Boxer Tells The Truth (Accidentally)
Captain's Quarters
Duane at Radioblogger has the audio clip and transcript from Barbara Boxer's appearance at the MoveOn rally in support of Senate Democrats and their unprecedented filibusters of judicial nominees. After such luminaries as Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd railed on interminably about the evils of majority rule (in America!) and the need to preserve the Constitution, they committed the fatal blunder of allowing Boxer to speak:
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Why would we give lifetime appointments to people who earn up to $200,000 a year, with absolutely a great retirement system, and all the things all Americans wish for, with absolutely no check and balance except that one confirmation vote. So we're saying we think you ought to get nine votes over the 51 required. That isn't too much to ask for such a super important position. There ought to be a super vote. Don't you think so? It's the only check and balance on these people. They're in for life. They don't stand for election like we do, which is scary.
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This flies in the face of Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 of the Constitution, which states:
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He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.
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In other words, the Democrats want to pervert the Constitution to require a supermajority to confirm Presidential appointees, which the framers specifically did not require. As anyone with eyes can see, it's not as if the concept of supermajorities didn't occur to the founding fathers, as they specifically require it for ratification of treaties. The entire Constitution contains only four requirements for supermajorities: treaties, impeachment, veto overrides, and amendments. Only those types of actions, the framers foresaw, would change the nature of the government itself.
It now becomes clear that it's the Democrats who want to change the nature of the balance of power by adding a supermajority requirement for Presidential appointments, and that the filibuster is their back-door strategy to do so. The blather about protecting debate is ridiculous. Limiting the debate does not equate to eliminating it, and besides, the filibuster does not exist as a Constitutional construct. Debate, in fact, only gets a mention in Section 6, Clause 2 of Article 1, and only to ensure that Congressmen cannot get arrested while Congress is in session.
Boxer screwed up and blew their cover.
Posted by Captain Ed
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