UPDATE: Saturday, Feb 25, 2023 · 5:09:33 PM +00:00 · Cal Dem Syd
Here is a quick update — there are tons and tons of people who have written comments where they paste in their actual letters to the members of the Judiciary Committee. It is a great way to grab something already written if you don’t have the time or desire to write your own letter.
The more we can flood them NOW with our letters, the better chance we have of forcing their hand. I hope you might take a moment to join us.
The link below has all the Judiciary Committe members listed with links to their own websites next to their pictures (it has a few mistakes) but if you want to contact all the D members, maybe we can turn up the heat!
https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/about/members
Holy smoke!
Last week I wrote a diary here that I originally titled “Mother Fucking Blue Slips” (but then I changed it). I was writing to discuss the stupid fucking “tradition” that ONLY the Ds follow (like good little girls and boys) and the Rs ignore. The result of that has been that the district courts are dangerously partisan, filled with Leonard Leo hacks. So much so that Rs who want to sue know JUST where to go to venue shop for a judge who will give them what they want.
You can click the link above to read more about Blue Slips and their history in the Senate (dating back to 1917).
I wrote that diary last week in hopes of asking y’all to join me in contacting all the Ds on the Senate Judiciary Committee and DEMAND that they stop honoring Blue Slips.
Well, I was just minding my own business a few moments ago and came across this little gem from the Associated Press by way of Yahoo. Holy crap! The Ds are actually considering it!
Even as Democrats celebrated the 100th judicial confirmation of Joe Biden's presidency, they are clamoring for more — and some are flirting with ending a century-long Senate practice to help make it happen.
The rising friction over what in Washington parlance is known as the “blue slip” is creating tensions on the Senate panel that handles judicial nominations and prompting stern warnings from Republicans about a dangerous escalation in the partisanship that already dominates the judicial confirmation process.
Funny how those Republicans are “warning” about partisanship dominating the judicial confirmation process when they have NO MOTHER FUCKING PROBLEM WITH THEIR OWN PARTISAN JUDGES DOMINATING THE ACTUAL COURTS!
Republicans during Donald Trump's presidency determined the lack of a positive blue slip would not stop them from moving forward with considering appellate court nominees — and they did so 17 times. Democrats were livid, pointing out that Republicans blocked several of President Barack Obama's appellate nominees by declining to return a positive blue slip.
Now, Democrats are being encouraged to follow suit and do away with the blue slip when it comes to the district judges whose courts serve as the starting point for federal civil and criminal cases.
”In many respects, it is an archaic holdover from a different era,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. “I think we’re maybe reaching the point of deciding whether it will be continued.”
Advocates for doing away with the blue slip say fast action is critical if Democrats want to have the kind of success Trump had in year three of his presidency, when he secured more than 100 judicial confirmations out of 231. They believe Democrats can't afford to wait months on Republican senators to give their go-ahead for a nominee.
Besides, they argue, if Democrats don't do away with the blue slip now, Republicans will abolish it when they return to the majority.
WE MUST TURN UP THE HEAT, NOW!
The biggest holdout for NOT wanting to end Blue Slips is Dick Durbin himself (the freaking Chair of the committee).
Can you contact him ASAP? Here is is website which has a contact form: www.durbin.senate.gov
Here are his office locations with contact info if you want to call (or snail mail):
Washington, D.C.
711 Hart Senate Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
p: 202.224.2152
9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Chicago
230 S. Dearborn Street
Suite 3892
Chicago, IL 60604
p: 312.353.4952
8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Springfield
525 S. 8th Street
Springfield, IL 62703
p: 217.492.4062
8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Carbondale
250 W. Cherry Street
Suite 115-D
Carbondale, IL 62901
p: 618.351.1122
8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Rock Island
1504 Third Avenue
Suite 227
Rock Island, IL 61201
p: 309.786.5173
8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Tell him you are not a constituent in his state (unless you are), but you are writing or calling him because of his role on the Judiciary Committee. It’s not like the Senate can do ANYTHING else since the maniacs control the House. No legislation is going to be passed.
This site has the rest of the members listed with links to their own websites next to their pictures (it has a few mistakes) but if you want to contact the other D members, maybe we can turn up the heat!
DEMAND THAT THEY STOP REQUIRING BLUE SLIPS AND FILL THESE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT JUDICIAL VACANCIES ASAP!
If we all do this now (right when they are actually considering it — well except Durbin) we might actually force their hand!
Anyone who Tweets or does other social media — maybe you can scream out to them there, as well.
Thank you so much for reading this.