Bush Demands Up or Down Vote on Judges [View All]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/senate_talkathon

WASHINGTON - President Bush (news - web sites) delivered a wake-up call to the Senate on Thursday, punctuating an all-night talkathon with a demand for an "up or down" vote on four of his appellate court nominees blocked by Democrats.

Standing in the Oval Office with three women whose nominations have been stalled, Bush launched his broadside as Democrats and Republicans took turns at the microphone during a marathon session organized by majority Republicans to protest Democratic filibusters.

"These people deserve an up or down vote on the Senate floor," Bush told reporters. "And yet a few senators are playing politics and it's wrong and it's shameful. ... I will stand with them to the bitter end."

Senate Judiciary Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, almost talked himself out of a voice. After speaking at several different events Wednesday and talking several times during the floor debate, Hatch's voice was reduced to a croak. "I apologize for my voice," he said sheepishly in the wee hours of the morning.

"Thirty hours on judges?" said Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., at the Democrats' late-night rally. "There are 13 million hungry children in America tonight but Republicans don't have time to debate that."