I commented last week that the reason President Bush may be trying so hard to reach out to all Senate members for their thoughts on his Supreme Court nominee might be to disarm them, that feeding their egos might be all that is required to stop liberals from filibustering his strict-constructionist nominee.
If this is his plan, quotes of late from the self-importanced members of the Gang of 14 would indicate it is working See them purr on page 2.
"[President Bush] called me today and I said to him, I am shouting your name from the steeple tops for reaching out, reaching across the aisle." ~ Democrat Senator Robert Byrd, Fox News Special Report, 7/12/05"I'm praising the president for listening, for reaching out." ~ Senator Byrd, The Hill, 7/13/05
"I feel very definitely that it meets and really exceeds the spirit of that agreement." ~ Republican Senator John Warner, Washington Post, 7/13/05, commenting on the president's consultation and the Gang of 14's agreement
"I think the White House has taken to heart the language in that agreement." ~ Liberal Republican Senator Susan Collins, Environment and Energy Daily, 7/13/05
"We wanted to make sure that the president did consult with the Senate. That is taking place and calls are being made. Senators have the opportunity opportunities to suggest names and suggest whatever they want to and describe what type of a Supreme Court justice this should be. There is a lot of open communication going on now and I think we are into this process. It's a good process." ~ Republican Senator Mike DeWine, MSNBC, 7/13/05
"There was a generally held consensus that the president and the White House are going about this in exactly the right way." ~ Democrat Senator Joseph Lieberman, CNN, 7/14/05
"He's taken our suggestion to a very high level by reaching out more than anyone would have anticipated." ~ Democrat Senator Ben Nelson, Roll Call, 7/18/05
"Number one, about the process, I agree with Chuck. It's going very well thus far. The president has done two good things, Bob, early on. He's called senators in a serious way. Senator Byrd's been called. And he gives the president an A-plus for consulting with the Senate." ~ Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, Face The Nation, 7/17/05
"You know, this has been the most amazing consulting that I've seen in the whole time I've been in the United States Senate. They've consulted with well over -- almost two-thirds of the senators, maybe more by now, but last time I heard. Normally, the president will consult with the leadership and the chairman and ranking member and then members of the judiciary committee. But they've really made an effort to try to get as many ideas as they can. It will be interesting to see who he picks." – Republican Senator Orrin Hatch (not a member of the gang, but a member of the Senate for 29 years), CNN Late Edition, 7/17/05
Comments:
But aren't they going to feel 'betrayed' when Bush goes and nominates Gonzalez anyway?
Posted by: Michelle Potter at July 19, 2005 1:28 PM
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.