Senate Confirms Controversial Judge

[steven johnson]

Source: Associated Press

By LARRY MARGASAK (AP) – 1 hour ago

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday confirmed U.S. District Judge David Hamilton for the Chicago-based federal appeals court, approving a nominee targeted by conservatives as a liberal activist.

Hamilton was approved on a 59-39 vote and became the eighth of President Barack Obama's judicial nominees to win confirmation. He is the third confirmed for a U.S. appeals court, which is usually the last stop for federal court cases.

Republican senators — backed by their conservative allies outside Congress — had blocked a vote for five months until Democrats overcame a filibuster last Tuesday with a 70-29 vote.

The failure to stop the confirmation showed that Republicans lack the clout to block Obama's judicial nominees as the president remakes the federal judiciary following eight years of George W. Bush's mostly conservative choices for the bench.


Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5grQHSwLPcLkQZhThfU7x8m6vToTwD9C2R9KG0

[robinlynne]

1. well a bit of good news is always welcomed!!!!

[Demeter]

2. Who Lit the Fire Under Harry "Asbestos" Reid?

I'd like to shake his/her hand.

[meow2u3]

7. Whoever did soaked the asbestos in Ronsonol before lighting the fire

Enough said

[chelsea0011]

3. "A liberal activist"...repuke speak for he uses a brain

[ixion]

4. "George W. Bush's mostly conservative choices" what utter crap

* lined the benches with neocon extremist zealots, not conservatives.

[kestrel91316]

5. Pack the courts with as many liberal "extremists" as you can, President Obama!!!

You won't hear a word of complaint from me.

[Tigress DEM]

9. Sounds fair and balanced considering the imbalance of before.

[lmarcotty]

6. Controversial?

EVERY judge Obama nominates for the federal bench is "controversial" if you take the f'ing Repugnicans at their treacly, nauseating, hypocritical word. Thank you, AP, just buying their bullshit at face value once again. Obama's picks for judge have been as mainstream, middle of the road as you could find anywhere.

[unblock]

10. right, not controversial at all -- he had richard lugar's support, for crying out loud.

this was just another obstructionist tactic for the sake of slowing down democratic accomplishments, plain and simple. this judge was just a pawn in a much larger (and much more petty) game of party politics.

[tomm2thumbs]

8. elections having consequences? seems we have far too many signs of it not being the case right now

this is good to see -- more signs like this would be welcome

[winyanstaz]

11. K &R.. and some good news.....

Now this is a step in the right...er I mean left..direction :D

[quakerboy]

12. So they filibustered untill 11 of them decided not to?

What happened and why, would be my questions.