Ben Nelson (D-NE) Will Oppose Kagan Nomination
I would very much like to school Ben Nelson on what his responsibility is with regard to Supreme Court nominations. Whether he likes it or not, Elena Kagan has no disqualifying factor that should cause him to oppose her. But in Upside-Down Contrarian SenatorLand, Senator Nelson is doing exactly that. From his official statement:
July 30, 2010 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson issued this statement on the president’s nomination of Elena Kagan for the U.S. Supreme Court to fill the seat of retired Justice John Paul Stevens:
“As a member of the bipartisan ‘Gang of 14,’ I will follow our agreement that judicial nominees should be filibustered only under extraordinary circumstances. If a cloture vote is held on the nomination of Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court, I am prepared to vote for cloture and oppose a filibuster because, in my view, this nominee deserves an up or down vote in the Senate.
“However, I have heard concerns from Nebraskans regarding Ms. Kagan, and her lack of a judicial record makes it difficult for me to discount the concerns raised by Nebraskans, or to reach a level of comfort that these concerns are unfounded. Therefore, I will not vote to confirm Ms. Kagan’s nomination.”
Supreme Court nominations are not a question of "Nebraskans' concerns". They are not a popularity contest. This is why, by the way, Alito and Roberts slithered onto the court. Despite their politics, they had nothing in their history to disqualify them.
As far as judicial experience goes, once again Nelson labors under the false impression that a Supreme Court Justice must be disgorged from our Federal Court system -- an impression which is false, harmful, and gave us Alito and Roberts.
It's pretty pathetic when Arlen Specter, Republican-turned-Democrat, has a stronger record of supporting judicial nominees than Ben Nelson. Or unemployment insurance extensions. Or just about any other initiative that isn't Republican.
And hey, Nebraska? I don't really give two whits about your 'concerns'. You and your conservative pals gave us ... Roberts and Alito.
So is anyone shocked by this development?
"you have the morals of a jackal"
"Let's talk dirty to the animals"
Quel dick.
"Trust no one, Mr. Mulder." - Well-Manicured Man
What were the people of Nebraska thinking when they elected this
republicandemocrat?Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
a repugcan'tcon
Take a look at who else Nebraskans elect and Nelson begins to make sense (in a totally insane way).
After all, Nebraskans brought us Roman Hruska (before your time?) who deserves credit for what was probably the dumbest statement ever made regarding Supreme Court nominees:
"Even if he (G. Harold Carswell -- Nixon appointee to the SCOTUS) were mediocre, there are a lot of mediocre judges and people and lawyers. They are entitled to a little representation, aren't they, and a little chance? We can't have all Brandeises, Frankfurters and Cardozos."*
Of course, calling Carswell "mediocre" was probably inaccurate, since he would have to have been a lot better than he was in order to attain mediocrity. The same could be said for the senator.
Admittedly, Hruska was before the time of most current Nebraska voters, but they obviously have a tradition to honor and live up to.
* What I find most remarkable about this comment is Hruska's correct use of the subjunctive. It may have been accidental or, alarmingly, just one more indication of how far language standards have fallen in this country over the past several decades.
What a pantload! I think if he isn't primaried out by the Dems, I would even vote Rethug to get rid of this worthless POS. It wouldn't change any significant votes in the Senate. He always votes Rethug anyway.
Candideinnc
Nelson is just another DINO who has lost the disguise. Nobody is fooled by his games.
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
As a liberal, I don't think Kagan should be confirmed either. She is too much of an unknown entity and Obama could have done a better job picking an actual LIBERAL judge instead of Kagan who is likely more centrist and will actually be more conservative than the judge she is replacing. The idea that the court will move even further to the right during a Democratic president's term in unacceptable. If she was willing to answer questions or would have spoken out during the lawlessness of the Bush years, I would be more supportive, but she didn't, and that makes her unacceptable in my eyes.
Of course Nelson is opposing Kagan for crazy Republican reasons, but I can't understand why Dems are so willing to accept Kagan as the best we can do. When Republicans are in charge, they nominate CONSERVATIVES, so why won't Democrats nominate REAL LIBERALS? Of course, it's too late now, and we'll be stuck with what we seem to be getting a lot with Obama: not great, but barely good enough
progressive, liberal Supreme Court nominee, they would NEVER get confirmed....what with the weenie DINOS and the GnOPers, unless Obama's nominees are plain vanilla leaning right, the Senate would never confirm them. Until we get enough REAL progressive Democrats in the Senate, we will never get the Supreme Court we deserve.
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
if they even made it to the hearing stage.
IF Obama had been a moderate or liberal Democrat, we might have had such a nominee. However, he is a Blue Dog at heart. The offspring of Lieberman, his heart goes out to the establishment.
Candideinnc
Sigh
Thanks for that Chris. I have been having the same suspicions and misgivings.
I figure one more short run with more republicans and their policies that work even less effectively than the middling Democratic achievments should do the trick.
As in make it apparent to nearly everyone how FUBAR our current system is.
Time to start planning a new one.
Unity-Sustainability.
“However, I have heard concerns from Nebraskans regarding Ms. Kagan...."
Translation: If I do what's right and vote for her I'll never get re-elected.
is intended to be a factual statement
It's curious though that he doesn't seem concerned about the Nebraskans who wanted single payer health care, or to get out of Iraqistan, or to re-regulate Wall Street.
Methinks his hearing aid needs adjusting, it seems to filter out the "concerns" of Democratic Nebraskans.
The concerns of his ordinary constituents and welfare of the nation are of little concern to him. He is a smug and insular sellout who needs to be removed from public service.
"We will find fulfillment not in the goods that we have, but in the good we can do for each other."
Robert F. Kennedy
removed from his head.
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
I think it may be the cause of his 'impaired hearing.."
"Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of Stupidity" - Frank Leahy
Slap the NRA cock outta his mouth.
(D-NO).
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
These two a**holes are two peas in a pod.
"As far as judicial experience goes, once again Nelson labors under the false impression that a Supreme Court Justice must be disgorged from our Federal Court system..".
You have to take Nelson at his word to believe that.
And if you do?.... Sheeit, you've got to be kidding.
America must suffer under the fascist yoke because some 'Nebraskans' have concerns. Funny how this corporate shill turned a deaf ear to concerns about Alito, Scalia and Thomas.
any reasonable progressive in Nebraska to challenge this bozo?
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
I'd settle for a reasonable Democrat. If this clod gets even a nickel of Party money, well then there's something seriously wrong with "our" Party.
And by Nebraskans, he means his corporate johns who control his every move. This clown is a disgrace to the legislative process. He should be expelled from the Democratic party so he can meander on over to his ideological home of the right. Maybe then when he doesn't have any committee assignments he can rethink his role. They should block any funding from going to Nebraska to puhish him.
and that's the only snark I'll give. otherwise there are some decent people in Nebraska, as i dont want to paint the population with a broad brush. (though my comment kinda is just that). oh well, its aimed at Ben Nelson.
Nelson is a Republican , plain and simple . We libs and progressives as well as the Democratic party itself needs to really go after this A hole and show him the exit door. breakspear , go ahead and paint with a broad brush , with relatively few exceptions you'd be correct , not only in regards to Nebraska but most all of the dueling banjo and so called Bible belt states , politically ( at least ) these folks have brains the size of a pea and it seems they will never change .
Insanity , it is what it is , there is no understanding it .
I do not ever respect this goofy b*stard but I can accept that he abiding by the cornhole nation who would elect him. Nebraska is a flyover state with less people then the city I reside in while this moron gets vote in the US Senate...pathetic.
I think the 'D' in Ben's case stands for dirty disloyal back-stabbing dog.
me-oww!
Genetically Modified Justice: Why Did Elena Kagan Go to Bat for Monsanto’s GMO Alfalfa?
Our party will not tolerate a Pat Buchanan like this man.
Kick his ass out of the caucus now and make him lose his chairmanships.
Republicans are liars and simply cannot be trusted.
Having a smorgasboard of ideological viewpoints in the Democratic party does nothing more than weaken and destabilize any consistent values that are (supposedly) represented by Democrats.
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