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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Senate Just Cemented Obama's Judicial Legacy
WASHINGTON -- If there's one thing from 2014 that will define President Barack Obama's legacy after he's left the White House, it's the number of lifetime judges he put on the federal bench.
In its final act of the year, the Senate blew through a dozen U.S. district court nominees on Tuesday night. That puts Obama at a whopping 89 district court and circuit court confirmations for the year, and means he'll wrap up his sixth year in office with a grand total of 305 district court and circuit court confirmations -- a tally that puts him well beyond where his predecessors were by this point in their presidencies.
President George W. Bush confirmed just 32 district court and circuit court judges during his sixth year in office, according to data provided by Alliance for Justice, a progressive advocacy group focused on the federal judiciary. President Bill Clinton confirmed 65 judges in his sixth year. In total, Bush confirmed 256 district and circuit court nominees after six years in office, Clinton confirmed 302, and President Ronald Reagan confirmed 295. Those numbers include a handful of Court of International Trade confirmations.
snip~
Democrats spent the final days of the lame duck thanking Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) for inadvertently helping to expedite votes on Obama's nominees. On Friday, Cruz derailed a plan by party leaders to leave for the weekend and come back Monday in an effort to force a show vote on Obama's immigration executive action. The stunt kept senators in session all day Saturday, with hours to kill. So, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) used the time to tee up votes for the 12 district court nominees still on the calendar.
Loving this. You always underestimate that man. Silly silly you!
Oh, and a tweet
Lindsey Graham ✔ @GrahamBlog
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I haven't seen Harry Reid smile like this in years. I don't like it one bit.
10:00 PM - 13 Dec 2014
Lame duck my ass~
Bravo Mr President.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/17/obama-judicial-nominees_n_6328390.html
sheshe2
(83,324 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)He was a poor kid, mocked by his school mates for not having good enough clothes, a boxer and took a lot of beatings. He was nearly incapacitated in a car wreck a few years ago that would have sidelined many. He has stayed in the lion's den. His distractors don't have the man's courage. EOM.
sheshe2
(83,324 posts)They have underestimated Harry Reid and this President. For one thing they never understand and always underestimate the calm determination of these patient men. Calm will always win the race and this President and Harry Reid have proved that.
Cha
(295,899 posts)challenges and what a Legacy he helped "cement" for our country and the President!
Harry Reid has never looked so happy according to Lindsay Graham.. wonder if the same can be said of Senator Ted Cruz who helped give us this gift?.. Just Wow this went down!
Cha
(295,899 posts)Dudette @Dudette9t9
Follow
Two weeks after the mid-terms: I got yer Lame Duck right here. #Badass #POTUS
7:05 PM - 20 Nov 2014 22 Retweets 14 favorites
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/11/20/hump-day-means-laughter/#comment-1194436
'Couse now there's more! This is great! This is Fantastic News.. Mahalo!
"In its final act of the year, the Senate blew through a dozen U.S. district court nominees on Tuesday night. That puts Obama at a whopping 89 district court and circuit court confirmations for the year, and means he'll wrap up his sixth year in office with a grand total of 305 district court and circuit court confirmations --- a tally that puts him well beyond where his predecessors were by this point in their presidencies. -
And, to think we owe Mr Green Eggs and Spam for this.. just so Delish! How much in the doghouse is ted cruz with pubbies?!
Yeah, that tweet from Lindsay Graham is too funny!
From your link..
"These confirmations mean that, for Americans across the country, justice will no longer be delayed," said Michelle Schwartz of Alliance For Justice. "They also mean that taxpayer money will be saved by avoiding needlessly duplicative paperwork and hearings if these nominees had to be re-nominated next year. We commend Senator Reid for his dedication to confirming these judges before the end of the year."
Yes, Thank you Senator Reid and you too Senator Cruz.. Rofl!
