Democrats consider new presidential nominating process

By GottaLaff

Time to rock the vote, er, boat:

National Democrats are considering changing the presidential nominating process, by establishing a new primary calendar and deemphasizing the influence lawmakers and political insiders have on choosing the party nominee. [...]

Democrats see an opening to change the system now, because this is "a rare cycle of no apparent Democratic presidential nomination challenge" in 2012 as President Obama is expected to seek a second term, according to the "Draft Report of the Democratic Change Commission," discussed at the meeting. [...]

A commission suggestion would be to allow the first four states that held nominating contests in the January 2008 maintain their early, privileged calendar positions. But these states - Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina - would be directed to delay holding their caucuses and primaries before February 1. All other states would be forbidden from holding their nominating contests until at least the first Tuesday in March.

Another recommendation in the report suggested grouping states by "region or sub-region."

"This would not be a mandatory obligation upon the state parties," the commission stated. "The commission recommends that these clusters be staggered throughout the window to allow for a deliberative process that benefits all voters and caucus-goers through the country."

States parties that abided by the DNC's calendar would be rewarded by getting special perks at the national nominating convention.

The commission also discussed how to reduce the influence of unpledged delegates – lawmakers and party insiders also know as superdelegates – who played a big role in the 2008 nomination contest. [...]

There are disagreements already, of course. Follow the link to read all about it.

The Republican National Committee is also looking at how its party chooses its presidential nominee, and the DNC expressed interest Saturday in working with its political rival on a nomination calendar.

Oh yes, I'm sure the two parties can work together beautifully, as we always do. No problem.

Sotomayor gets boost in bid for Senate approval

By GottaLaff

In other Not Michael Jackson news:

Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor got a boost on Tuesday in what is expected to be a relatively easy road to Senate confirmation when an influential U.S. lawyer's group gave her its top rating.

The American Bar Association's Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary based its unanimous "well qualified" evaluation on a review of the integrity, competence and judicial temperament of Sotomayor, a federal judge for 17 years who seems headed to become the first Hispanic on the highest U.S. court. [...]

The ABA, with more than 400,000 members, describes itself as the world's largest voluntary professional membership organization. Founded in 1878, it has been providing evaluations of judicial nominees since 1953, a spokeswoman said.

That's great, but come on... I bet every nominee gets that rating from the ABA...

Clarence Thomas is the only current member of the Supreme Court not to receive a "well qualified" from the ABA. He was rated a notch below at "qualified," the spokeswoman said.

My bad.

And let's be honest, ABA, "qualified" was a little over the top.

Here is Judge Sotomayor's questionnaire

By GottaLaff

Should you be so inclined, it's all there... in PDF format.

I have empathy for Sonia Sotomayor for having to fill out that questionnaire.

I am a white liberal female, and I would hope that a wise white woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white Rushpublic male who hasn't lived that life.

Here's a random sample from the questionnaire:

b. Has anyone involved in the process of selecting you for this nomination (including, but not limited to anyone in the Executive Office of the President, the Justice Department, or the Senate and its staff) ever discussed with you any currently pending or specific case, legal issue, or question in a manner that could reasonably be interpreted as seeking any express or implied assurances concerning your position on such case, issue, or question? If so, explain fully. Identify each communication you had prior to the announcement of your nomination with anyone in the Executive Office of the President, the Justice Department, or the Senate or its staff referring or relating to your views on any case, issue, or subject that could come before the Supreme Court of the United States, state who was present or participated in such communication, and describe briefly what transpired.

No.

c. Did you make any representations to any individuals or interest groups as to how you might rule as a Justice, if confirmed? If you know of any such representations made by the White House or individuals acting on behalf of the White House, please describe them, and if any materials memorializing those communications are available to you, please provide four (4) copies.

No.

Anita Hill speaks out on Sotomayor

By GottaLaff

WWCTS*?

ESSENCE.COM: What do you think of Sonia Sotomayor as a Supreme Court nominee?
ANITA HILL: I think it's an excellent choice, just on the face of the selection. Here's a person who has years of experience on the bench, and has distinguished herself in private practice as well, and has been a prosecutor. I think she's got an incredible breadth of experience. [...]

