As a Michigan resident, I was horrified to read this morning a story in the
Washington Times that claims Sen. Orrin Hatch has proposed
to create two new Michigan-based judicial seats in exchange for getting Sen. Carl Levin, Michigan Democrat, to lift his blockade on four of President Bush's nominees from that state.
One of the new seats would go to Helene White, who was nominated by Clinton but never given a hearing by the Repubs. She's the wife of Levin's cousin.
Bush is reported to be anxious to see the deal happen.
I had thought Levin was a man of integrity, one I've voted for more than once. But if this story is true, I'll definitely have to adjust my views.
This sounds bad for continued attempts to block the appointments of the wingnuts Bush keeps making. While I don't know much about the proposed Michigan-based appointments that Levin has been instrumental in blocking, the fact that Bush wants the trade-off to go through is far from auspicious. Equally distressing is the fact that some Republicans see the addition of the two seats as a good thing.
I've urged all my political-minded friends to contact Levin's office and register their dismay over this.