For anyone who thinks that the GOP was the bad actor regarding approving Obama’s nominees, check out Wikipedia for all of the rest that the Democrats blocked during Bush’s years.
Just the D.C. Court below. Wait until you check out the hundreds others. I caught this late last night on a talkie. According to the program, the D.C. seats have long been empty. But the recent court decisions that struck down the recess labor appointments, the DC circuit court blocked EPA air pollution rules and put a hold on cases related to workers’ rights put this in Obama’s scope.
Of the DC circuit confirmation, Kendall says “There are few things more vital on the president’s second-term agenda.”
“With legislative priorities gridlocked in Congress, the president’s best hope for advancing his agenda is through executive action, and that runs through the D.C. Circuit,” Doug Kendall, president of the Constitutional Accountability Center, told the Washington Post Tuesday.
Blocked nominees by the Democrats.
- United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
- Miguel Estrada, to seat vacated by Patricia Wald (Estrada was nominated May 2001, but was filibustered by Senate Democrats and withdrew his nomination after waiting over two years in September 2003; judgeship later filled by Bush nominee Thomas B. Griffith, who was only allowed to be confirmed under the terms of the Gang of 14 Deal)
- John Roberts, to seat vacated by James L. Buckley (Senate Democrats refused to process his nomination during the Democratic 107th Congress and he was only confirmed once Republicans assumed control of the Senate in 2003)
- Janice Rogers Brown, to seat vacated by Stephen F. Williams (Brown was filibustered by Senate Democrats and was only allowed to be confirmed under the terms of the Gang of 14 Deal)
- Brett Kavanaugh, to seat vacated by Laurence Silberman (Kavanaugh was initially stalled by Senate Democrats and was only allowed to be confirmed under the terms of the Gang of 14 Deal)
- Peter Keisler, to seat vacated by John Roberts (President Bush nominated him June 2006, but Senate Democrats refused to process his nomination during the 109th and Democratic 110th Congress; judgeship still open)
- For the rest go to Wikipedia and scroll down the page a good bit.