ESSENCE.COM: Things like...being a woman and a person of color?
HILL: Absolutely, that's part of it. But I think she's a great choice not simply because she's a Latina. She has acknowledged that as part of her identity, in a way that I think is very responsible and wise. [...] It means she's going to be aware of who she is and understand how that plays in her decision-making, but she is also going to be quite aware of the rule of law and have great respect for the rule of law, and be able to apply it. We are enriched in the judiciary by having both those concepts in one person, and so what some people have found troubling about her I actually find refreshingly candid and self-aware.

ESSENCE.COM: Do you know Judge Sotomayor?
HILL: She and I were in law school together [...] Not only did she excel in law school - where she was an editor of the Law Review - but after leaving law school she was a prosecutor, she practiced in a law firm, she was nominated and served as a judge at the district court level, and moved on to the appellate court level. [...]

ESSENCE.COM: After Justice David Souter announced he was retiring, Vanity Fair and others raised the suggestion that President Obama should nominate you for the Supreme Court. What did you think of that idea?
HILL: I actually responded to the Vanity Fair piece. I think there are any number of people, including Sonia Sotomayor, who will be excellent choices. This is a President who has come in and really tried to promote healing between various factions. Nowhere is that more needed than in terms of how we have approached Senate Judiciary Committee hearings. In those hearings there needs to be a certain level of honesty, but there also needs to be civility and really sticking with the questions that matter about the nominee. I don't think that there is much chance that that would happen if I were nominated, because of things that people would want to get into, that wouldn't be helpful to the process.

*What would Clarence Thomas Say?

AUDIO: Rush Limbaugh: Obama/Sotomayor "reverse racists"

By GottaLaff

MSNBC just reported that Boss Limbaugh, in all his wisdom called Obama and Sotomayor "reverse racists".

I'll try to dig up the video.

Boss LimpDong is a reverse human.

UPDATE, blog title has been changed to reflect the addition of the audio:

The Party of Blockage-- Senate GOP: Not so fast on Court pick

By GottaLaff

The Party of Blockage... although when it comes to Rushpublics, more like constipated:

Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee are resisting President Barack Obama’s call for a swift confirmation of his choice for Supreme Court, opening a rift between the parties even before the nominee has even been named.

Democrats contend that Republicans are planning to slow-walk an inevitable confirmation. The GOP has an incentive to do so: Conservative activists have vowed to use the court fight to raise money, fire up their base, identify troops and rebuild their movement, with millions of dollars in advertising planned.

That's nice, isn't it, how the Rushpublics are interfering with/infringing upon yet another branch of government (the first being their refusal to seat Senator Al Franken)? Yeah, that'll win over voters. Memo to Rushpublics: It's the American people and democracy that suffers.

America first, that's their motto, yesireebob.

Obama Supreme Court pick may come next week

By GottaLaff

Oo! Oo!

A top aide to Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy told fellow Democrats on Friday to get ready for President Obama's Supreme Court pick to come as early as next week, according to an e-mail obtained by CNN.

"It is possible the President will designate his nominee to the Supreme Court as early as next Tuesday or some time next week," Jeremy Paris, Leahy's chief counsel for nominations, wrote in the e-mail to fellow Democratic aides.

Here comes that annoying, ever-present BUT:

But the three senior administration officials said flatly the president has not yet settled on his pick, and they noted this weekend would be pivotal in the decision-making process. "He's mulling it over," one top aide said of the final stages of the process.

Top officials say it is unlikely the president will announce the pick at a prime-time event, as then-President Bush did when he nominated John Roberts to be Chief Justice. [...]

The senior administration officials cautioned it is still possible the Supreme Court announcement could slip into early or mid-June if the President does not make up his mind over the course of the next few days.

Obama is under some pressure, however, to announce the pick before he leaves Washington on June 3 for a foreign trip that will take him to Egypt, France, and Germany because he needs to get the confirmation process started because the Senate takes the month of August off for recess. While Obama aides are hoping to get confirmation hearings started in July, there are many possible delays that could push the hearings into September, which could put confirmation before the first Monday in October in some peril.

Senate Judiciary spokeswoman Erica Chabot acknowledged to CNN "the rumors are flying fast and furious" that next week is possible for an announcement, but stressed that Paris' e-mail is not a sign that the panel knows the timing for sure. "We just don't have an indication of when this is going to happen," said Chabot.

BUT:

Sources close to the selection process tell CNN most of the major vetting has been done and the process is pretty far along, farther than the White House may be letting on. All of the dozen or so major candidates under consideration have had at least initial vetting and most of the top-tier candidates — a half dozen or so — have been fully vetted.

