surprise, surprise...Salazar (CO) stands up!

from Salon.com...

Senator urges Bush to withdraw candidates


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By Jesse J. Holland



March 1, 2005 | Washington -- A freshman Democratic senator urged President Bush on Tuesday to withdraw all of his renominated judicial candidates, a blow to Republicans who had hoped to get the lawmaker's support to break possible filibusters.

Colorado Democrat Ken Salazar, who some Republicans had suggested might be willing to vote with them for certain nominees, wrote Bush asking him to withdraw all of the candidates Democrats blocked in the Senate during the president's first term.

"The decision to renominate these individuals will undoubtedly create the animosity and divisiveness ... that is not helpful to our nation and will sidetrack our collective efforts to work on other crucial matters," Salazar wrote.

The development coincided with the Senate Judiciary Committee's first hearing for one of those blocked nominees, William Myers, once the top lawyer at the Interior Department.

The committee chairman, Sen. Arlen Specter, put Myers first because the Pennsylvania Republican hoped that Salazar and some Democrats would support his nomination.

The Senate has 55 Republicans, 44 Democrats and one Democratic-leaning senator. Specter needs 60 votes to ensure Democrats cannot block Myers. "I count 58 votes," Specter said Tuesday before Salazar's announcement.

But Myers' nomination is one that Salazar is asking the president to abandon. A spokesman for Salazar said the senator had not decided how he will vote on Myers or any other nominee.

But withdrawing Myers and the other blocked nominees "would be a recognition that the Congress and the president must work on those matters where we can find common purpose," said Salazar.

If Republicans have more than 50 votes for Myers, he should be confirmed, said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn. "The country deserves a system that allows us to give advice and consent, because that's our obligation. And we should be able to vote for him on the floor up or down," he said.

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid did not see much hope for Myers and other renominated candidates. "We're going to treat them just the same as we have in the past," said Reid, D-Nev.

At the hearing, Myers tried to convince Democrats that he would be a fair and impartial judge if confirmed for the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which oversees cases from nine states in the West.

Liberal and environmental groups complain about what they say is his advocacy for mining and cattle interests.

"As a lawyer, I was an advocate of my clients," Myers said. "If I was to be confirmed, I would be an advocate for the law."

Few Democrats seemed convinced.

"I believe Mr. Myers to be the most anti-environment nominee sent to the Senate in my time here," said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. Added Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.: "Your record screams 'passionate activist.' It doesn't so much as whisper 'impartial judge."'

Terrence W. Boyle, a former aide to retired Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., gets a hearing Thursday for his nomination to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based on Richmond, Va. On Tuesday, the committee will consider the nomination of Thomas Griffith, former counsel to the Senate during the impeachment of President Clinton, for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

i have an emotion connection to salazar even though i am in the panhandle of texas. i feel like i campaigned for him. was in colorado often, learned about him and really didnt want coor to win.

i thought salazar was going to disappoint me after he was elected, some of the things he said. (thought maybe a repug wolf in sheeps clothes) so good for him.

NGU.

...I am so glad that he did this. I feel good now.

:thumbsup:

much less introduce Alberto -

WTF, does he think because he voted w/ GOP right off the bat he's somehow friends with "who cares what you think" Bush?

Salzar had town meetings last week on an issue he already made up his mind about "Social Security". Did he ask us our opinions on Condi & Alberto? No, he chooses to have town meetings with friendly audiences who agree with him.

He will continue to vote more GOP than Dem....because he's way conservative.

At the Denver primary convention when he was losing to Mike Miles, he had to get up on stage and say "he would not switch parties after election".

Check www.congress.org for his contact info in Washington AND locally/regionally. He deserves a big "Thank-You!" followed by a "More, Please!"

respond with anything worthwhile except his "not living in his state" letter. Hopefully his staff will at least read my gratitude for his letter he sent to *.

-- my house in tomorrow's mail.


Dems who oppose nuts like Falwell and Bauer
Dems with cajones who stand up to Power
Eloquent Dems for whom freedom still rings
These are a few of my favorite things...

Whatever happened to those Republican Bedrock principles? The Republican Party, now in power, sure sings different than the Republican Party that was out of power.

-- his web form is at:

http://salazar.senate.gov/contactus.cfm

===

-- far right way down the page on Buzzflash, there are all kinds of government links there.

When I write to Senators or Congresspeople, I copy their weblinks into a document on the side of my desktop so I can get to it quickly.

I like it that DU has the Latest Breaking News posts because then we can reinforce the progressive side of things via email contacts.

I loooooooooooooooooooove DU..... So much great info's and links.
Thanks everyone!

I'll drop him a line as well. :D

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wouldn't get keep his constituents very happy! About time IMHO! I guess he deserves a little thank you note now!