Senate votes to end Gonzales' power to name prosecutors(94-2)

[maddezmom]

Source: Associated Press

Senate votes to end Gonzales' power to name prosecutors

By Pete Yost and Lara Jakes Jordan
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The Senate voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to end the Bush administration's ability to unilaterally fill U.S. attorney vacancies as a backlash to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' firing of eight federal prosecutors.

Amid calls from lawmakers in both parties to resign, Gonzales got a morale boost with an early-morning call from President Bush, their first conversation since a week ago, when the president said he was unhappy with how the Justice Department handled the firings.

With a 94-2 vote, the Senate passed a bill that canceled a Justice Department-authored provision in the Patriot Act that had allowed the attorney general to appoint U.S. attorneys without Senate confirmation. Democrats say the Bush administration abused that authority when it fired the eight prosecutors and proposed replacing some with White House loyalists.

"If you politicize the prosecutors, you politicize everybody in the whole chain of law enforcement," said Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.


Read more: http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660204801,00.html

---

:applause:

note to mods: I edited the typo from Thursday to Tuesday! :D

[flamingyouth]

1. Awesome news!!!

:applause:

:hi: m!

[Kikosexy2]

67. Gotta dance...

gotta dance!!

[maddezmom]

2. New Conference on CSPAN2 now

:)

[Frances]

3. Who are the 2 who voted against the bill?

[louis-t]

6. I bet Kyl was one of them.

He was on this morning whining that his 'amendment' wasn't being considered. It's because no one in his right mind trusts you Kyl. Idiot.

[Hand]

37. Hagel and Bond. nt

[LynneSin]

39. I find it amusing that some folks here at DU think Hagel is "Moderate"

He's a neo-con. Just because he's made a lil stink about the war doesn't mean he's one of us. I appreciate the support we've received from Hagel but I still don't trust the man.

[MADem]

52. He's to the right of Attila the Hun. I think people just do not know his record.

What they like about him is his "Wake up and smell the coffee" stance on the war, and his direct language.

But you are quite right, he's not just right, he's far right.

Who knows, perhaps he's ANGLING for CHENEY's job, after he resigns due to "illness." That would make him the putative incumbent.

Boy oh boy, that would be funny, wouldn't it? All of that whoring McCain did, and all for naught!!

[beltanefauve]

54. Your theory

is making too much sense. :scared:

[TommyPaine]

61. Hagel today = McCain a few years ago

It may not be the best analogy, but there are similarities: during the '00 campaign, and for a few years afterward, McCain was the "maverick Republican" that Democrats & lefties looked to as a "sensible, Centrist" politico who, at least by appearances, was somewhat of a thorn in the Bush administration's side. He was often the guy Dems would name when they were asked a question like "Which Republican/conservative/etc. do you like/respect/etc. the most?"

Most of us know that whatever shred of independence McCain once had--and I do believe at some point he was more centrist and flexible than he is now, though not to the degree some of us believed--is long-gone. A shame. Several years ago, I foolishly thought that McCain may become for the Democrats what Zell Miller eventually became for the Republicans, only without the psychotic behavior and excess spittle. Who knows, maybe Shrub & Co. secretly kidnapped McCain's poodle during the 2004 convention and threatened to torture it if he didn't come around.

Hagel isn't quite the political obfuscator that McCain was, perhaps because Chuck is a tad more simple, or whatever--that is, he doesn't bother hiding his true right-wing credentials the way McCain did. But he does like to come off as something of a maverick, as the proverbial thorn in Bush's side, though methinks he's actually about as thorny as a Care Bear.

[skipos]

63. Exactly. Hagel complains that Nelson is too liberal.

He is a rightwing nutjob.

[Botany]

4. With a 94-2 vote

Ah, George I think your support is slipping.

94 to 2 :bounce:

[CrazyOrangeCat]

5. kick

rock on, Leahy!

[PegDAC]

56. Oh, yeah!!

Leahy rated a standing O!!!

:bounce: :thumbsup: :headbang: :woohoo: :applause:

[SpiralHawk]

7. Take that, you corrupt republicon crony

This is the United States of America,
not the United States of republicon cronies.

Get out of here, you crony you.

[zanne]

8. This happened on Thursday?

Why are we just finding out about it?