I'm all out of buts.

Conservatives Set To Block Dawn Johnsen’s Nomination

By GottaLaff

In a couple of recent posts, I've brought up Dawn Johnsen as someone who should get confirmed without any further delay. Didn't we just know that the Rushpublics would do their level best to block her? Why would they do that? This is why. It's not about her position on abortion, it's about her (perfectly appropriate) approach to justice and our legal system, meaning: They're terrified.

Well, well, well, guess which unsurprising move by the Rushpublics is about to cut the Democrats off at the knees:

Roll Call reports that conservatives look poised to successfully block the nomination of Dawn Johnsen to head the White House Office of Legal Counsel (OLC). Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) declared that his hands were tied without the assistance of a few Republican votes:

“Right now we’re finding out when to do that,” Reid said, responding to a question about the status of Indiana University law professor Dawn Johnsen’s nomination to the Justice post. “We need a couple Republican votes until we can get to 60.”

Three words: Senator Al Franken.

It’s unclear why 60 votes are needed to confirm Johnsen, considering her predecessor, Jay Bybee — who went on to authorize illegal torture — won easy confirmation in 2001 through a simple voice vote. Bybee’s successor, Jack Goldsmith, was also approved by a voice vote. Steven Bradbury served for three years as an acting OLC head, and so did not have to come up for a vote. Having a full — and filibuster-proof — Senate vote on Johnsen would be an unusual break with recent precedent. [...]

Johnsen is eminently qualified to head the OLC. She has been an outspoken critic of Bush’s torture and eavesdropping programs, argues persuasively for accountability for wrongdoing, and has written passionately in support of checks and balances and against executive branch power grabs. She is a strong progressive candidate who could restore the tainted OLC to a place of legal professionalism and pride. And, like the majority of Americans, Johnsen thinks abortions should be safe and legal in most cases.

Specter and Nelson can find little in Johnsen’s sterling record to substantively critique, and Reid shouldn’t let them stand in the way. Indeed, their opposition to her breaks their track record for supporting previous OLC heads like Bybee. Remember, when Bush nominated Bybee for a federal judgeship, Specter, Nelson, Cornyn, and Reid all voted to confirm him.

It's time for Paddy and me to invite Specter and Nelson to join Lindsey Graham in the woodshed. I'll supply the spiders.

H/t: Dr. President

Lindsey Graham: ‘If we’re going to let the bloggers run the country, then the country’s best days are behind us.’

By GottaLaff


Hey! You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me?

Now, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is hitting back at the blogs:

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Republicans would fight back hard if Democrats or liberal groups try to make the Supreme Court confirmation process about Sessions’ record, rather than about Obama’s nominee to replace Justice David Souter.

“If people try to go down that road, it’ll blow up in their face, because Jeff is a good guy,” Graham said. “My hope is that our Democratic colleagues — if you start listening to the bloggers — if we’re going to let the bloggers run the country, then the country’s best days are behind us.”

Too late, Lindsey. We rule the world!

The case of the missing law clerks: Souter signals?

By GottaLaff

Whyohwhy couldn't it be Scalia or Thomas?

"The case of the missing law clerks is this spring's most-watched mystery at the Supreme Court," the AP reports.

Eight justices are known to have hired the four law clerks who will work with them in the Supreme Court term that begins in October, but Justice David Souter appears to be the lone holdout.

"Why does this matter? Under the scenario that counts, Souter, 69, would not be hiring clerks because he isn't planning to be in Washington in the fall. A retirement would give President Barack Obama his first chance to nominate a justice and the next few months would bring Senate confirmation hearings."

So who would Prez O nominate? Any ideas?

Obama Nominates 3 to Key Treasury Posts

By GottaLaff

Slowly but (hopefully) surely:

The White House on Sunday said Obama is nominating David S. Cohen to be assistant secretary in dealing with terrorist financing; Alan B. Krueger for assistant secretary for economic policy; and Kim N. Wallace as assistant secretary for legislative affairs.

Each nominee is already serving as a counselor to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. All three are now subject to Senate confirmation. [...]

Geithner says Treasury is moving carefully to get the best people in place. The agency says there are no delays or concerns over the vetting process. [...]

