Tuesday, March 04, 2003

Call the vote

I know I’ve been dwelling on the Miguel Estrada nomination, but this issue drives me up a wall because Democrats can’t stand to see someone go “off the reservation.” They loathe affirmative-action-turncoat Clarence Thomas and now they can’t bear to see a Hispanic judge who doesn’t conform to the groupthink of the liberals. In the Democrats version of Hobson’s choice, minorities can have any political philosophy they want…as long as it’s the same as the Democrats.

But now the game is up and Senate Republicans should call the cloture vote for Estrada’s nomination to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, or force the Democrats into a round-the-clock filibuster. In a deft flanking maneuver, the White House has collapsed the Democrats argument against the Estrada nomination. The universal complaint from the Daschle obstructionists has been that the nominee “hasn’t answered questions.” (See multiple variations of this theme at Byron York’s latest National Review article). So the White House said “fine” – submit questions in written form by last Friday and Miguel Estrada will answer them, to the best of his ability, by today (March 3rd.) This formal invitation was sent to all 100 U.S. Senators.

Number of questions submitted: zero.

The Democrats now do not have a leg to stand on. As Matthew Hoy quipped, let’s see some “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”. Make Tom Daschle stand in the Senate chamber and explain why the President shouldn’t be allowed to appoint judicial nominees as declared in the Constitution. Make Charles Schumer say why he gave up his opportunity to expose this “stealth candidate.” Make Richard Durbin – who was “straining to find some information” on Miguel Estrada – explain why this well-qualified nominee should be denied a chair on the federal bench. Stand and deliver.

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