Numbers vs. Spin with the Senate Fillibuster

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Anthony Baker <anthony () thinkbigideas com>
Date: May 19, 2005 1:27:01 AM EDT
To: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Subject: Numbers vs. Spin with the Senate Fillibuster



Dave,

Thought the folks at IP might be interested in this, a great post  
from David Galbraith's weblog today from an article by the San Luis  
Obispo Tribune.

/Anthony

--------------------

Examine the numbers and the reality of the current Senate standoff  
looks quite different from the spin.
The spin:
On the face of it, it looks like it is the Democrats that are being  
stubborn by threatening to filibuster judicial nominees.

The reality:
The numbers show something different, the Senate agreed to approve  
all but 1.5% of judicial nominees, and the Republicans are  
threatening to change one of the fundamental checks and balances on  
government to have things 100% instead of 98.5% their own way.

"Since Bush took office, he has made 218 judicial nominations and the  
Senate has confirmed 208 of them. Ten, including Owen, failed to win  
confirmation because of Democratic filibusters. Seven of those 10  
were renominated at the start of this year. Of those seven, Democrats  
have indicated that they would be willing to confirm as many as four  
to avoid the showdown."

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/politics/ 
11681193.htm


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