Illinois Democratic Senator Dick Durbin is now Chairman of the Judiciary Committee & for reasons apparently only known to him, he’s kowtowing to Republican senators blocking Democratic nominees...
This is another fine article about historical and current aspects of the system, bringing home once again the critical role of the senate in terms of all things related to courts and the justice system.
It appears that the blue slip practice has as much legitimacy as the notion that the Supreme Court should remain fixed at nine, a number originally (but no longer) corresponding to the number of circuits comprising the federal judiciary.
When you have something like the voting rights act firmly in place, these types of procedural courtesies would not make as much of a difference. But it's a whole different story now that we are living under a completely dismantled voting rights act, thanks to the court, and we are also living under elevated efforts to suppress voting rights.
Why Durbin has faltered on this is certainly a big issue. The larger question may be where is Mr. Biden on all of us, given his whole range of experience with the Senate and the judiciary committee.
As reflected in another comment, this as well as other political issues recently covered here show the continued weakness of Democratic Party as long as it stays a cosmopolitan / educational elite party. Their focus on only certain limited areas is a losing strategy due to the senate and electoral college. As commonly discussed, demographic shifts are likely to mean that soon about 30 percent of country will control the majority of the senate. This spells more democratic disaster.
The new democratic campaign slogan should be - "it's the senate, stupid!"
I have two great Democratic senators, so I will also call on them to have a discussion with Senator Durbin. Let's hope that the Dems are talking strategy all the time. It is absolutely time to change our game plan. We are not dealing with honest brokers or the loyal opposition in any way shape or form. Tell the staffer that answers the phone just that.
Another good point to bring-up is what has happened with the Mifepristone situation. It's a great way to express the consequences of the way their colleagues on the right are behaving. Statistics tell us Judge Kacsmaryk's actions will result in pain, misery, and the deaths of women. We must protect them and ourselves from these ruthless Republicans.
Thanks Thom. I've felt for a long time that Durbin was past his useful life. He has never been an inspirational Senator and simply gained power in the Senate due to longevity. This is another example that the leadership positions in the Senate should not be based on seniority.
Apparently there is no daylight between common destructive thieves of democratic values. I am so damn tired of hearing there is no both sides arguments. That is another Big Lie pushed out by centrist democrats attempting to help corrupt indecent Republicans. Shameful. Harris, Booker, Klobuchar all knew they had no chance in hell of winning POTUS yet bailed on their sole job on the Judiciary to stop the 280 Trump unqualified judge’s from sitting on Federal bench. Look where that put us now...scrambling to get religious rightwing Christian fascists from removing life saving drugs. Stolen elections have consequences.
I read an article in the TNR soapbox that explained that the main problem is that Dianne Feinstein is out with shingles plus her age. What would kneed to happen is for her to resign, and Governor Newsom to appoint a new Senator. New republic.com.
The problem with conservatives, and moreso with extremists and reactionary types is that they cannot be honest with themselves. They have never quite mastered the “know thyself” concept and their default position is rationalization to force reality to fit into a preconceived format or irrational theoretical framework. Taking unfair advantage of compulsively nice guys such as Durbin and those who wish to appear reasonable or those who show any sign of weakness is second nature for them. Pretension and façade maintenance or face-saving are their M.O., and being always right and certain of their beliefs and perceptions provides great security. They are chronically in defense mode. We liberal progressives scare them to death with our true liberty and freedom and we are recognized in their inner circles as their enemies, yet they need us to like them and they genuinely like most of us as individuals in our private lives. They wish we could all just get along, but when we are honest about what we think and feel, we represent erroneous ideas and a pernicious evil in their paranoid perspectives. In Congress and in certain political and social circumstances, collegiality and fraternity are utilized to keep them on an even keel. They want the game to remain friendly and life to be peaceful. Unfortunately, they cannot trust others and they particularly cannot trust the “libs”. Trusting them is foolhardy, however, obviously. A lot of the people who lean left seem to find that hard to understand or accept as the crude and cruel reality.
They all vote and choose, according to the wishes of their highest contributors. Illinois has a lot of corporate interests; Durbin is just selling himself. Both sides of the aisle are guilty. Sometimes I think the Dems are worse; they talk the talk but don't walk it.
This is another fine article about historical and current aspects of the system, bringing home once again the critical role of the senate in terms of all things related to courts and the justice system.