Cohen until recently served as a partner at the law firm of Wilmerhale, and he worked as a Treasury Department lawyer immediately before joining the firm in 2001.

Krueger is a longtime professor of economics and public affairs at Princeton University who has garnered numerous honors for his work as a labor economist.

Wallace was a managing director and head of the Washington Research Group at Barclays Capital before becoming a counselor to Geithner. Wallace worked for 14 years at Lehman Brothers Inc. and served as a legislative aide to former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell.

Obama taps Sebelius for HHS secretary

By GottaLaff

So much for Teddy Kennedy's influence:

A White House source says Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is President Barack Obama's choice for secretary of health and human services.

The source, who was not authorized to speak on the record, says Obama will formally announce the nomination on Monday.

There goes Kansas.

Did Ethical Issues Trip Up Gregg's Nomination?

By GottaLaff

Now they tell us:

Perhaps Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) didn't back out of his nomination to be Commerce secretary due to Republican party pressure or his principled stands on the issues after all.

An Associated Press investigation finds President Obama's former nominee "steered taxpayer money to his home state's redevelopment of a former Air Force base even as he and his brother engaged in real estate deals there."

Gregg personally invested in his brother's office projects and collected "at least $240,017 to $651,801 from his investment" in the former Air Force base "while helping arrange at least $66 million in federal aid for the former base."

Bill Clinton May Testify at Wife's Confirmation Hearings

This is exactly the kind of crap I was worried about with Hillary's nomination. The freaking R's want it to be all about the Clenis all the time. Via Taegan.

"Senate Republicans are considering asking Bill Clinton to testify at his wife's confirmation hearing about potential conflicts of interest involving his worldwide charitable enterprises," according to Politico.

VIDEO: Senor Richardson's bilingual remarks as Secretary of Commerce nominee

By GottaLaff


En espanol y in English, at the end.

Bill Clinton, Chuck Hagel react to nominations

Wonder if Hagel's jealous? And as Jeff noted, to the MSNBC yabbermouths it's as if he nominated only Clinton.

CHUCK HAGEL:
"The national security team President-Elect Obama has assembled is a serious, experienced and widely respected group of leaders. They are all seasoned professionals. This team gives President-Elect Obama a strong foundation to build a new bipartisan consensus for America's foreign policy that will be required to confront the enormous 21st Century challenges facing America and the world. I congratulate President-Elect Obama and Vice President-Elect Biden for assembling such an impressive team of strong and capable leaders."

BILL CLINTON:
"As an American, I am thankful that President-elect Barack Obama has asked Hillary to be Secretary of State and that she has accepted. As her husband, I am deeply proud. She is the right person for the job of helping to restore America's image abroad, end the war in Iraq, advance peace and increase our security, by building a future for our children with more partners and fewer adversaries, one of shared responsibilities and opportunities.

Vice Presidential Nominee Joe Biden: Noun, verb, awesome

By GottaLaff

JoeBama!

Beau Biden has his dad's smile. But he made Michelle Obama cry with his story of the accident in which his mother and sister were killed, and of Joe Biden's devotion to his family. "We married Jill" [paraphrased]... so sweet.... "Be there for my dad, like he was for me. Be there for Barack Obama... Be there because Obama/Biden will deliver the change we so desperately need." Great intro.

Obama is supposed to make an unannounced cameo after the speech.

[long, loud cheers] Paying tribute to Bill and Hillary.

Accepts the nomination: Yes, yes, I accept the nomination to serve with Barack Obama...

Barack and I share a common story. My dad taught me, when you get knocked down, you get back up. Intros mom in audience.

Mom said you are defined by your sense of honor, and redeemed by your loyalty.

Mom said, when bullies knocked him down: Bloody their nose so you can walk down the street the next day. [cheers] Nobody is better than you, everyone is your equal, and everyone is equal to you.

Talking about the American Dream. Today, it feels like it's slowly slipping away. I've never seen a time when Washington has seen so many people get knocked down without helping them to get back up.

Talking about our problems: Economy, health care, but humanizing it. How will we retire, send the kids to college...? That's the America that Bush has left us. And that's what we'll get if George...er, John McCain is elected.. FREUDIAN SLIP, Freudian slip!

Barack Obama gets it. He worked his way up. He IS the great American story. He could have done anything after he graduated. But he chose to go to Chicago, the south side... He made their lives the work of HIS life. That's how you come to believe that work is more than a paycheck: It's dignity. It's respect.

