Jon Kyl, then and now

[Viking12]

Now

Obama court pick could face Republican opposition

WASHINGTON - The Senate's No. 2 Republican on Sunday refused to rule out an effort to block confirmation if President Barack Obama seeks a Supreme Court justice who decides cases based on "emotions or feelings or preconceived ideas."

Sen. Jon Kyl made clear he would use a filibuster, a procedural move to delay a final vote on a bill or nominee, if Obama follows through on his pledge to nominate someone who takes into account human suffering and employs empathy from the bench.
http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/05/court_pick_could_face_filibust.html

Then

"Republicans seek to right a wrong that has undermined 214 years of tradition - wise, carefully thought-out tradition. The fact that the Senate rules theoretically allowed the filibuster of judicial nominations but were never used to that end is an important indicator of what is right, and why the precedent of allowing up-or-down votes is so well established. It is that precedent that has been attacked and which we seek to restore....

My friends argue that Republicans may want to filibuster a future Democratic President's nominees. To that I say, I don't think so, and even if true, I'm willing to give up that tool. It was never a power we thought we had in the past, and it is not one likely to be used in the future. I know some insist that we will someday want to block Democrat judges by filibuster. But I know my colleagues. I have heard them speak passionately, publicly and privately, about the injustice done to filibustered nominees. I think it highly unlikely that they will shift their views simply because the political worm has turned."

http://kyl.senate.gov/legis_center/ConstlOption.pdf

What a douchebag....

[sutz12]

1. Apparently, there are two constitutions and two "traditions"

One for when Democrats are in office, and one for when Republicans are in power.

[Laelth]

2. Good work, Viking12. Thanks.

:dem:

-Laelth

[malaise]

3. I remember Clarence Thomas

receiving a 52-48 vote - when did the requirements change.

[LynneSin]

4. If republicans filibuster Sotomayer it will alienate even more hispanic voters from the GOP

and in states like Arizona and New Mexico - this is having a very major impact in who is getting elected. I realize Kyl's re-election is happening for a bit but the GOP in those states have seen their votes eroding bigtime to the democrats.

[Catshrink]

7. I would love to see Vile Kyl defeated.

Opposing Sotomayor might just be the thing that does it -- if voters remember it in '12. I think Arizonans are getting fed up with the Repugs here -- the state Leg. is a mess due to neoLibertarians in Repug clothing running the show. They've shown their hand.

[SoxFan]

5. Kyl has never read any of Rhenquist's opinions

The very definition of using mental gymnastics based on "emotions or feelings or preconceived ideas."

[madmax]

6. As Senator Franken would say

Flippity Flopp ;-)

[Hello_Kitty]

8. K and R. eom

[Winterblues]

9. I love that we get to see their hypocrisy so blatant but what would really be nice

If one of the Democratic Senators were to shove those words right in his face and get him to respond..