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The Senate Judiciary Committee today endorsed Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel nominee Dawn Johnsen along a party-line vote after a tense debate over her views.
The panel voted to report Johnsen out of committee by a 12-7 vote. “I have to admit that [my] decision was not even a close call,” Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) said today at the panel’s business meeting before he voted against her.
Surely her floor vote must only be a few months away now!
But first Max Baucus must lead a small taskforce of Republicans and conservadems to decide which constitutional principles Ms. Johnsen will agree to sacrifice in exchange for Olympia Snowe’s promise to briefly sort-of look like she might think about voting yes.
133 Comments
Great clip, Eli — and so useful in so many situations!
Most of them bad!
I believe that in the matter of confirmation the same committee did the same thing last year. It is after she was reported out that her candidacy languished. So is this really cause for celebration?
Do you really expect the Hamlet like Obama to fight for her? I don’t!
Sorta. Maybe. Kinda. Perhaps…… poor Dawn has been languishing for months. Hope this ends it.
Welcome to Late Nite, Eli, if you’re around. I see this was actually posted earlier.
Yep, I’m here. Kind of a night owl anyway.
(BTW, you all know this post is sarcastic, right? …Right?)
yeah
sure
right
hey eli
hey suz
If Obama had used a little clout to get his noms confirmed it would not be like this. I’ve thought for some time Dawn should tell him to take his nomination and cram it up his boney behind.
I sure as hell would have. I’m not sure if it speaks very well or very poorly of her that she’s putting up with being jerked around like this.
I kinda wonder if having her withdraw in disgust is actually Obama’s goal.
Fortunately she’s had a job while she waits. Kudos to IU for allowing her to continue working while she waits. Not every employer would be so flexible.
IU will probably do better than that. They’ll likely grant her a leave of absence to serve in OLC and take her back when she leaves DoJ.
I wouldn’t have bailed because of the uncertainty, I would have bailed because the president couldn’t be bothered to make the slightest effort to push for my confirmation. I can take a hint if it’s delivered with a big enough sledgehammer.
Agreed, don’t nominate me if you can’t be bothered to fight for my confirmation.
Well, she’d certainly earn the Liz Cheney video of disapproval. Who could withstand that?
Trying a new form, are we?
Yes, some people appear to be a little thrown by the abrupt shift.
We will do our best to adjust.
I think it shows real potential. But TKK will probably come along and dash this dream too.
Como se dice TKK in ingles?
Dawn Johnsen must be confirmed asap. The position has been vacant for too long already. Get it done Senate.
Yes, but that would involve somebody actually giving a shit about good governance, which eliminates pretty much everyone in the Senate.
I will believe it when I see it. Maybe if we lock Max, Blanche, Marie, Ben, and the rest in the Senate basement for the duration it will really happen.
She will still be awaiting confirmation the next time Halley’s Comet passes by.
eli — can anyone put a hold on her nomination now that she is out of committee?
I don’t think Eli or anyone else has responded to your question, so I will: Yes, under current Senatorial “courtesy” practices (there’s nothing in the Constitution that says holds are authorized, Teabagger and Repug assumptions to the contrary notwithstanding), a Senator can definitely put a hold on a nomination even after it has been reported out of committee favorably.
Howdy ‘pups.
So why is it that Uncle Orrin thought that Dawn Johnsen is so horribly unqualified? Because she’s competent and not ethically compromised beyond belief?
That and she has all those icky lady parts.
Hmmmm. I thought Uncle Orrin probably liked those icky lady parts. Or do he and Larry Craig both take a wide stance?
Them things is only for the reproducing. It is all about duty and none of that having fun stuff now. After all, he is a Mormon.
Nice that you PhDs use the correct anatomical names. So, you think Orrin would be more receptive if Dawn had a wing-ding?
That’s a question for Dr. Dick. He’s the one who said the icky lady parts was disqualifyin’.
I don’t know, is it advisable to ask someone named DrDick for a ruling on wing-dings?
I’m all for them, regardless of what you call them. Or as best I remember, I think I am.
Well, for anything outside the home, ya know. I think he is of the “barefoot and pregnant” school.