[onehandle]

10. It's a typo. Tuesday. nt

[zanne]

12. Well thank God.....nt

[maddezmom]

14. I fixed the typo

I didn't even notice, I was too excited. :)

[peacetalksforall]

9. It makes a person want to cry that we got BACK on of our rights

to maintain balance of powers - as intended 200+ years ago.

94-2. I'm blown away.

[CountAllVotes]

11. K&R

It is about time that Congress woke the F up!

:dem: :kick:

[pinto]

13. Yes!

S.214
Title: A bill to amend chapter 35 of title 28, United States Code, to preserve the independence of United States attorneys.

Sponsor: Sen Feinstein, Dianne (introduced 1/9/2007) Cosponsors (15)
Related Bills: H.R.580

Latest Major Action: 3/19/2007 Senate floor actions. Status: The Committee reported amendment was agreed to by Unanimous Consent.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COSPONSORS(15), ALPHABETICAL : (Sort: by date)

Sen Cantwell, Maria - 2/12/2007
Sen Feingold, Russell D. - 2/5/2007
Sen Kerry, John F. - 3/15/2007
Sen Klobuchar, Amy - 1/25/2007
Sen Landrieu, Mary L. - 3/14/2007
Sen Leahy, Patrick J. - 1/9/2007
Sen Levin, Carl - 3/1/2007
Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. - 1/18/2007
Sen Murray, Patty - 1/29/2007
Sen Pryor, Mark L. - 1/10/2007
Sen Salazar, Ken - 3/14/2007
Sen Schumer, Charles E. - 1/22/2007
Sen Specter, Arlen - 2/12/2007
Sen Stabenow, Debbie - 3/1/2007
Sen Whitehouse, Sheldon - 3/1/2007

on edit, Thomas home page, search by number, S214:

http://thomas.loc.gov/

[meldroc]

15. That's veto-proof, baby!

I imagine the votes for this bill in the House are going to be similar. It only takes a 2/3 vote of both houses to override a Presidential veto, so we can shove this one down Bush's throat!

[richabk]

16. The 2 votes against...

Bond (R - MO)
Hagel (R - NE)

[maddezmom]

17. thanks for the update...Bond and Hagel against

[tex-wyo-dem]

21. WTF is up with Hagel? In any case, this is VERY good news...

It appears that most of the rethugs are seeing the writing on the wall (or in the emails, in this case).

[underpants]

26. Hagel has done what Rove er Bush has told him 100% of the time

He is trying to make a name for himself as a maverick concerning the war on Iraq. That is the only difference.

[newspeak]

38. it's been awhile, but wasn't there something about Hagel?

he has interest in one of the voting machine companies--there was questions about his win (over the top win against his Democratic challenger). Apparently, the numbers didn't add up and the challenger went in front of the Senate Ethics Committee. It's been awhile, but didn't someone on the ethics committee step down because of the allegations of voter tampering?

[Black Adder]

43. That strange..

I have come to believe that Hagel was one a few Repubs with his head screwed on straight.
That's disapponting...

[pinto]

18. Related House bill (H.R. 580)

H.R.580

Title: To amend chapter 35 of title 28, United States Code, to provide for a 120-day limit to the term of a United States attorney appointed on an interim basis by the Attorney General, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Berman, Howard L. (introduced 1/19/2007) Cosponsors (2)
Related Bills: S.214

Latest Major Action: 3/15/2007 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY AS OF:
1/19/2007--Introduced.

Amends the federal judicial code to provide for a person appointed as U.S. attorney to serve until the earlier of: (1) the qualification of a U.S. attorney for such district appointed by the President (as under current law); or (2) the expiration of 120 days after appointment by the Attorney General.

Authorizes the U.S. district court for the particular district, if such a 120-day temporary appointment expires, to appoint a U.S. attorney to serve until the vacancy is filled.

[maddezmom]

19. do we think this will pass?

I'm thinking it will. Anyone know when it's up for a vote?

[pinto]

20. I think it will. (Senate just formally notified House of passage on S214).

They - the Senate - want to see the House act on H.R. 580...

[maddezmom]

22. thanks

:hug: Miss you all!