Thanks she.. What a gift for our Country.. Thanks Obama
sheshe2
(83,324 posts)And I still can't stop~
They thought the President was a fool, Well they say that he who laughs last last best Cha....
PBO and Harry Reid won here.
Your pic~
The lions of winter~
Cha
(295,899 posts)Such a gift at the end of the year.. All these Judicial Nominees CONFIRMED! and we have Dr Vetek Murthy as our new Surgeon General.. the man who speaks the truth about guns being a health hazard.
Another Vital Legacy, she..
What the President just did: Presidential Memorandum to Protect Bristol Bay, Alaska!
Source: Sec. of Interior Sally Jewell
Just now, the President took action to protect a place called Bristol Bay, Alaska. Here's why that matters:
It places a national treasure -- and one of the nation's most productive fisheries -- off limits for oil and gas leasing. Alaskans have been fighting to preserve Bristol Bay for decades. Today, we got it done.
Bristol Bay helps to produce 40 percent of America's wild-caught seafood each year. It supports $2 billion every year in commercial fishing, and supports good jobs in sport-fishing and tourism.
These waters are beautiful and valuable, and today's action will ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy their bounty.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/
/5-things-you-need-know-about-al
MerryBlooms http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5969300
sheshe2
(83,324 posts)Kudos to Obama for saving that.
Cha
(295,899 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)Yes, both have been listening to those who know that justice delayed is justice denied. That Cruise Ship is apologizing for not stopping it is a sign he's not as smart as he thinks he is. Hope this is first in many epic for that demagogue.
Cha
(295,899 posts)As for the Cruzter... he's in the dog house but "disputes" it, OF COURSE!
Republicans Are Mad At Ted Cruz For Doing Democrats A Big Favor
WASHINGTON (AP) Unhappy Republicans say Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has given President Barack Obama a present this holiday season a gift certificate good for confirmation of 12 judicial appointments, not long after the voters had delivered the Democrats a lump of coal in midterm elections.
Cruz, a tea party favorite and potential 2016 presidential contender, disputed the claim through his spokesman on Monday.
But there was no dissent that Democrats, who must turn over power to Republicans in January, were in position to confirm not only the judges, but 11 other appointees before the Senate wraps up work for the year.
Among them are nominees that Republicans have sought to block for two relatively high-profile posts. They are Vivek Murthy, confirmed late in the day as surgeon general, and Sarah Saldana to head Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency that will oversee the new administration policy on immigration that Cruz wants to defund.
snip// Oh Snap.. need to hear from Orrin..
"You should have an end goal in sight if you're going to do these types of things, and I don't see an end goal other than irritating a lot of people," Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah said then.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/15/republicans-ted-cruz_n_6330588.html
Of course cruz "disputed".. he denied 'causing the government ShutDown in 2013 too.. blamed it on Pres Obama.. will he blame this on Obama too? ROFL
sheshe2
(83,324 posts)Cha
(295,899 posts)Now, Mr GreenSpam's chickens have come home to roost in the form of a little Universal Karma.. he's helped the Country and that means the Dems, too. Something he did not want to do.. He's got the repubs really Pissed at him and the President's Immigration Reform Bill is FUNDED.
I did that cruz twit thing back in the BOG.. back in the day, she..
Philip Gourevitch @PGourevitch
I do not like this Mr. Cruz
I do not like him on the news
I think he is a total snooze
I much prefer Obamacare
I hope to see it everywhere2:20 PM - 24 Sep 2013
119 Retweets 60 favorites ReplyRetweet
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/09/24/president-obama-and-bill-clinton-talk-health-care-reform/
http://www.democraticunderground.com/110217084
sheshe2
(83,324 posts)Gotta love you!
underpants
(182,271 posts)now I am just having fun~
mcar
(42,206 posts)sheshe2
(83,324 posts)sheshe2
(83,324 posts)Yes, and it is not the President~
We all know who the lame duck is~
Congress~
Cha
(295,899 posts)Boehner's head. LOL
sheshe2
(83,324 posts)Cha
(295,899 posts)sheshe2
(83,324 posts)Lordy I gotta go.