Because he made that choice, more people moved from welfare to the dignity of work.

In Washington, he hit the ground running. He reached across party lines to keep nukes out of the hands of terrorists... and worked for the veterans [paraphrased].

I watched how Barack touched/inspired people. We don't have to accept the situation we cannot bear. We have the power to change it. That's what he'll do for this country!

John McCain is my friend. ... heroism.. blahblah... [applause] But I profoundly disagree with the direction he wants to take this country. [lists ways] He thinks we've made economic progress.. I think it's been abysmal! He voted with Bush 95% of the time. Proposing tax breaks for corporate America, but none for millions of families. That's not change, that's more of the same.

[Lists other ways he's like Bush, with the refrain "that's not change, that's more of the same."]

The choice in this election is clear. These times require more than a good soldier, they require a good leader. They require change. [Lists ways he will, like the right kind of tax cuts, transform economy, energy, etc., including equal pay for women]

Our country is less secure, more isolated. Bush dug us into a hole, no friends to help us out. Now Russia, China, India growing into great powers, challenge of climate change, resurgence of fundamentalism in Afghan., Pakistan, the real source of terror.

We will hold Russia accountable and help Georgia rebuild. This administration's policy has been an abysmal failure, John McCain is complicit. But he says Obama's not ready. Who's judgment do you trust, McCain: "Afghanistan succeeded"... or Obama: "We need to send 2 more combat battalions to Afghan."

McCain was wrong, Obama was right. He rejected talking to Iran, Obama said to talk. Now, even the Bush administration we should talk to Iran. Again and again, John McCain is wrong, Barack Obama is right.

The time line, McCain said no. Obama said shift the responsibility to Iraqis. Now Bush is on the verge of sending the troops home. McCain was wrong, Obama was right.

Remember when the world used to trust us? They'll trust us again with Obama as president. We'll be able to lead again.

I'm here for my family's future. For the cops and firefighters, the teachers and assembly workers. They all challenge us to embrace change. We must meet that challenge. Now we can get back up together.

I am ready, Barack is ready, this is our time, this is America's time.

Happy Historic Headlines

By GottaLaff

Democrats make Illinois senator first African-American nominee

Obama claims historic presidential nomination --Democrats make Illinois senator first African-American nominee

In Dramatic Moment, Hillary Clinton, as the New York Delegation is Reached, Calls for Nomination of Barack Obama by Acclamation. History is Made, Obama is Now the Official Nominee of the Democratic Party for President A Momentous Day for America, a Class Act by Clinton.

Obama Is Nominated by Acclamation

Obama Is Democratic Nominee for President

OUR NOMINEE BY ACCLAMATION

By GottaLaff

Hillary will come to the floor to end the votes

Hillary will come to the floor and declare the NY vote.

The intros are kind of annoying, if you ask moi.

Barbara Boxer said CA passed because a big group had to leave for a vote in the legislature. They have to find the alternates and get their votes. Hillary won CA.

Per Keith, New Mexico will yield to Illinois, and Illinois will yield to New York. Hillary will then come out and cast her vote for Obama and end the votes.

I like the way New Hampshire's representative just said they were following Hillary's "orders" and going unanimous for Obama. Nice.

New Jersey goes unanimous, too. Way to go, New Jersey!

New Mexico just yielded.

Hillary just took her place for an entrance.

Illinois just yielded to New York. Hillary is making an entrance to a raucous crowd.

She's leading a delegation to put Obama over the top.

Um, not so much, PUMAs. Unity. Imagine that.

Chuck Schumer, Charlie Rangel, Hillary Clinton are all on the floor.

Hillary is speaking... With eyes firmly fixed on the future, in the spirit of unity... let's declare together, with one voice, right here, right now, THAT BARACK OBAMA IS OUR CANDIDATE, AND HE WILL BE OUR PRESIDENT. I move that the convention suspend procedural rules... all votes cast by the delegates and will be counted [every vote is respected], and Barack Obama will be selected by acclamation as the nominee for the president of the United States. [somewhat shortened... couldn't type that fast]

The crowd is chanting: HILLARY! HILLARY!

Pelosi: Is there a second? [The entire place seconded it.]

Done. Finally. Unity. A-freakin'-men.

They're playing "Love Train". There was no riot. There were no protests.