Senate Judiciary Committee contest!!!
Ah, I see that Samuel Altio’s confirmation hearings begin before the Senate Judiciary Committee today. When the hearings were held for John Roberts last year, there was a lot of silliness uttered by a lot of people — mostly members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. So, the hard-working staff here at danieldrezner.com announces its first ...
Ah, I see that Samuel Altio's confirmation hearings begin before the Senate Judiciary Committee today. When the hearings were held for John Roberts last year, there was a lot of silliness uttered by a lot of people -- mostly members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. So, the hard-working staff here at danieldrezner.com announces its first contest -- finding the single dumbest thing a Senator says during the hearings. For example, my winner for the Roberts confirmation would have been Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, who averred, "[I am using] my observational capabilities as a physician to know that your answers have been honest and forthright as I watch the rest of your body respond to the stress that you're under." Diane Feinstein gave Coburn a run for his money, but this was stupidity in its purest form. So, listen closely and post your nominations in the comments below. Be sure to provide a link to the source of the quotation for our legal staff here. [What does the winner receive?--ed. Hmmm.... suggest your own reward as well, and I'll see what the staff can whip up.] To kick things off, consider this example from Patrick Leahy's opening statement: Last October, the President succumbed to partisan pressure from the extreme right of his party by withdrawing his nomination of Harriet Miers. By withdrawing her nomination and substituting this one, the President has allowed his choice to be vetoed by an extreme faction within his party, before hearings or a vote. That eye-opening experience for the country demonstrated what a vocal faction of the Republican Party really wants: They do not want an independent federal judiciary. They demand judges who will guarantee the results that they want. Right. I'm pretty sure that: a) Opposition to Harriet Miers was across the board; b) The most significant pressure came from.... members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. c) Patrick Leahy apparently believes that all NARAL really wants is for justices to "vote their conscience." This should be an easy one to top -- get to it, readers!!! UPDATE: Click here to find out who won!
Ah, I see that Samuel Altio’s confirmation hearings begin before the Senate Judiciary Committee today. When the hearings were held for John Roberts last year, there was a lot of silliness uttered by a lot of people — mostly members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. So, the hard-working staff here at danieldrezner.com announces its first contest — finding the single dumbest thing a Senator says during the hearings. For example, my winner for the Roberts confirmation would have been Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, who averred, “[I am using] my observational capabilities as a physician to know that your answers have been honest and forthright as I watch the rest of your body respond to the stress that you’re under.” Diane Feinstein gave Coburn a run for his money, but this was stupidity in its purest form. So, listen closely and post your nominations in the comments below. Be sure to provide a link to the source of the quotation for our legal staff here. [What does the winner receive?–ed. Hmmm…. suggest your own reward as well, and I’ll see what the staff can whip up.] To kick things off, consider this example from Patrick Leahy’s opening statement:
Last October, the President succumbed to partisan pressure from the extreme right of his party by withdrawing his nomination of Harriet Miers. By withdrawing her nomination and substituting this one, the President has allowed his choice to be vetoed by an extreme faction within his party, before hearings or a vote. That eye-opening experience for the country demonstrated what a vocal faction of the Republican Party really wants: They do not want an independent federal judiciary. They demand judges who will guarantee the results that they want.
Right. I’m pretty sure that:
a) Opposition to Harriet Miers was across the board; b) The most significant pressure came from…. members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. c) Patrick Leahy apparently believes that all NARAL really wants is for justices to “vote their conscience.”
This should be an easy one to top — get to it, readers!!! UPDATE: Click here to find out who won!
Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast. Twitter: @dandrezner
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