This post was generated entirely by quotes by Senate
Democrats. The quotes have been picked from floor statements
& other & other sources.
Justice Delayed is Justice Denied
I find it simply baffling that a Senator would vote against even voting on a judicial nomination. in some cases they have been pending not for months but for years. For anyone to be held that long is just an extraordinary unfairness, not only to the nominees but to the system itself. It is true that some Senators have voiced concerns about these nominations. But that should not prevent a roll call vote which gives every Senator the opportunity to vote "yes" or "no." I think the Senate is entitled to a vote in this matter, and I think the president is entitled for the Senate to vote, and I think the country is entitled for the Senate to vote. The continuing delays are a gross perversion of the confirmation process that has served this country well for more than 200 years.
When the Founders wrote the Constitution and gave the Senate the power of advice and consent on Presidential nominations, they never intended the Senate to work against the President. Whoever wins the election appoints the judges. Delays can only be described as an abdication of the Senate’s constitutional responsibility to work with the President and ensure the integrity of our federal courts. This delay makes a mockery of the Constitution. We don’t have time for delays; the courts don’t have time for delays; America doesn’t have time for delays.
We had nominations that were filibustered. This was almost unheard of in our past. It is used ... as blackmail for one Senator to get his or her way on something that they could not rightfully win through the normal processes. if there is one subject that should remain immune from political games and pressure it is our Federal judicial system.
A nominee is entitled to a vote. The problem is, we have a few people who prevent them from having a vote, and this goes on month after month, year after year. The Senate is bottling up people who deserve to be voted on - up or down. If a Senator has a problem with particular nominees, he or she should vote against them. But a nominee should not be held up interminably by a handful of Senators. The Senate should not be playing politics with the Federal Judiciary. This is extremism run amok.
The ability of the judiciary to do its job is significantly diminished by the slow speed at which judicial vacancies are filled. If people have a legitimate objection to a particular nominee, they ought to voice that objection and vote against them and try to persuade their colleagues to vote against them. But this is crippling the courts. Everyone who is nominated is entitled to have a shot, to have a hearing and to have a shot to be heard on the floor and have a vote on the floor. We must ensure that the federal bench is at full strength so that our citizens will receive justice promptly and fairly. This is about justice, and justice delayed is justice denied.
We need these judges, both to prosecute and sentence violent criminals and to prevent more backlogs in civil cases. This is about justice – it shouldn’t be about politics.
Posted by Matt
blogsforbush.com |
