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Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: tejek who wrote (159357)	1/30/2003 5:10:19 PM
From: Tenchusatsu	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1584048

Ted, more Democrat obstructionism. The Dems in the Judiciary Committee has not come up with one valid reason to hold up Estrada's nomination: usatoday.com GOP, Dems spar over Estrada vote WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans sent the nomination of Miguel Estrada to the Senate floor for a vote Thursday amid recriminations that the Bush administration's highly promoted Hispanic conservative judgeship candidate had been subjected to a smear campaign by Democratic opponents. Democrats argued for more time to consider the nomination, but decided against trying to block Estrada in committee. Senators, however, expect a vigorous debate on the floor on Estrada. It was not known when the full Senate will take up the nomination. "It'll be an intensive debate and they'll fight against him, but I think in the end we'll be able to get Miguel out," said Senate Judiciary Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. The GOP holds a two-vote advantage in the Senate. Democrats previously have threatened filibusters against Bush nominees. "I don't think they'll do that but you never know," Hatch added. "They have some firebrands on their side, we have some on our side and you have work to keep them from filibustering." Bush, and Republicans who have a 10-9 edge in the committee, have sought Estrada's confirmation since he was nominated in May 2001. Estrada, a member of the law firm that represented Bush in his successful Supreme Court fight for the presidency, is considered a potential Supreme Court nominee should a vacancy occurs while Bush is in the White House. The D.C. circuit has provided three of the current Supreme Court justices. Hatch called Estrada one of the most qualified nominees ever and accused liberals of opposing Estrada simply because of his race and politics. "One new obstacle that Hispanics face today is the attempt by some Washington political operatives to smear anyone who would be a positive role model for Hispanics and who might be a constitutionalist rather than a liberal judicial activist, or might be conservative or perish the thought, Republican," Hatch said. Added Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa: "If we deny Mr. Estrada the position on the D.C. Circuit, it would be to shut the door on the American dream of Hispanic Americans everywhere. Not that that should be the basis for our confirmation, but it's obviously very much a fringe benefit." Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the ranking Judiciary Democrat, called the accusations "offensive and absurd." "The fact that a nominee is Latino should not be a shield from full inquiry, especially when a nominee's record is as sparse as is Mr. Estrada's," Leahy said. Democrats said they needed more time on the nomination, arguing that he lacks judicial experience and refused last year to answer questions about specific cases. "I have to tell you it was sort of reminiscent of Clarence Thomas telling America that he had never discussed Roe versus Wade and had no views on this case whatsoever," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. "It's just not credible. It's not believable that this nominee has no critical views on any Supreme Court case." "By remaining silent, Mr. Estrada only buttressed the fear that he's a far-right stealth nominee, a sphinxlike candidate who will drive the nation's second most-important court out of the mainstream," Schumer added. Estrada, in a five-hour confirmation hearing last year, insisted he could set aside any personal or political opinions if confirmed. "I'm very firmly of the view that although we all have views on a number of subjects from A to Z, the job of a judge is to subconsciously put that aside and look at each case — starting by withholding judgment — with an open mind and listen to the parties," Estrada said at the time. Estrada, 41, came to the United States as a teenager from the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. He quickly learned English, thrived in school and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1986. He has since practiced constitutional law and has argued 15 cases before the Supreme Court. Similar charges of discrimination by the parties have arisen before. The last disputed Hispanic nominee, Mexican American Richard A. Paez, waited four years — longer than any other nominee in history — before being confirmed for the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals by the Republican-controlled Senate in 2000. Also in 2000, the Congressional Black Caucus accused Senate Republicans of being sexist and racist for not voting for Clinton's minority judicial candidates, including Roger Gregory, who eventually became the first black judge on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Republicans denied the charge. Only after Bush took office and Democrats took over the Senate Judiciary Committee did Gregory get confirmed. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

To: tejek who wrote (159357)	1/30/2003 5:20:28 PM
From: hmaly	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1584048

That's what the administration is alleging the metal tubes that were found are for. That was the same speculation 11 years ago......Saddam has never had actual nukes< On that I agree. However it should be said, that France sold Saddam a nuclear reactor, and if the Iraelis hadn't blown it up, Saddam could have a lot of nukes by now. More breaking news. Supposedly King Faud from Saudi Arabia met with GW today. Here may be why. Saddam exile plan gathers pace By Syed Saleem Shahzad KARACHI - Even as the United States appears to be drawing closer by the day to attacking Iraq, behind-the-scenes efforts are continuing to find a peaceful solution to the crisis by forcing Saddam Hussein to step down at the eleventh hour to prevent his humiliating dethroning after defeat in war, with Saudi Arabia and the US playing a pivotal role in the diplomatic initiative. Asia Times Online has learned of an unpublicized visit to Pakistan by a high-powered Saudi delegation believed to have been headed by influential Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, the defense minister. The Saudis flew into the city of Rawalpindi last Friday aboard a special non-stop flight from Washington and then flew on to Paris the following day. The Pakistan government has not said a single word about the delegation, but a highly-placed official in the Islamabad administration told Asia Times Online that the mission was a part of ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at developing a plan for the exile of Saddam, as well as to discuss possible options for the future of Iraq. "The high-profile delegation that arrived on January 24 in a chartered Saudi Airbus A-340-200, with registration number HZ-124, held important meetings with President General Pervez Musharraf and other top brass of the military on recent developments in Iraq," the official said. He added that the Saudi delegation, which was escorted by a 20-strong elite commando guard, included two senior officials of the US government. On Thursday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal was due in Washington from Paris for talks at the White House, most likely including President George W Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell. Prince Saud will be the highest ranking Saudi official to visit Washington in several months. On Wednesday, Powell, speaking to reporters, said, "If he [Saddam] were to leave the country and take some of his family members with him and others in the leading elite who have been responsible for so much trouble during the course of his regime, we would, I'm sure, try to help find a place for them to go." The source said that the Saudi delegation's visit to Pakistan was so important that its members were whisked away from Chaklala Airport in Rawalpindi under the watchful eyes of crack Pakistani commando groups amid tight security. Other sources said that apart from one person who was a British national, the entire crew of the aircraft was from the United States. The visit of the delegation was "so secret" that not a single person from the Saudi embassy was present to welcome the visitors, the source said. "And it was not the last visit," the source said, adding, "The second phase of the mission is expected very soon." Pakistan's support of an "exile" plan for Saddam is important as it is an influential member of the 50-plus strong Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which could, if it speaks with a united voice, increase the pressure on Saddam to step down before the bombs start falling. Since January, Pakistan has also been a temporary member of the UN Security Council. Commenting on the diplomatic initiative, a senior US official in Pakistan told Asia Times Online that there is still optimism that it will succeed in bringing Saddam to his knees. "The Saddam Hussein of 12 years ago and the Saddam Hussein of today are two different persons. There are reports of internal pressure on Saddam not to go for war and some reports suggest that the current pressures have shattered his nerves. It is highly expected that he could step down and agree to go into exile." (©2003 Asia Times Online Co, Ltd. All rights reserved. Please contact content@atimes.com for information on our sales and syndication policies.)