I hope this is just a smoke-screen. If it is true it will sure make me mad. :banghead: I will write the president, anyway.
White House May Consult on Supreme Court
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14239-2003Jun19.html
By JESSE J. HOLLAND
The Associated Press
Thursday, June 19, 2003; 8:03 PM
WASHINGTON - The White House on Thursday reopened the door to possible consultations with Senate Democrats on a Supreme Court nomination if a vacancy occurs this summer, one day after President Bush's spokesman seemed to rule out the idea.
White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales said "final decisions regarding appropriate consultations have not been made," in the latest in a flurry of letters between the Bush administration and Senate Democrats about a possible nomination to the nation's highest court.
"In short, the White House is and remains willing to meet and listen to your thoughts and concerns, as well as those of your colleagues," said Gonzales, who has offered to meet personally with Senate Democrats.
Several Senate Democrats recently sent letters to the White House asking for Bush to meet with Senate leaders from both parties to talk about possible nominations and ways to avoid a bruising battle in the Senate.
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer seemed to rule the idea out completely on Wednesday, telling reporters that Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle and other Senate Democrats had "come up with a novel new approach of how the Constitution guides the appointment process."
But on Thursday, Gonzales pointed out that "Fleischer did not say who President Bush would consult with or receive advice from in the event of a Supreme Court vacancy and certainly did not foreclose the possibility that senators might be consulted."
This came in a letter to Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, and the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee. That committee would be the first one to vet any possible nomination.
Bush would decide on a potential replacement for any Supreme Court justice, but Republicans only control the Senate by two votes - there are 51 Republicans, 48 Democrats and one independent senator.
That means Democrats can block any potential Supreme Court nominee through a filibuster if they can get 40 of their members to agree.
"It's encouraging that the president appears ready to meet with a bipartisan group of senators and Senate Democratic leadership if a Supreme Court vacancy occurs," Daschle spokeswoman Ranit Schmelzer said.
Both parties are bracing for a potentially huge summer confirmation fight, given close GOP control over the Senate and the fact that Bush's court selections could make a huge difference on many crucial social issues for years to come - including abortion, the death penalty and racial questions.
There has been rising speculation that Bush may soon have an opportunity to make his first Supreme Court nomination, possibly even two.
None of the nine current justices has announced plans to retire, but Chief Justice William Rehnquist, 78, and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, 73, are considered the most likely possibilities.
Despite the widespread speculation, neither Rehnquist nor O'Connor have given any public clues that retirement announcements were imminent.
White House May Consult on Supreme Court
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14239-2003Jun19.html
By JESSE J. HOLLAND
The Associated Press
Thursday, June 19, 2003; 8:03 PM
WASHINGTON - The White House on Thursday reopened the door to possible consultations with Senate Democrats on a Supreme Court nomination if a vacancy occurs this summer, one day after President Bush's spokesman seemed to rule out the idea.
White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales said "final decisions regarding appropriate consultations have not been made," in the latest in a flurry of letters between the Bush administration and Senate Democrats about a possible nomination to the nation's highest court.
"In short, the White House is and remains willing to meet and listen to your thoughts and concerns, as well as those of your colleagues," said Gonzales, who has offered to meet personally with Senate Democrats.
Several Senate Democrats recently sent letters to the White House asking for Bush to meet with Senate leaders from both parties to talk about possible nominations and ways to avoid a bruising battle in the Senate.
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer seemed to rule the idea out completely on Wednesday, telling reporters that Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle and other Senate Democrats had "come up with a novel new approach of how the Constitution guides the appointment process."
But on Thursday, Gonzales pointed out that "Fleischer did not say who President Bush would consult with or receive advice from in the event of a Supreme Court vacancy and certainly did not foreclose the possibility that senators might be consulted."
This came in a letter to Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, and the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee. That committee would be the first one to vet any possible nomination.
Bush would decide on a potential replacement for any Supreme Court justice, but Republicans only control the Senate by two votes - there are 51 Republicans, 48 Democrats and one independent senator.
That means Democrats can block any potential Supreme Court nominee through a filibuster if they can get 40 of their members to agree.
"It's encouraging that the president appears ready to meet with a bipartisan group of senators and Senate Democratic leadership if a Supreme Court vacancy occurs," Daschle spokeswoman Ranit Schmelzer said.
Both parties are bracing for a potentially huge summer confirmation fight, given close GOP control over the Senate and the fact that Bush's court selections could make a huge difference on many crucial social issues for years to come - including abortion, the death penalty and racial questions.
There has been rising speculation that Bush may soon have an opportunity to make his first Supreme Court nomination, possibly even two.
None of the nine current justices has announced plans to retire, but Chief Justice William Rehnquist, 78, and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, 73, are considered the most likely possibilities.
Despite the widespread speculation, neither Rehnquist nor O'Connor have given any public clues that retirement announcements were imminent.