tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post5300042478260725715..comments2023-10-16T07:13:12.123-05:00Comments on A plain blog about politics: Judicial Nominations UpdateJonathan Bernsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-83352088538612991882011-09-28T19:54:25.012-05:002011-09-28T19:54:25.012-05:00The Senate Left is letting Obama twist in the wind...The Senate Left is letting Obama twist in the wind, on this, the "pass this bill" drive, and so much more. The Senate's been hunkered down budgetless for over 2 years, and haven't done much of anything since that ObamaCare vote on Christmas Eve 2009. They have their own hides to worry about, and last November let them know those hides are subject to go up on some R's wall next election. <br /><br />And yeah, the last thing Obama needs is to provide campaign fodder to his opposition via judicial nominations, and to be putting Holder out front in any way. Gun Walker is on the boil, and Holder needs to hide out. <br /><br />Obama's just politically weak. It's just the way it is. There is no pressure he can apply. And his opposition would like nothing better than that he give more "speeches" about judges or anything else. Plays right into their hands. He's just gotta ride this all out, and hope for the best. Nobody's on his side in Congress right now. He's on his own.<br /><br />Of course, if Ginsburg gets sick and leaves... all bets are off. That would be a black swan event that might help him, or not, hard to tell. He'd probably just pick somebody milquetoast though, and it'd go through.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-33193681467568663242011-09-28T13:41:25.421-05:002011-09-28T13:41:25.421-05:00I've been wondering something about judicial n...I've been wondering something about judicial nominations: Is it possible that the net effect of Obama making it a higher profile issue and putting more pressure on the Senate is a net loss for Obama?<br /><br />I see two possible problems:<br /><br />(1) The surest way to gin up GOP opposition to something is to put Obama's name on it. Not that the GOP is cooperating on confirmations now, but by bumping up the profile of judicial confirmations, would Obama simply cause GOP Senators to dig in their heels? Would they see it as an avenue to defeat Obama, and enforce (more) party discipline on the topic?<br /><br />(2) By shining a light on the issue and asking the media to cover it, do judicial nominations become a PR defeat for Obama? Another place where Obama is being stymied / frustrated / defeated?<br /><br />Note that the two effects reinforce each other.<br /><br />Now, I'm not saying that Obama is doing a good job on judicial nominations. But at least on the confirmation part of it, I'm wondering whether he could do much worse.Joshnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-21645039186888538632011-09-28T10:47:04.832-05:002011-09-28T10:47:04.832-05:00My uncle is the holding process. He is a US attor...My uncle is the holding process. He is a US attorney. the Sentators in his state like him and are supportiving of his moving up to a judgeship. The hold is entirely in the White house -- and in the White House poliitical office.charlienoreply@blogger.com