the backroom deal or simple spinelessness that makes you sell out your party. But at least have the decency not to insult our intelligence, because we know you don't believe that sh*t.

[The Stranger]

8. . . . and divided we fall . . .

[Dr Fate]

9. I hate fake Democrats who support Jerry Fawell rather than the Base.

So this boot-licker wants to criminalize abortion and birth control huh? Jeeze.

[DrZeeLit]

46. Uncalled for.

I'm tired of name-calling.
Senator Leahy is my senator and he's nothing at all as you've painted him.
He's a very diligent and thoughtful PERSON.
He said it was a tough decision, so I believe him.

He's a decent man. He's very loved in Vermont. I doubt he has ever had any thoughts of running for any other higher office. He's basically a public servant and he's very accessible here in Vermont.

And that said, I'm a Vermonter and I don't agree with his vote and I have written him regarding my concerns.

And I didn't call him names. On all the issues -- like voting against the war and others -- he's been exactly where I wanted him to be. This is one where he's not. Okay, I think we can have a DISCUSSION, not a name-calling match.

[Raiden]

50. Patrick Leahy is one of our greatest senators!

I think its throwing out the baby with the bathwater to say that Leahy is a "fake Democrat"

No wonder we lose so many elections... We eat our own

[Straight Shooter]

10. What Cheney said. n/t

[mmonk]

12. Anyone who rolls the dice

on people's lives (the laws of the land) is not fit for office.

[sadiesworld]

13. Whoa, I guess we know who won't be running for POTUS in '08!

[Minstrel Boy]

15. I guess the message was received

[redqueen]

17. Bingo.

[Dr Fate]

19. Oh please-that is no excuse. I'd prefer he step down if that is the case.

Or publicaly announce:

"I will not be intimidated by these threats, blah blah blah."

If you are really being threatened, the best way to make sure it will never happen is to announce the threat against you.

Can we please stop using "Karl Rove will send us Anthrax" as an excuse for being Bush/Fawell ass-kissers?

[coyote]

16. Is there anything in last 5 years where the Democrats

have actually stood their ground and fought for us? I honestly cannot think of one thing.

[Dr Fate]

20. Is there an example where compromise with liars & criminals ever worked???

Ever? In the history of the entire world?

[Shakespeare]

18. Reason Number 5,732 why we're perpetually in 2nd place. n/t

[robcon]

21. There is a disconnect...

Leahy's statement on Roberts...

"...In influential White House and Department of Justice positions, John Roberts expressed views that were among the most radical being offered by a cadre intent on reversing decades of policies on civil rights, voting rights, women's rights, privacy, and access to justice..."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/16/AR2005081601919.html

And now Leahy is willing to support Roberts for Supreme Court justice??????

[illumn8d]

22. Not perfect, but the right move

I don't like Roberts, but Leahy's hands are tied. He's going to sail through confirmation regardless. This way, Reid is the bad cop, Leahy is the good cop, and save the big guns for when they are needed. Sadly, Roberts is about as good as we are going to get from this administration.

[kainah]

23. and even more than that....

Reid's vote of no is a clever politician's way of saying to Bush, "If I wanted to, I could take the whole caucus with me." Meanwhile, Leahy's vote for Roberts is a way of telling Bush, "OK, you worked with us a little on this one and so I'll work with you."

I'm not surprised that most DUers see this as a betrayal but Leahy and Reid are playing politics, not purity, which seems to be what DU wants. If all Dems -- or, all the Dems whose votes might be in play -- voted against Roberts, why shouldn't Bush just go ahead and nominate Priscilla Owen? Hatch (whom I detest) had it right when he said, "If no Dems vote for Roberts, no conservative will ever get a Dem vote." And, if that's true, then why not go all out to please the conservative base?

This is also a strong signal from Leahy to Specter about how the committee is being run. And, earlier today, outside the WH after their meeting with Bush, Specter was promoting the idea that O'Connor be asked to remain until next June "when we will all know a lot more about John Roberts as Chief Justice." Specter apparently has even broached the subject with O'Connor who, according to Specter, agreed to do it "although it will be a great burden on her."

So, yes, the Dems are still playing the game of politics and, yes, Bush has never done much to show that he is willing to play the game honestly. But he did consult with the Dems at least somewhat on Roberts. Why? Because his hands were slapped, ever so slightly, over the "nuclear option." He's even weaker now than he was then so this may well be the time to give him small inducements (Leahy's vote) to continue the teeny trend established by Roberts' nomination.

[howmad1]

53. Just a second, here.

Since when have the democrats become expert in playing the game of politics? If the past several elections (stolen or not) are any indication of their expertise, Jesus, we're done for.

[illumn8d]

56. They haven't but they better start (eom)

[high density]

55. In the end Leahy is voting YES to install a nutjob on the SC for decades

There's no good cop/bad cop crap needed. Votes on Supreme Court nominees represent a time the when the "big guns" need to be wheeled out.

[killbotfactory]

24. America is fucked

the last thing we need are Bush puppets in the SC calling the shots for the next 40 years.

goddamnit.

[Kralizec]

25. I find this surprising and disturbing. (eom)

[Moderator]

26. kick

[stevedeshazer]

27. Roberts Picks Up Democratic Support

So much for a goal-line stand. :(
------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5293558,00.html

<snip>

WASHINGTON (AP) - Chief Justice-nominee John Roberts, his confirmation secure, picked up support from fractured Senate Democrats Wednesday as President Bush met lawmakers to discuss a second, probably more contentious, vacancy on the Supreme Court.

