Re: [pf] The Decision - the hope that lies ahead

by Sharon Flesher

14 December 2000 23:15 UTC

Jill,

Scalia was confirmed 98-0. Senate Democrats did not challenge Scalia as his
appointment to the court AT THAT TIME was not perceived to threaten the
direction or makeup of the court. (A couple of right-wingers can be
tolerated in a group of 9). Also, Reagan was extremely popular at the time.

Then came Bork, and the Senate balked. Incidentally, Gore voted to reject
the Bork nomination.

Recall that Bush Sr. appointed Souter and Thomas. Gore also voted against
Thomas.

Bush Sr. was under enormous pressure from the right wing of his party to
nominate a conservative to the court, thus Thomas. His nomination, while
controversial, may  not have been such a close call had it not been for the
last minute Anita Hill revelations, which gave Democrats who wanted to boot
him anyway some political cover. Remember, this nomination also was
entangled in racial politics, which, ironically, Thomas ultimately used to
his advantage. African-Americans were split on the Thomas nomination, and
some defended his behavior with Hill as a cultural thing that whites
couldn't understand.

What's next? Who knows. Some folks think Bush won't try to push a
arch-conservative through the Senate because he'll need to find someone at
least acceptable to Democrats. Presidential nominations only need a simple
majority vote for confirmation, but Republicans would need 60 votes to break
a Democratic filibuster. There's usually a handful who cross party lines on
both sides -- namely northeastern Republicans and southern Democrats -- but
some of the more ghastly conservative Republicans were defeated in this
election. There may be a slim  Republican majority in the House and Senate,
but it remains to be seen whether there is a *conservative* majority.

Sharon Flesher
CarSharing Traverse, Inc.
Traverse City, Mich.
sflesher@traverse.net

"Be the change you wish to see." M.K. Gandhi

----- Original Message -----
From: Jill Taylor Bussiere <jdt@itol.com>
To: pf <positive-futures@igc.topica.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2000 4:02 PM
Subject: Re: [pf] The Decision - the hope that lies ahead


> Diane,
>     I agree that the Supreme Court is important.  That was not the
argument
> on pf, though, it was about how the justices got there.
>
>     And Al Gore voted for Scalia.  Which is interesting, I think.
>
>     I too hope that there are some more Souters out there.  What kind of
> majority is needed for a justice comfirmation - anybody know?  I think it
> will be hard to get any justice by this split house unless Democrats allow
> it, and they have caved in in the past.  It depends on whether they want
to
> make nice and pretend everything is hunky dory, or whether they want to
make
> this usurpation an issue.
>
>     There is a faction of people that will be challenging Bush's
legitimacy
> at every turn.  His presidential one, not his parental one.
>
>                       Jill
> > And I feel I have been vindicated in my long-held belief that Supreme
> Court
> > choices are important in deciding one's Presidential vote.  Being an
> > Oklahoman and Anita Hill supporter, it's especially galling that
Clarence
> > Thomas is part of the conservative bloc.  All I can say is that I hope
> there
> > are some more Souters out there for the Republicans to put forth and the
> > Democrats to accept grudgingly.
> >
> > Diane