Cha
(295,899 posts)on my FB.. talkin' about President Obama's Legacies and how cruz has been so helpful!
Sweet Dreams, she~
sheshe2
(83,324 posts)and that bed looks so inviting. I want my down comforter and I want it now. Brrr~ cold here.
Cha
(295,899 posts)Down Comfys are wonderful for such coldness! Stay snug as bug in a rug as my ol gran used to say~
I'll bust out his now.. it's Warm..
she
Thanks for keeping the heat on after I retired~
Love you Cha!
napkinz
(17,199 posts)Cha
(295,899 posts)sheshe2
(83,324 posts)JUSTICE JACKPOT
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
Cha
(295,899 posts)night!
Thanks for that, she.. I like that.. "Justice Jackpot"! For America!
Me too napkinz. This is awesome and I know the haters will be out and say kudos to him any minute now.Oh wait. Never mind~
Recursion
(56,582 posts)I absolutely love that.
Reid literally would not have had the floor time to push them through before the next Congress without Cruz's antics.
Oft evil will shall evil mar.
Cha
(295,899 posts)wrap my head around it!
Can you fathom how mad the gop and even the baggers are at one ted cruz?!
Republicans Are Mad At Ted Cruz For Doing Democrats A Big Favor
WASHINGTON (AP) Unhappy Republicans say Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has given President Barack Obama a present this holiday season a gift certificate good for confirmation of 12 judicial appointments, not long after the voters had delivered the Democrats a lump of coal in midterm elections.
Cruz, a tea party favorite and potential 2016 presidential contender, disputed the claim through his spokesman on Monday.
But there was no dissent that Democrats, who must turn over power to Republicans in January, were in position to confirm not only the judges, but 11 other appointees before the Senate wraps up work for the year.
Among them are nominees that Republicans have sought to block for two relatively high-profile posts. They are Vivek Murthy, confirmed late in the day as surgeon general, and Sarah Saldana to head Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency that will oversee the new administration policy on immigration that Cruz wants to defund.
snip// Oh Snap.. need to hear from Orrin..
"You should have an end goal in sight if you're going to do these types of things, and I don't see an end goal other than irritating a lot of people," Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah said then.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/15/republicans-ted-cruz_n_6330588.html
Of course cruz "disputed".. he denied 'causing the government ShutDown in 2013 too.. blamed it on Pres Obama.. will he blame this on Obama too? ROFL
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)Now maybe Reid finally understands how horrible they were. I'd bet the Republicans change the rule immediately upon taking power.
NCarolinawoman
(2,825 posts)Hey, Ted Cruz, this may be your lasting legacy.
Good for Harry and Obama!
Cha
(295,899 posts)sheshe2
(83,324 posts)Gothmog
(143,998 posts)joshcryer
(62,265 posts)Bush's appointees affected Obama's administration far too much, and still are.
Cha
(295,899 posts)Cha
(295,899 posts)great white snark
(2,646 posts)They know the opposition to their systematic assailment of a woman's right to choose and union's rights just got some judicial teeth.
Thanks for this great news sheshe2.
Cha
(295,899 posts)both Chambers next year, snark! And, to think it was one of their own that made it happen.
sheshe2
(83,324 posts)Judicial teeth, and they are going to know how to use them.
You are so very welcome, it made my day~
Cha
(295,899 posts)WASHINGTON (AP) Unhappy Republicans say Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has given President Barack Obama a present this holiday season a gift certificate good for confirmation of 12 judicial appointments, not long after the voters had delivered the Democrats a lump of coal in midterm elections.
Cruz, a tea party favorite and potential 2016 presidential contender, disputed the claim through his spokesman on Monday.
But there was no dissent that Democrats, who must turn over power to Republicans in January, were in position to confirm not only the judges, but 11 other appointees before the Senate wraps up work for the year.