The Judiciary Committee's senior Democrat, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, announced his support for Roberts shortly after leaving the White House, guaranteeing bipartisan backing for the nominee in Thursday's vote by the panel.

<snip>

Other Democrats, including Tim Johnson of South Dakota and Max Baucus of Montana, also have announced their support. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana are leaning toward voting for Roberts, and Kent Conrad of North Dakota is viewed as a possible vote for him as well.

Roberts is ``very well credentialed,'' Landrieu said Wednesday.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
*sigh*

[electropop]

28. My God our party has condemned America

to wander in the desert for the next 40 years.

:grr:

[Born Free]

44. sad part is they will be begging you for more money...

No money from this houshlod until they start standing up for America, got fed up with all the excuses, now they need to show me first....

[noahmijo]

29. "Democratic Support is not defined as DIXIECRAT support"

Tell me about the large liberal voting record of any of these senators who claim they are going to vote for Roberts.

These people have been dead to me since day one anyway.

[Bucky]

33. Leahy is pretty liberal. And about that "Dixiecrat" thing...

please note that only one of the senators mentioned is actually from Dixie. The rest are from Vermont, South Dakota, Montana, Nebraska, Louisiana, and North Dakota. It's the old Robber Baron fiefdoms that are doing this to us, not the South.

[noahmijo]

39. I knew I was going to get dinged for that

I know Dixiecrat is a term for Southern Racist ex-Democrats, but still anyone who votes in favor of the GOP more than 70% of the time especially in the last 4 years may as well be in the same league as Zell Miller.

[pinniped]

30. The clown will finally get to answer what he really thinks...

about Roe v. Wade.

I don't like the guy because * likes the guy. Bizarro World rules in effect.

[Bob3]

31. I mean come on who nominated him? That's reason enough

to suspect something is very wrong with him.

Ah well names to remember come the revolution.

[6000eliot]

32. How does one define "well credentialed"

let alone "very well credentialed?" How much experience on the bench does this guy have?

[Bucky]

34. Two years. And it was hard work. Very hard work. Heh-heh.

[bigwillq]

35. That's such shit.

No DEM senator should be voting for Roberts. I know that one of my (Lieberman) probably will vote for him, not sure about Dodd yet.

DEMS really need to get a spine.

[JoZbean]

43. DEMS really need to get a spine.

Or we DEMS need to leave the party. I'm all for moving onto a party that truly speaks for me.

[genius]

36. As one DUer put it, Leahy is a Pat Robertson Democrat.

[CTyankee]

37. why is anyone surprised?

The fix was in as soon as Roberts was nominated. And before he was nominated he certainly pledged fealty to his RW masters on Roe, maybe even Griswold, certainly Lawrence. They're gone.

I don't get Leahy doing this. John Kerry stood up and did the right thing. The New York Times did the right thing.

I shudder to think what Lieberman will do. I pray Dodd will be a mensch and vote no. He has two daughters for crying out loud.

Jeez.

[melissinha]

38. I heard a die-hard Dem has high hopes for him

My brother in law has a friend who apparently is a die-hard liberal who says that he had the same mentor as Roberts. He apparently thinks that Roberts is brilliant and by virtue of his association with this other gentleman will interpret the law in favor of civil rights..

I told my sister, "it doesn't look that way" but what do I know. I sure hope he turns out to be antother Souter...

[KC21304]

40. Was this mentor around when Roberts was

doing his writing for Reagan ?

[melissinha]

45. don't know

as far as I'm concerned, its heresay and someone's hopeful opinion.

[gulfcoastliberal]

41. Vichy Dems rule the beltway

What opposition party?

[JanusAscending]

42. TWISTING SOME ARMS?

Sounds to me like bush has been doing some arm twisting, especially where Mary Landrieu is concerned!! bush ; "Say Mary, if you wnat to get help for yo' po' folks down there in Lusiana, ya better vote yes for my guy"!!! As far as the rest of them.......you know that new questionaire out on one of the threads today?? I'm going to wait and see who votes which way, and any Dems that vote YES will get the same "lowest score possible, along with the repukes"!!!!

[0007]

47. Ugh.....I would have lost my last dollars if I had bet that Leahy

wouldn't swing.

How depressing!

[HockeyMom]

48. Got an email from Kerry today

saying that he will be voting AGAINST Roberts.

[madmark]

49. I saw some of the confirmation hearings and in my view Roberts came

off as one of the most competent people I have seen up for a judicial appointment. I know that the Justice Thomas bar is extremely low bar for one to reach, but Roberts will come off as Hammurabi in comparison. I think it is a real possibility that Roberts could participate in overturning the Roe decision but I have two thoughts about that: 1) I do not think that the 4th amendment provides for a broad constitutional right of privacy that includes affirmative access to abortions (though if our founding fathers knew to what the extremes the States and Fed Gov. would go in intruding in our personal lives in the future I think they would have included one as well as a general "Liberty" amendment), 2) Some poor women will initially be harmed in process, but the Republican party will ultimately be destroyed (or be forced to change positions) if this issue becomes directly subject to a popular legislative vote.

[donheld]

51. Just what was the meeting about?

The meeting was attended b y Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-PA, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-TN, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, and Leahy.

http://www.vermontguardian.com/national/0904/LeahyVote.shtml

[faithnotgreed]

54. NO - you do not have to "take him at his word"

make him answer the questions and the wh release the papers
isnt that why they (theoretically) have hearings or am i missing something