Sample letter on judicial filibuster
The unprecedented filibuster of judicial nominees threatens our democracy and the balance of powers established by the Constitution. Democrats have disregarded their constitutional obligation to advise and consent by preventing the Senate from casting an up or down vote on important federal appellate nominees who decide most final rulings on constitutional law. Never before has a judicial nominee with clear majority support been denied an up or down vote in the Senate by a filibuster. Numerous Clinton nominees were confirmed with less than the 60 votes needed to end a filibuster because they clearly held a majority of support, and Bush's nominees deserve the same fair treatment. The judicial filibuster has turned into a partisan political effort to permanently block judges that disagree with Democrat ideology. Vote them up or vote them down - just vote! Talking Points:
- Never before has a judicial nominee with clear majority support been denied an up or down vote in the Senate by a filibuster. Having to overcome a filibuster (or obtaining 60 votes) on judicial nominees is unprecedented and has never been the confirmation test for a nominee.
- Due to the unprecedented use or threat of filibusters to block confirmation votes, the majority has every right and reason to change the Senate rule through the “Constitutional option.” (The “Constitutional option” refers to reinstating majority rule by requiring an up or down vote in the Senate on judicial nominees.) Republicans are seeking to restore the advice and consent Constitutional obligations of the Senate for judicial nominees – not eliminate the legislative filibuster.
- For all previous judicial nominees with majority support - even those conservatives considered dangerously liberal - were given an up or down vote, but suddenly with Bush's nominees it takes a supermajority to receive an up or down floor vote. All nominees deserve equal, fair treatment.
- The current judicial filibuster has limited the President's power in the appointment process, as mandated by the Constitution, and proliferated the Senate's role, thus, distorting the Constitution's established check and balance of powers.
- Liberals lost the White House, Congress, and Senate, and the judiciary remains their only hope of inflicting their anti-religious, pro-abortion, morally-relativistic agenda on America .
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