The Washington Times
  • Subscribe
  • RSS
  • Mobile Headlines
  • e-edition
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • REGISTER
  • LOG IN
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • WELCOME
  • Your Profile
  • Log Out
  • Front Page Image
  • Classifieds
  • Autos
  • Real Estate
  • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Customer Service
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Commentary
    • Columns
    • Water Cooler
    • Letters
    • Cartoons
    • Books
  • Sports
  • Culture
    • Home & Living
    • Family & Kids
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Washington Visitors
    • Books
    • Auto
    • TV Listings
    • Movie Listings
    • Death Notices
    • Entertainment
  • Communities
  • Rebate Shopping
    • Stores
    • Coupons
    • Daily Double
    • Promotion
    • How It Works
  • Photos
  • Podcasts
    • About Headlines
    • Audio and Radio
    • America's Morning News
  • National

    Ex-chief regrets D.C. fire merger with EMS

  • National

    Obama urges China to cut currency

  • Business

    Obama pledges to boost U.S. exports

  • Politics

    House leaders call pro-life group's bluff

  • Politics

    House GOP bans earmarks for members

  • Politics

    Public unmoved by Obama's health bill PR

  • Politics

    Rove: We mishandled Katrina recovery

Tuesday, November 1, 2005

Alito nomination to test 'Gang of 14'

Rate this story

Average 0.00
after 0 votes
Login or register to rate this story

  • Font Size -+
  • Print
  • Email
  • Comment
  • Tweet this!
  • Share
  • Article
  • Comments ()
  • Click-2-Listen

More Stories

  • Partial votes show no clear Iraq winner
  • School's out in Kansas City
  • Agency may seek more authority on auto safety
  • Magnitude-6.9 aftershock rocks Chile

By

Senate Republicans said yesterday they will use the "nuclear option" to ban judicial filibusters if Democrats try using the tactic to block the confirmation of Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. to the Supreme Court.

"Certainly, this does not rise to the level of extraordinary circumstances," said Sen. Mike DeWine, Ohio Republican. "Therefore, I would be prepared -- if a filibuster were tried -- to go to change the rules in the Senate to stop the filibuster."

Mr. DeWine is a member of the "Gang of 14" senators who can determine whether a filibuster can succeed or whether the "nuclear option" can be deployed to break one.

After meeting with Judge Alito for more than an hour yesterday, Mr. DeWine said the federal judge is in the "mainstream" of conservative judicial thinking and doubts that Democrats in the "Gang of 14" will permit a filibuster.

Under terms set by the Gang of 14, the seven Democrats promised not to back filibusters except under "extraordinary circumstances" and the seven Republicans vowed not to invoke the "nuclear option" unless Democrats abuse the filibuster.

Yesterday, Judge Alito had five private meetings with senators on Capitol Hill, drawing praise from Republicans and at least qualified praise from Sen. Tim Johnson, a Democrat from conservative South Dakota.

"From what I know at this point, it would appear that his 15 years on the federal bench, his experience, his legal skills are at a high level," said Mr. Johnson, who said he hasn't made up his mind about whether to support the nomination or seek a filibuster.

No Democrat has called for a filibuster against Judge Alito, but several have declined pointedly to rule out such a tactic to keep him off the high court.

Most Republicans have said they support using the "nuclear option" to break any new filibusters against judicial nominees such as Judge Alito. But for Republicans to ban judicial filibusters, they need the support of at least three Republicans in the Gang of 14.

Four Republicans and two Democrats have found no "extraordinary circumstances" with the Alito nomination. Although that number is not enough to prevent Democrats from filibustering the nomination, it is enough to employ the nuclear option.

12Next »

Post a comment

There are comments on this article, submit your opinion!

Commenting is disabled for this entry.
If you feel there is still something worth mentioning about this entry please contact the author or the site admin.

Top Stories

Most Shared

  1. Gov't workers feel no economic pain
  2. WOLF: Obama family health care fracas
  3. Bush's union transparency rules retracted under Obama
  4. Some Democrats shun Obama event in St. Louis
  5. EDITORIAL: Packing a gun in Starbucks
More Top Stories »
  1. Chief justice reignites feud with Obama
  2. EDITORIAL: Obama's a pain at the pump
  3. EDITORIAL: The NRA outshoots Obama
  4. Conyers' wife sentenced to 3 years
  5. McDonnell counters Va. attorney general on gays

Most Commented

  1. Gov't workers feel no economic pain
  2. Bush's union transparency rules retracted under Obama
  3. Chief justice reignites feud with Obama
  4. White House laughs off Emanuel's naked lobbying
  5. Some Democrats shun Obama event in St. Louis
More Top Stories »
  1. EDITORIAL: Obama's a pain at the pump
  2. EDITORIAL: Packing a gun in Starbucks
  3. First gay marriages performed in D.C.
  4. CURL: Massa defends himself on Beck
  5. LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Recognition of Kosovo a boon for terrorists

Listen to Washington Times Radio

  • America's Morning News

    with John McCaslin

Blogs & Columns

  • Water Cooler

    Off the beaten path online: CBC: Obama not listening...

  • Belief Blog

    Sayonara to the president's faith-based council

  • Technology

    April 3 is iPad launch date, Apple says

Advertising Links
TWT Store
  • e-edition
  • Print Edition
  • Weekly Washington Times
TWT Affiliates
  • Middle East Times
  • Golf
  • UPI
  • Arbor Ballroom
  • Washington Times Global
  • About TWT
  • Press Room
  • F.A.Q.
  • Work for TWT
  • Advertise
  • Sponsors
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

All site contents © Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC.