Kevin McCullough
Tuesday, May 7, 2002

These three and their legislative cohorts have successfully stalled one of the most important functions of the executive branch of the federal government – appointing federal judges.

But instead of following constitutional procedure and allowing the appointed nominees to obtain their hearings and have straight up-or-down votes, this gaggle of three is holding the United States hostage.

They believe that they have the right to prevent the process of justice from going forward by voting not to vote. Voting as if to say that the U.S. doesn't deserve to have its justice system running well. And all of this with the War on Terror kicking into full gear and court cases about to be opened.

There are probably worse examples of someone's abuse of power to further minutiae-driven personal agendas, but these three have gone beyond the pale. Now, more than ever, people need to be donating IN DROVES, to the campaigns of John Thune and Jim Durkin. Throwing Daschle and Durbin out of office would go a long way in helping to stem this process.

There are those who have criticized the president for not addressing this impasse a lot earlier. I'm sure if he had had no war to run, or Middle East peace to try to straighten out, or Iraq lurking in the background getting ready to attack the U.S. with nuclear weapons, he could have given it much more attention.

But even with all that sits on his plate these days, last Friday the president made it abundantly clear: "The nation is depending on these nominations."

He also went on to point out how bad the vacancies had gotten since he had submitted his list of names to the Senate for approval over one year ago. Only 50 of the 100 nominated names for the lowest level of the justice system have been approved, and the percentages drop dismally beyond that.

Daschle and Leahy and Durbin – the three stooges – successfully thwarted the nomination of Charles Pickering, someone whom the Senate had previously approved for his current position.

Now they wish to thwart future nominations and are beginning with Miguel Estrada, who has been touted by his opponents and his friends as "brilliant" and "one of the great legal minds of our time." Why do they do this?

Supporters of the judiciary goons put it this way: "We're just paying back what the Republicans did to Clinton."

Of course, I suppose because somebody like Terry McAuliffe says this once, it instantly becomes gospel. Well, let's look at the facts.

From 1981-89 President Ronald Reagan nominated and had approved the highest record of justices ever by a two-term president. His total: 378. From 1993-2001 President Bill Clinton nominated and had approved 374 justices!

In other words, Clinton needed only five more nominations and approvals to hold the all-time record. Hardly the case that Republicans "dogged" his candidates.

The fact is that many Republicans had many issues with Clinton's nominees, but they approved them because that's what being president entitles you to.

Daschle, Leahy and Durbin have become the three-stooge wrecking ball – not by following the law but by standing by and watching the paint dry.

Throw them out! Throw them out big time! Donate – Donate – Donate to John Thune in South Dakota – and in so doing, get Daschle's eyes to pop open.

Donate – Donate – Donate to Jim Durkin of Illinois. Then go out and get all your friends to vote the constitutional obstructers right back to the oblivion from which they came!

No Justice(s)? No Peace! And since the stooges are here: Let's get ready to rumble!

Kevin McCullough and Deborah Rowe are enjoyed weekdays 3-5 p.m. on AM 1160 WYLL, a 50,000-watt station in Chicago, Ill., www.wyll.com. Kevin may be reached at kmc@wyll.com.

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