[radfringe]

23. assuming it passes the house

and goes to bush

1. Is it VETO PROOF? Options if bush "pocket vetos"?

2. If bush signs it, what will Congress do when he issues a SIGNING STATEMENT which gives him the power back in the instance of a national emergency or if we are at war or some other pile of flaming poo of an excuse?

[cali]

24. He doesn't want to veto it. The WH hung it up on this

a couple of days ago when they signaled that they had no objection to the passage of this. And he won't pull the signing statement shit either. The WH just wants this whole USA mess to disappear. They won't do anything to exacerbate it.

[pinto]

29. I agree with your take, cali. I suppose they could cry "obstructionism!", when the Senate

exercises it's legitimate power to review and vote on appointments...SOP Repub. political ploy....:eyes:

[MADem]

53. Well, given that throwdown today, he does have something to hide.

You don't fight like a dog if it's no big deal, and claiming "executive privlege" over a personnel matter suggests this is a personnel matter that became a political matter that became a personnel-political matter that bled over into law enforcement and prosecution (or non-prosecution) of criminals for personal and political advantage.

That whole "Will Rove and Harriet testify?" matter, separate, but related, is gonna be interesting. David Bois seems to think that the courts won't rule in BushCo's favor. Some flak from the National Review (Ryan Lizza) is agreeing with him. I'm watching that asswipe Scarborough, BTW.

I certainly wish I could be so sanguine. That said, I DID sense that Bush was having his finger-wagging "Ah did not have sex with those US Attorneys, ah never told anyone to LIE, evah...." moment.

And we know what happened after that. Governance became difficult, if not impossible.

[LiberalFighter]

68. Those voting against (Repugs 78 Democrats 0)

Aderholt
Akin
Bachmann
Baker
Barrett (SC)
Barton (TX)
Bishop (UT)
Blackburn
Blunt
Boehner
Bonner
Bono
Brady (TX)
Brown (SC)
Burton (IN)
Buyer
Campbell (CA)
Cannon
Cantor
Carter
Chabot
Coble
Conaway
Crenshaw
Cubin
Culberson
Davis (KY)
Davis, David
Deal (GA)
Doolittle
Duncan
English (PA)
Everett
Foxx
Franks (AZ)
Gingrey
Granger
Graves
Hall (TX)
Hastert
Hayes
Herger
Johnson, Sam
Jordan
Kingston
Kline (MN)
Lamborn
LaTourette
Lewis (KY)
Linder
Manzullo
McCarthy (CA)
McCrery
McHenry
Mica
Miller (FL)
Musgrave
Myrick
Nunes
Poe
Price (GA)
Reynolds
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Roskam
Ryan (WI)
Sali
Schmidt
Sensenbrenner
Sessions
Smith (NE)
Tiahrt
Tiberi
Turner
Westmoreland
Wicker
Wilson (SC)
Young (FL)

[LiberalFighter]

69. Those not voting (10 Repugs and 16 Democrats)

Brady (PA)
Brown, Corrine
Cardoza
Carson
Crowley
Davis, Jo Ann
Feeney
Flake
Gordon
Hunter
Jefferson
Kanjorski
Lampson
Marchant
Millender-McDonald
Neal (MA)
Payne
Peterson (PA)
Price (NC)
Shuster
Smith (WA)
Souder
Udall (NM)
Walsh (NY)
Wamp
Wexler

[LiberalFighter]

70. Votes of Indiana Delegation

Voting for legislation

1) Visclosky (D)
2) Donnelly (D)
6) Pence (R)
8) Ellsworth (D)
9) Hill (D)


Voting against legislation
4) Buyer
5) Burton

Not voting
3) Souder (R)
7) Carson (D)

[deepthought42]

25. MUAHAHAHAAAA!!!!

:evilgrin:


:popcorn:

[DainBramaged]

27. The damage is already done

Unless the Dem's can get the fired pros reinstated.

[maddezmom]

28. I know the DOJ is working on a rehire of Bogden now, but you have

to wonder if any of them would even want the job back under this misadministration? :shrug: They are already under the microscope and would be more so in the future.

[yardwork]

35. It might be the other way around - the admin will be under a microscope

and perhaps less able to meddle in ongoing investigations by U.S. Attorneys.