My grandfather maintained that it was a mistake to allow women to vote because it made it possible to ratify the Eighteenth Amendment prohibiting alcohol.
Of course I’ve always disagreed with his premise that women should not have been given the right to vote but I began (after he died) to question his recall of events since equal voting rights did not become the law of the land until the Nineteenth Amendment.
HOWEVER, many states were allowing women to vote prior to ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment, so now I realize he might have had his facts straight, albeit in support of a faulty premise. I agree with him that Prohibition does more harm than good, whether in regard to alcohol or other controlled substances but denying equality to an entire gender would be a greater travesty.
I begin to suspect that all Republicans and most Mormons subscribe to the old Pashtun adage: “Women for duty, boys for pleasure, and for sheer delight, melons!” Either that or he and Micky Kaus share a common interest.
Mmmm, melons…. (drool)
I can certainly understand why Borin’ Orrin would feel threatened by competence and ethics.
Bingo, the Beltway is an ethics free zone. It’s in the Constitution, look it up.
No, not the one they taught us about in our high school civics class, the REAL one which says banks and corporations call all the shots.
We can’t afford someone like that in a key post like OLC. What if she says waterboarding is illegal or something crazy like that?
Hey, Dr.Dick … I won’t be moving to Birmingham after all. Mrs. Dr. BC was interviewed for an impossible job.
They wanted an assistant professor to take charge of a core curriculum program carved out of two existing departments. Oh, and take it to the next level. Faculty to the program are a mixture of a tiny core of program faculty, faculty assigned from the previous departments and adjuncts.
They were looking for a unicorn.
Sounds more like unicorns, fairy dust, and a round tuit. Glad to hear she was wise enough to bail on this “opportunity.”
Yeah, the thing has Epic Fail written all over it. I told her I wouldn’t take the job unless I was hired as a full professor, with tenure and control over program faculty. Meaning, I get first choice of the supply faculty and make the final decisions on adjuncts.
Which of course means I’d never be hired.
Or perhaps a scapegoat.
Well, glad to hear Madame Doctor BC escaped with her sanity intact.
Budget cuts, you know.
Yeah. Our departmental chair had the pleasure of attending a 6 hour chairs meeting today to discuss how the university is going to cut 1% of its budget this year and another 1% next year. Somehow I do not think it will involve cutting back on any grossly overpaid administrative personnel.
I keep waiting for a faculty to take charge. But trying to unite a faculty is …difficult.
Herding cats is the usual expression. Especially places like this were some of the folks in business and law have delusions that they are anything more than hired help.
It never does, does it?
Invariably requires hiring several more administrators, each of whom makes 2-3 times what a tenure track faculty member does, to oversee the downsizing.
Cut adminstrator salaries?
You must be kidding! Administrators accomplish the primary mission of the University, don’t they?
I thought employing administrators was the core mission of the university?
Dr. D,
I’ve heard that ‘adage’ before. Is it for-real?
I cannot swear to it, but I believe so as I found it in a reasonably reliable source. One of those things I encountered researching for my gender class. Certainly pederasty is traditionally fairly common and well documented among the Pashtun. Likewise, most villages have a bedagh, an effeminate male homosexual, who acts as a prostitute and is normally the first sexual contact for most Pashtun boys.
Ron is in the hospital. The docs are not sure but it seems he has had a heart attack. At the very least he has been diagnosed with heart failure.
Oh no! Mary – keep us posted
seems that heart bypass six years ago equals heart issues now.
Hold tight, Mary. We send you all best hopes and wishes.
Citizen Mary McCumin:
Whats up Sister Mary…you havin’ an angio and stents…wasup gal?
He had chest pain for a couple of days. I was not in town. It got bad. He went to the e.r. The enzime levels were high for a heart attack. Not threw the roof but high. Then they found water in his lungs. The second and third enzime level (eight hours apart) showed a continued possible problem. He is having a stress test tomorrow. If it is bad he will have an angiography with possible stens.
sorry for the spelling, i have had a few glasses of wine.
A couple of glasses of wine is probably a good idea, Mary.