Among them are nominees that Republicans have sought to block for two relatively high-profile posts. They are Vivek Murthy, confirmed late in the day as surgeon general, and Sarah Saldana to head Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency that will oversee the new administration policy on immigration that Cruz wants to defund.
snip// Oh Snap.. need to hear from Orrin..
"You should have an end goal in sight if you're going to do these types of things, and I don't see an end goal other than irritating a lot of people," Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah said then.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/15/republicans-ted-cruz_n_6330588.html
Cha
(295,899 posts)Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Monday defended his decision to delay a final vote on the $1.1 trillion spending bill over the weekend, which is helping Senate Democrats confirm nearly two dozen of President Obama's nominations.
Cruzs colleagues have voiced frustration with his actions, suggesting he walked into Senate Majority Leader Harry Reids (D-Nev.) trap.
MOre..
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/227221-cruz-refuses-to-stand-down
Seriously fell into Harry Reid's "trap".. unless of course ol cruz really likes these Dem appointed Judges.. spreading Democracy instead of bullshit.
Cha
(295,899 posts)Sorry teddy.. I know you're our new best friend and all but your past is so grating.. good to get it out in the open!
Major Hogwash
(17,656 posts). . . last year when he was faux filibustering at the time he was reading "Green Eggs and Ham" and caused the federal government to shut down.
He said that people don't care about the politicians in the Senate.
Or in the House.
He said that people don't care what they do in Congress.
So, why does Cruz care what a website says about him?
A website, on the internet, for crying out loud!
On the internet, where people go and tell lies all of the time about themselves, or what they think of other people.
The internet can't be trusted.
Everyone knows that!
Or can it?
Is it possible that the website he is whining about has documented all of the lies that Cruz has managed to manufacture since he was first elected to the Senate?
What does that mean to the people who voted for him, that Cruz tells so many lies?
Cruz is a joke.
He's a sicko playing a joke on all of the veterans who ever fought, or who ever served in the military, to help defend or to help preserve this great nation.
He is utterly, and completely, worthless.
Cha
(295,899 posts)current on my thread about our New Surgeon General, Dr Vetek Murthy getting Confirmed thanks to one ted cruz.. where cruz has apologized to the republicons.. for last weekend but not for the nominees getting confirmed. cruz will say anything and he's never to blame for Nothin!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5975358
Cha
(295,899 posts)http://mic.com/articles/106578/the-u-s-finally-has-a-new-surgeon-general-and-you-can-thank-ted-cruz
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)We badly need to stack the courts in our favor for the future especially given the chance for contested elections being decided by the courts.
Cha
(295,899 posts)postulater
(5,075 posts)If the Senate could do this on a weekend, why couldn't they do it at any time durin the last two years?
sheshe2
(83,324 posts)It happened a year ago.
Here
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/11/21/harry-reid-nuclear-senate/3662445/
postulater
(5,075 posts)What was so special about this weekend? Did the republicans just not show up?
sheshe2
(83,324 posts)I am so very tired tonight.
Google it please.
brer cat
(24,401 posts)Harry Reid and PBO. But love seeing them in action for us!
Great thread, she! K&R
MBS
(9,688 posts)Blue Idaho
(4,987 posts)He is on a roll!
Cha
(295,899 posts)mcar
(42,206 posts)Well played Sen Reid. Congratulations President Obama! A great week.
Zorra
(27,670 posts)lonestarnot
(77,097 posts)Major Hogwash
(17,656 posts)There is no doubt that Cruz was operating on Cruz Control, when he was thinking that he would cleverly thwart the Democrats somehow, some way.
But, he is still green behind the ears when it comes to dealing with Harry Reid.
He didn't get to read Green Eggs and Ham this time!!
sheshe2
(83,324 posts)Harry and the President were the ones that cruised away. Ted was left in the parking lot....stalled~
GREEN EGGS AND SPAM was what he read that time thinking he was so cute....poor baby, he lost big time. Now he has egg on his face big time.
