Estrada Update – more rope for the Democrats
Some people never learn. The Democrats continue to pick stupid fights with President Bush and squander political capital that they will need later. Marcelo Rodridguez of The Black World Today comments:
No one is denying Estrada's qualifications. The American Bar Association and the Hispanic National Bar Association support his nomination. Many see him as a potential Supreme Court nominee.Nothing in Estrada's public record indicates that he is an unflinching ideologue of the right, a Spanish-speaking Clarence Thomas, as some Democrats have said, referring to the last Supreme Court justice appointed by George Bush Sr. Yet the Democrats have opposed his appointment with much more zeal than that of the much more extreme John Ashcroft as attorney general -- and they controlled the Senate at the time.
Now, as the minority party, Democrats are pulling all-nighters to block Estrada. It's a double standard that is bound to be seen, justifiably or not, as racially motivated -- as if a white, male, ultra-conservative is somehow more acceptable to the Democrats than a marginally conservative minority.
Rodridguez is correct, no one is seriously questioning Estrada’s qualifications - even the liberal ABA endorsed him. I tracked down Estrada's resume along with some other interesting information at the US Department of Justice. According to Reuters, an organization called the Latino Coalition will be “airing spots on Monday in Louisiana, Arkansas, Florida and in the Washington area that urge listeners to call their senators in support” of Estrada. These ads will run on Spanish-language stations. I’m sure the Democratic Senators in these states do not wish to sacrifice their next election to help Senate Minority Leader Daschle. Within the Hispanic Community, President Bush is adding to the pressure according to Fox News.
"They're blocking the vote on this good man for purely political reasons," Bush told supporters in a White House event where he alternately spoke Spanish to bring Hispanic backers to their feet."I will stand by this man's side until he is sworn in!" Bush said.
Democrats are feeling the pressure and probably resent Senator Daschle for making this an issue. The Washington Times announced that a fourth Democrat, Senator Bill Nelson (Florida) broke ranks yesterday to support Estrada. Senator Miller (D-Georgia) was especially candid in his comments.
Mr. Nelson joins Democratic Sens. John B. Breaux of Louisiana, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Zell Miller of Georgia, who already have said they will support Mr. Estrada and vote with Republicans if they try to invoke cloture, a procedural move that requires 60 votes to limit debate and force a final vote.Mr. Miller said his party's opposition to Mr. Estrada is "all political" and can be attributed to pressure from outside interest groups.
”The groups run everything around here," the conservative Democrat said Monday.
Thanks for the honesty Zell. To bad you have decided not to run again next time. Of course, that may be why Miller is being so frank – what can Daschle do to someone who is retiring from politics? Nothing.
Senator Graham, Florida's other Senator (Democrat), has not made any decisions yet about Estrada. He is currently recovering from heart surgery and probably hopes the issue is resolved before he goes back to the Senate. However, Graham says he will be entering the 2004 presidential race and certainly doesn’t want to irritate the Hispanic vote. If the issue is still in doubt when he returns, I suspect he’ll support Estrada.
I’m not sure how long this will drag out. I believe President Bush is willing to let this nomination process hang over the Democrats as long as possible. As the 2000 election showed, every vote may count in 2004. The Democratic Party obstructionist policies may come back to haunt them.