Sounds like if necessary they are considering the less invasive options, so hopefully they will have things turned around and send him back home soon.
have one for all of us Mary you have earned it!! The misses has had both a stent and angioplasty and she is doing great!!
Citizen Mary McCumin:
Is he in intensive care with telemetry and is he on any kinda IV drip for arrhythmia? What has the attending Doc had to say? Sounds like they wanna wait and see if he stays stable before they go pokin’ around on his vascular highway…that’s a good thing, dear and if they’ve got the stress test scheduled that’s a good thing too (as long as WE don’t hafta go through it, LOL). The next 36 hours will probably be the toughest on ya…the not knowin’ but sometimes if they don’t rush inta do stuff early then that’s a good sign too. Do you have a physician that can getcha some sleep aides or anything ta help ya cope?
The fluid on the lungs is the fallout from the heart failure…it’s called CHF and it ain’t the primary problem, they can manage that just fine, Sister Mary…get some sleep babe.
I think he is in good hands. Mercy Hospital, though small, is ranked #10 in the country for heart issues. And I have the demon w**d to see me through the night.
Citizen Mary McCumin:
“And I have the demon w**d ta see me through the night.”
ROFLMAO…maybe ya wanna share some with Ron…morphine and nitro ain’t nearly as good for dreamin’!
According to my Dad, nitro is good only for headaches. Creating them, that is.
Citizen BarginCountertenor:
Well, I haven’t had ta take it but I’ve dispensed a lot of the stuff and I think gettin’ rid of the angina is such a relief that most patients forget about any headache they may get…and anyway, it’s ‘sposed ta lower BP so any headache should be temporary.
I haven’t had to take it, either, so I’m reporting second hand. After his heart attack, the physicians had him on a nitro patch. He was being stubborn and refused the angiogram. The constant headaches from the nitro patches finally convinced him otherwise.
Just noticed your screen name — a P.D.Q. Bach fan?
My healing thoughts and prayers go out for you and Ron…! *g*
You deserve wine, dear.
Best wishes to you and Ron for a full recovery, dear.
Oh dear! So sorry to hear that. 8-(
oh mary (((mary and ron))) prayers and positive healing thoughts headed your way
Oh, Jebus. Best of wishes and fingers crossed for you and Ron.
Prayers and well wishes coming your way.
Oh no, I am so sorry to hear that, Mary. Is the prognosis hopeful? Sending positive thoughts your way.
Ron has the best kind of heart failure to have. Sort of like winning the least ugly girl contest.
That is encouraging anyway. They have gotten really good at treating heart attacks in the last 20 years and survival rates are really pretty good these days.
Thank God for that, anyway.
I hope you have some family there to lend a hand. I’ve done the hospital vigil too many times and I know you have too. It’s hard but try to take care of yourself, remember to eat and get some rest when possible.
Best wishes to both of you Mary from me and the Misses.. Get well Ron.
I’m very sorry. Our best wishes and good thoughts are headed your way.
Mary-hugs, prayers for Ron and for you.
Many hugs and warm wishes for both of you. I hope he has a smooth recovery.
Hi Skeptic, are you new or am I forgetful? Granted, those are not mutually exclusive concepts. Welcome in any event.
skeptic has been around for quite a while :)
I feared it was just my creeping senility. Thanks for the confirmation. :-)
Damn, Mary
good thoughts
Dear Mary…we are with you.
Thanks all. I am shitless scared.
((((mary))))
Certainly our administrators behave as if it were, so it must be.
Kind of interesting that while we have a general hiring freeze here, when our head football coach quit to go elsewhere a month or so ago, they pulled out the stops and hired a replacement within 2 weeks, along with a bunch of new coaching staff. Priorities, ya know.
Citizen DrDick:
Did they fill teachin’ slots er get ‘em on supplemental contract?
They are either not filling faculty vacancies or are hiring low paid (low $30Ks for PhDs) adjuncts on a per course basis.
Intercollegiate athletics are crucial to the mission of the University. I know this because our new President told me so when I axed her ’bout tit, y’know.
Derisive snort.
What do you expect? We hired her from Nebraska.
Our Board of Regents hired her from Nebraska.
Thanks all.
I wish Ron was internet connected right now. But. alas, hosptals are rather behind the times.