It appears that the blue slip practice has as much legitimacy as the notion that the Supreme Court should remain fixed at nine, a number originally (but no longer) corresponding to the number of circuits comprising the federal judiciary.
When you have something like the voting rights act firmly in place, these types of procedural courtesies would not make as much of a difference. But it's a whole different story now that we are living under a completely dismantled voting rights act, thanks to the court, and we are also living under elevated efforts to suppress voting rights.
Why Durbin has faltered on this is certainly a big issue. The larger question may be where is Mr. Biden on all of us, given his whole range of experience with the Senate and the judiciary committee.
As reflected in another comment, this as well as other political issues recently covered here show the continued weakness of Democratic Party as long as it stays a cosmopolitan / educational elite party. Their focus on only certain limited areas is a losing strategy due to the senate and electoral college. As commonly discussed, demographic shifts are likely to mean that soon about 30 percent of country will control the majority of the senate. This spells more democratic disaster.
The new democratic campaign slogan should be - "it's the senate, stupid!"
I have two great Democratic senators, so I will also call on them to have a discussion with Senator Durbin. Let's hope that the Dems are talking strategy all the time. It is absolutely time to change our game plan. We are not dealing with honest brokers or the loyal opposition in any way shape or form. Tell the staffer that answers the phone just that.
Another good point to bring-up is what has happened with the Mifepristone situation. It's a great way to express the consequences of the way their colleagues on the right are behaving. Statistics tell us Judge Kacsmaryk's actions will result in pain, misery, and the deaths of women. We must protect them and ourselves from these ruthless Republicans.
Thanks Thom. I've felt for a long time that Durbin was past his useful life. He has never been an inspirational Senator and simply gained power in the Senate due to longevity. This is another example that the leadership positions in the Senate should not be based on seniority.
Its a shame . I have a friend that is a staunch Democrat , he has said many times . “Democrats
do not know how to use power” he’s right and if they don’t figure it out soon, Mr Durbin, we wont have any Democracy .
We deserve not only an answer from Mr . Durbin but a change from his pandering to the GOP who are obviously twisted in their motivation.
Apparently there is no daylight between common destructive thieves of democratic values. I am so damn tired of hearing there is no both sides arguments. That is another Big Lie pushed out by centrist democrats attempting to help corrupt indecent Republicans. Shameful. Harris, Booker, Klobuchar all knew they had no chance in hell of winning POTUS yet bailed on their sole job on the Judiciary to stop the 280 Trump unqualified judge’s from sitting on Federal bench. Look where that put us now...scrambling to get religious rightwing Christian fascists from removing life saving drugs. Stolen elections have consequences.
Because that is what dems do! KOWTOW Clinton did, Obama did!! They did not listen to Howard Dean and his 50 state strategy. If Only!!
I read an article in the TNR soapbox that explained that the main problem is that Dianne Feinstein is out with shingles plus her age. What would kneed to happen is for her to resign, and Governor Newsom to appoint a new Senator. New republic.com.
The problem with conservatives, and moreso with extremists and reactionary types is that they cannot be honest with themselves. They have never quite mastered the “know thyself” concept and their default position is rationalization to force reality to fit into a preconceived format or irrational theoretical framework. Taking unfair advantage of compulsively nice guys such as Durbin and those who wish to appear reasonable or those who show any sign of weakness is second nature for them. Pretension and façade maintenance or face-saving are their M.O., and being always right and certain of their beliefs and perceptions provides great security. They are chronically in defense mode. We liberal progressives scare them to death with our true liberty and freedom and we are recognized in their inner circles as their enemies, yet they need us to like them and they genuinely like most of us as individuals in our private lives. They wish we could all just get along, but when we are honest about what we think and feel, we represent erroneous ideas and a pernicious evil in their paranoid perspectives. In Congress and in certain political and social circumstances, collegiality and fraternity are utilized to keep them on an even keel. They want the game to remain friendly and life to be peaceful. Unfortunately, they cannot trust others and they particularly cannot trust the “libs”. Trusting them is foolhardy, however, obviously. A lot of the people who lean left seem to find that hard to understand or accept as the crude and cruel reality.
They all vote and choose, according to the wishes of their highest contributors. Illinois has a lot of corporate interests; Durbin is just selling himself. Both sides of the aisle are guilty. Sometimes I think the Dems are worse; they talk the talk but don't walk it.