Sen. Chuck Schumer just went nuclear on the Bush Administration, vowing to stop Senate action on ALL Bush nominations to the Supreme Court (except in extraordinary circumstances) to keep another Alito or Roberts off the court.
New York Sen. Charles E. Schumer, a powerful member of the Democratic leadership, said Friday the Senate should not confirm another U.S. Supreme Court nominee under President Bush "except in extraordinary circumstances."
"We should reverse the presumption of confirmation," Schumer told the American Constitution Society convention in Washington. "The Supreme Court is dangerously out of balance. We cannot afford to see Justice Stevens replaced by another Roberts, or Justice Ginsburg by another Alito."
I would add that the Senate should block ALL judicial nominations -- at every level -- until Bush shows enough respect for the Constitution to get rid of Alberto Gonzales.
Schumer also made an admission that I find troubling -- that the Senate was "hoodwinked" into approving Alito and Roberts.
Duh!
"There is no doubt that we were hoodwinked," said Schumer, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee and heads the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
Well, it's good that he has finally woken up to a plain fact that many of us here saw from the beginning. It's just a shame we have to live with Alito and Roberts as lifetime appointments fucking up the Constitution for another 30 or 40 years.
Update to add the following:
Schumer voted against confirming Roberts and Alito. In Friday’s speech, he said his "greatest regret" in the last Congress was not doing more to scuttle Alito.