Want to know how the GOP is going to prevent Loretta Lynch's confirmation if Harry Reid can't get her confirmed in the lame-duck session? This is the first line of attack:
Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mike Lee (R-UT) said Saturday that President Barack Obama's nomination to replace Attorney General Eric Holder, Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch, must denounce Obama's planned executive amnesty.
"President Obama's Attorney General nominee deserves fair and full consideration of the United States Senate, which is precisely why she should not be confirmed in the lame duck session of Congress by senators who just lost their seats and are no longer accountable to the voters," Cruz and Lee said in a joint statement. "The Attorney General is the President's chief law enforcement officer. As such, the nominee must demonstrate full and complete commitment to the law. Loretta Lynch deserves the opportunity to demonstrate those qualities, beginning with a statement whether or not she believes the President’s executive amnesty plans are constitutional and legal."
Oh, but that's just Cruz and Lee, right? Two bomb-throwers? Hasn't the mainstream media told us repeatedly that this was the election in which the reasonable, responsible GOP establishment crushed the crazies?
Well, here's the same line from a guy who's considered one of the "respectable" members of the right-wing media:
Oh, and last month, before the Lynch pick was announced, Roll Call's Humberto Sanchez compiled a list of ten questions the nominee "will likly hear." This was #1:
1. What is the limit of the president's executive authority on immigration?
The nominee will face questions from senators either just before -- or just after -- the president announces sweeping executive action to expand deportation relief to illegal immigrants, a move sure to enrage the GOP.
Many Republicans say the president can not act without Congress, which, under Article I of the Constitution, has authority over immigration. The House has already voted to end the president's existing program known as DACA deferring deportations for young immigrants brought here illegally.
Expect Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, both members of the Judiciary Committee, to lead the questioning on this front.
This week, Republicans paid no price at the polls for blocking immigration reform after the 2012 election. So, yes, I think they're going after her for this -- they may stand back and let Cruz and Sessions lead the way, but unless Lynch denounces the man who appointed her, they're going to raise holy hell. Even ostensibly pro-reform senators such as Graham, McCain, and Rubio are going to say that they support an overhaul of the law but not "lawlessness."
They'll block her. Bet on it.
Crossposted at No Mr. Nice Blog
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