Oh, it’s “Ron”…where is all a this takin place…anythin the Firepup hospital patrol ken do ,dear?
Time for me to toddle off. Take care all and healing thoughts to Mary and Ron.
g’nite DrDick and DrSmoke
Aloha, Dr. D…!
g’nite dr dick
Aloha, Eli and fellow LN brethren…! ;-)
Good night, Dr.D.
Aloha, CTut!
It’s election eve in Iraq and I’ve neglected Iraq of late so I’ll be posting about ‘em tonight or tomorrow…! Still assembling my linkies…! ;-)
Citizen CTuttle:
Keep us posted, Brother CT, kinda keeps things inside the fire zone, so ta speak. I think we’re seein the administration pushin to get ahead of anythin the spooks and the military may try and dump onto the public in the next few weeks ‘cuz the June deadline is approachin and I don’t think they’re gunna be able ta knock Obama off his time table unless they blow some shit up in Iran or sumpthin ridiciulous like that.
I do try to read past the western MSM’s spin/propaganda…! ;-)
I still wouldn’t put it past Bibi to launch a unilateral strike on Iran…! Aipac has been busier than usual…! 8-(
Citizen CTuttle:
I think we’re gunna see just what stuff Obama is made of in the next few weeks ‘cuz the fascists are on the run and they need ta get control of the daily fear mechanism…Obama is countin on the sunsettin of the Bush tax cuts and troops reductions in Iraq to have the budget ta get some job legislation and pay off what’s left of his debt to the bankers. So I think there are good hard political realities that will put a bit of testosterone in ‘im when it comes ta the approachin elections…AIPAC has been runnin scared too and they haven’t been able ta budge the Jewish vote away from Democrats so I think yer right. If the Israeli fascists bomb Iran I think Obama can use it to get a regime change in Israel…Peace Now will turn the place out if Bibi pushes without Washington’s approval.
I fully agree with ya, but, I’m not putting as much hope in Obama as you seem to…! 8-(
Aloha, CT. How’s Hilo?
I really wish I could have seen Hilo Bay draining and refilling last weekend… it must have been a sight.
It’s just now starting to get it’s blueness back from all that turbidity…! ;-)
It takes a while for the sediment fines to drop out of suspension. Wave action delays that, too.
I thought Bill Clinton showed his wide yellow streak when he let Republicans pillory Lani Guinier. Obama’s another. No wonder there are so mnay mediocrities in government: the really good people don’t have to put up with the nonsense….and won’t.
There is a lot to what you say. The questions are invasive, and the scrutiny microscopic. Nominees have to really want to do the job to put up with the BS it takes to get confirmation. Sometimes that’s a good thing, and sometimes it’s not (John Yoo and Jay Bybee, I’m thinking of you two!)
Another Dem exiting.
Massachusetts Rep. William Delahunt will not run for re-election
Powering down here. Thanks to Eli. Very best wishes to Ron and Mary. Goodnight to all.
g’nite rat
How about a recess appointment?
March 29–April 9 from what I can tell.
through the nite
hey norske — haven’t seen your fonts lately — how ya been comrade?
Citizen Suzanne:
I’ve had a pulse and a blood pressure and my kids are still outta the house and makin more money than I am so I surely can’t complain…I gotta go get my “beauty sleep” pretty soon so turn a few tunes for me dear and keep the red flags flyin’, Sister SuzieQ.
my lln post goes up in 1 — you sticking around or gonna bail now?
I’ll hang in for a couple a minutes…I gotta get up early though so don’t get me all cranked up, there dear.
P.S. And the youngest daughter has been interviewin’ graduate schools…went ta Northwestern last week and she’s had another already early this week and goes ta her final big one on the 12th a March….she’s gunna end up runnin the world before she’s done. Watchin ‘er go through these interviews is like havin a courtside ticket ta the final four. What a trip!!
Good Gawd (I wanna break too),
Let me make this clear:
Public option, or you’re fired.
Look, if you want to make a difference with people, you will show them that this year-long show is not fer nuthin. Otherwise…
Carry on, public option.
“Public option, or you’re fired.”
And I’m not kidding.