Want to know how the GOP is going to prevent Loretta Lynch's confirmation if Harry Reid can't get her confirmed in the lame-duck session? This is the first line of attack:
Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mike Lee (R-UT) said Saturday that President Barack Obama's nomination to replace Attorney General Eric Holder, Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch, must denounce Obama's planned executive amnesty.Oh, but that's just Cruz and Lee, right? Two bomb-throwers? Hasn't the mainstream media told us repeatedly that this was the election in which the reasonable, responsible GOP establishment crushed the crazies?
"President Obama's Attorney General nominee deserves fair and full consideration of the United States Senate, which is precisely why she should not be confirmed in the lame duck session of Congress by senators who just lost their seats and are no longer accountable to the voters," Cruz and Lee said in a joint statement. "The Attorney General is the President's chief law enforcement officer. As such, the nominee must demonstrate full and complete commitment to the law. Loretta Lynch deserves the opportunity to demonstrate those qualities, beginning with a statement whether or not she believes the President’s executive amnesty plans are constitutional and legal."
Well, here's the same line from a guy who's considered one of the "respectable" members of the right-wing media:
Be nice to know from Lynch a) whether she supports Obama immigration edict, and if so b) what other laws she plans not to enforce as AG.
— Byron York (@ByronYork) November 9, 2014Oh, and last month, before the Lynch pick was announced, Roll Call's Humberto Sanchez compiled a list of ten questions the nominee "will likly hear." This was #1:
1. What is the limit of the president's executive authority on immigration?This week, Republicans paid no price at the polls for blocking immigration reform after the 2012 election. So, yes, I think they're going after her for this -- they may stand back and let Cruz and Sessions lead the way, but unless Lynch denounces the man who appointed her, they're going to raise holy hell. Even ostensibly pro-reform senators such as Graham, McCain, and Rubio are going to say that they support an overhaul of the law but not "lawlessness."
The nominee will face questions from senators either just before -- or just after -- the president announces sweeping executive action to expand deportation relief to illegal immigrants, a move sure to enrage the GOP.
Many Republicans say the president can not act without Congress, which, under Article I of the Constitution, has authority over immigration. The House has already voted to end the president's existing program known as DACA deferring deportations for young immigrants brought here illegally.
Expect Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, both members of the Judiciary Committee, to lead the questioning on this front.
They'll block her. Bet on it.
4 comments:
She's not a white male, so, yeah, they'll block her.
You guys are so 2010. That's the old self-destructive loony GOP. The new one is smart enough to see the fundraising potential of having a black woman AG. They're just greasing up the noise machine.
If Holder had committed to leaving on a specific date, the decision to block a replacement would be easy for Republicans. But as I understand it, Holder has agreed to stay until a replacement has been confirmed. Obama can therefore proceed on the basis he's already got an AG he's happy with, but he'll appoint a new one just as soon as Republican presidential hopefuls stop playing silly games. Pending that, a vote against confirmation is a vote for Holder.
I could easily imagine these guys rejecting Lynch and impeaching Holder. I could imagine them rejecting Lynch just so they can impeach Holder. Hey, who needs an attorney general anyway?
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