Don't you just love it Major!
Major Hogwash
(17,656 posts)I don't know how he does it -- yoga, kung fu, tai chi, his religious faith, something.
But, he never lets the bastards get him down.
I, myself, stopped getting so super frustrated by just watching him in action these last 6 years.
He leads by example, that much is obvious.
Back when I was getting pissed off about the bullshit the Republicans were pulling, a little over 4 years ago, it was because at the time they were filibustering and trying to block everything that President Obama was trying to do.
But, then suddenly, I realized he was still moving the needle.
He was still making progress.
The Republicans weren't stopping him, at all.
They were slowing him down some, but they couldn't get to him.
They couldn't get in to his head and make him think of quitting trying.
To get him to think "it isn't worth the effort".
No, not this President!
There were times when he didn't move the needle very much at one time, and there were also times that the needle didn't appear to move at all, but President Obama never lost ground!
He is laser focused on his agenda, and he doesn't waver from obtaining the goals that he set out to accomplish.
He is a freakin' genius; I can barely keep up with him, just hearing about the accomplishments that he has made.
Every single day there is some good news about what he has just finished doing, or some news about the next part of a project that he is already working on, or news of him starting on a whole new project.
The man is a freakin' dynamo!
He doesn't slow down!
Clinton was not like this.
There were several long stretches of time when it was so quiet that it made me wonder who was in the White House when Bill was the President.
Not so for this President!
He has been going from crisis to crisis, solving very complex problems along the way, reaching out to others to get advice, or reaching out to give advice, or to give aid to people who need it, or to give comfort to people in pain.
He reaches out to people all of the time in order to include them in his decision-making process.
He's a very inclusive politician.
He wants everyone involved.
President Obama is a total human being.
He transcends what we normally expect from our political leaders.
He is what Buddhists refer to as a master, because he has successfully mastered his own life.
There is much to learn from him still to come in the next 2 years.
That picture of him is a prime example of why the Republicans hate him so much.
Instead of it being a picture of him scowling or pouting, he is laughing his ass off.
And that is because of the quite confidence he has deep in his soul knowing that what he is doing is the right thing to do.
President Obama knows that he has set the bar for the next President back up high, where it belongs.
He deserves respect for restoring dignity and honor to the highest elected office we have in our democratic republic, this country we call the United States of America.
We're really lucky to have him as our President.
Millions of people in other countries know that is true.
And that is why President Obama is so beloved around the world!
sheshe2
(83,324 posts)He would hesitate seemingly stumble, I would hold my breath and think... say something. I learned that he was thinking before he responded not stumbling. I love that he thinks it through before he responds. He is on that even keel in that way the boat will always be on the right course. The wheel turns slowly. Yet it turns.
It's late here, yet let me say Major, he is our best President ever!
Truly the best and he is proving it every damn day'
Hugs~
sheshe2
(83,324 posts)3catwoman3
(23,812 posts)...plays 3 dimesional chess, not Whack-a-Mole.
(Considering the creeps he has to deal with across the aisle, it seems he has just played a very successful round of Whack-a-Rat. Apologies to rats.)
sheshe2
(83,324 posts)No doubt about it.
Hekate
(90,189 posts)sheshe2
(83,324 posts)Hekate
(90,189 posts)LOL.
sheshe2
(83,324 posts)I got a hide for an Op that I said F to America about a powerful video about Ferguson the other night. I was ready to walk away from here, I am close.
Hekate
(90,189 posts)Stick around. I'd miss the hell out of you, and so would the rest of the gang.
I'm feeling mellow at the moment. I'm full of Belgian chocolate and just had the best laugh in years out of a hidden thread that imo didn't need to be hidden.
Yesterday and tomorrow, not so much. I've really struggled with this place, as you know.
napkinz
(17,199 posts)Nothing's gonna bring him down!