[central scrutinizer]

30. Vote of No Confidence

One of my favorite aspects of Parliament - a way to say STOP without waiting for the next election

[Greeby]

32. Unfortunately, that doesn't always work

Our parliament in the UK is controlled by a Labour Party to gutless to do anything about President Tony. And heir apparent Gordon Brown hasn't the required ruthlessness that Thatcher's enemies did

[E-Z-B]

31. Amazing! After over 6 years, power is finally going back to the people.

[Plaid Adder]

33. This is AWESOME.

Chip away at that @#$! thing piece by piece!

I love the smell of veto-proof margin in the morning.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[Rainscents]

34. GREAT NEWS!!!

K&R! :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[williesgirl]

36. Good, that's 2 more easily defeatable Repuke Senators next election - no one wants law enforcement

to be a political tool - not even most kool-aid drinkers. These 2 assholes will pay dearly in the voting booths and certainly deserve it. Get the campaigns ads ready now.

[thereismore]

40. I'm happy. But I wish someone had read that law before voting on it

the first time.

[IWantAChange]

41. Bond is a tool - but Hagel seemed to be finding his compass for a time.

too bad for him..........

[Initech]

42. This should heed as a warning to W: You are not above the law.

:woohoo:

[rocktivity]

44. Can they also vote to have the fired attorneys reinstated

or do they REALLY serve at the pleasure of the president? There IS such a thing as wrongful termination, you know! At any rate, cue the Vonage theme!

:woohoo:
rocknation

[Maddy McCall]

45. I can't wait until future historians begin writing about this!

We are moving full-steam toward a constitutional crisis. This one will be as big as Marbury v. Madison--except in the reverse.

Holy shit, this is one for the history books!

:D

[ManWroteTheBible]

46. Uh oh...

Looks like that check Georgie Boy wrote against his "political capital" has bounced...

[va4wilderness]

47. Yeah! * is destroying himself.

It's happening - with everything he does.

[lovuian]

48. Its about TIME Congress stood up against these thieves

this is why the Patriot Act was dangerous ...they haven't arrested OSama this is about allowing thieves to steal and who to prosecute and who not too

this isn't justice

taken the country done

Repeal the Patriot Act now

[Raksha]

49. Why does this article call what the Senate did "backlash"?

And in the first sentence, no less?

The Senate voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to end the Bush administration's ability to unilaterally fill U.S. attorney vacancies as a backlash to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' firing of eight federal prosecutors.

They are merely taking back a historical power they've always had and never should have lost. Sure, they are angry but this is a much more fundamental issue than "backlash."

[confludemocrat]

50. They've corrected one great wrong in the "Patriot Act", go after the others too!

Imagine, giving away the power to approve appointments involving such vital offices? They better have fixed this--but look what it took to get them going? The whole lot of them who voted for the thing in the first place should be ashamed of themselves.

[Grandrose]

51. Great...that's a start!

:kick:

[goforit]

55. Ted Olsen is being sought to replace Gonzales??? Hiding out with Barbara

all this time. Hmmmm, it will be hard for him to step away from his "Phantom" wife
and step back in the line of fire!!!

[cyberpj]

57. Feels a bit like closing the barn door after the horse is out. Now let's repeal Patriot Act! nt

[benny05]

58. Duh to Senate

Guess it's better late than never, but now that the Chimperor's numbers are not going up anytime soon, the Red Carpet turned purple with some light blue dye. However, this is what we hired them to do.

[burrowowl]

59. Not voting

Biden D-DE
Johnson D-SD still in hospital
Mikulski D-MD
McCain R-Arizona on the campaign trail I guess

Here is a good site:

http://www.commondreams.org/

On the right Washington section, choose Senate, House, etc. and get it from the horse's mouth.

[Marie26]

60. Is it possible Bush would veto this? nt

[lonestarnot]

62. Now end the SECRET GOVERNMENT!

:applause:

[Clarkie1]

64. Now THAT my friends is BI-PARTISANSHIP! nt

[Norrin Radd]

65. Now let's get out the red pen for the rest of the unPATRIOTic Act.

n/t

[The Count]

66. Oh, nooo! These guys were so ready to serve:

[Ninja Jordan]

71. Try to veto that, Bush.

pwn3d