Sens. Specter, Hatch and McConnell have been working hard to
force the judicial nominee issue to a head, and today they had a
bit of success. Majority Leader Harry Reid just said on the floor,
repeatedly, that he intends to do everything he can to get floor
votes for three (and, he said, perhaps more) circuit court nominees
before the Memorial Day break.
Sen. McConnell seemed mildly happy, but repeatedly tried to
press Reid about WHICH particular nominees would be moved. He
seemed insistent that Matthews and Conrad, from South and North
Carolina, respectively, be moved. FOr what it's worth, I would
concur that Conrad should be absolutely a key to any agreement,
because the seat has been open so long and because his
qualifications are so superb. Similarly, Peter Keisler, for hte DC
Circuit, ought to be part of any deal, even though McConnell did
not mention him. Both the LA Times and the Wash Post have
editorialized strongly and repeatedly for Keisler, because he is
one of the few people that objective conservatives and liberals can
agree is manifestly, perfectly suited for the bench.
topics:
Harry Reid
