Republicans "Force-Feed" America: Shoving Judicial Nominees Down Democrats' Throats!

Recently in Oregon, the State Senate voted to end the force-feeding of geese for the production of foie gras. Animal rights activists feel that this practice, causing an enlarged liver in the geese, is inhumane.


Photo of Force-Fed Goose

But in Washington, D.C., the President of the United States through Senator Bill Frist, is attempting to 'force-feed' previously blocked judicial nominees down the throats of unwilling Senate Democrats. The tyranny of the majority against the minority is beginning!

Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont has explained:

“In renominating some of their most controversial nominees, the Bush Administration has again chosen confrontation over cooperation and ideology over moderation.

“The President’s words about wanting to reach across the aisle to work with Democrats are ringing a little hollow at this point. Democratic senators cooperated in confirming 204 of President Bush’s judicial nominees in his first term, and we were able to reach the lowest judicial vacancy rates in 16 years. Yet many of these controversial nominees are certain to continue to divide the country and to divide the Senate.

“The Senate should not be a rubber stamp for this or any White House. The independent federal judiciary should not be made into an arm of either political party, and when any president tries to do that, it threatens the public’s trust in our courts.

“The President and his partisans might consider toning down their rhetoric as they reflect on the fact that only ten of his nominations were blocked in the 108th Congress, while more than 60 of President Clinton’s judicial nominees were blocked by Republicans.”

And why must this President be renominating blocked judges? Are there no new conservative candidates that he can find to fill these positions? Of course not.

This is about arrogance. This is about intolerance. And this is not about bipartisanship. To add insult to injury, the so-called nuclear option will diminish the input of the Democrats in the Senate further denying them the basic Senate protection of filibustering that minorities have long enjoyed in America.

Someday Republicans just might be in the minority. As they attempt to force-feed Democrats on distasteful nominations, they should recall that "What is good for the Goose is good for the Gander!"

America deserves better than this government of fake news, phony bipartisanship, Orwellian double-speak, and no-bid government give-aways! America is calling for new leadership! Senator Kerry, we need you to answer that call!

Bob