Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Top 10 Lies About Filibusters

The Top 10 filibuster falsehoods, from Media Matters.

My favorite is #10

Falsehood #10: Democrats have opposed "all" or "most" of Bush's judicial nominees

"Nuclear option" proponents have drastically exaggerated Democratic efforts to block Bush's judicial nominees, suggesting that they have opposed all of his nominees or all of his conservative nominees.


It's the Republican "oh, but we're oppressed victims" card in play.

In fact, the Senate has to date approved 205 judicial nominees, with Senate Democrats filibustering 10. The vast majority of Bush's nominees have received strong bipartisan support. For example, in April district court nominee Paul Crotty was confirmed by a vote of 95-0. Even among Bush's first-term appellate nominees, the Senate confirmed more than 70 percent.


Yeah. A 95% success rate is being an oppressed victim.

*Gasp*

You don't think Republicans might have filibustered, do you!?

Why, that would almost be too much to bear thinking. But I will anyway.

SEN. SCHUMER: Isn’t it correct that on March 8, 2000, my colleague [Sen. Frist] voted to uphold the filibuster of Judge Richard Paez?


Yep. It is.

Sauce for the goose, baby. If Republicans can filibuster, so can Democrats. To claim otherwise would be hypocritical, wouldn't it?

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