8.15.2005
Filibuster Compromise Pins a Target on Dealmakers (USATODAY.com)
Posted 8/14/2005 10:45 PM Updated 8/15/2005 12:47 AM
By Kathy Kiely, USA TODAY
NAPOLEON, Ohio — In Washington, the debate over Supreme Court nominee John Roberts is being billed as a battle royal. Conservative and liberal interest groups have teed up accusatory television ads. Democratic senators and the White House are skirmishing over documents.
But in this pretty-as-a-Currier & Ives-picture town in northwest Ohio, the matter has created fewer ripples.
"I'm not even versed in who the candidates are," shrugs Michael Plotts, chief of a volunteer fire department, when asked who should sit on the Supreme Court. "This is a rural, small-town area. It's not at the top of our list."
For Sen. Mike DeWine, a two-term Republican who was at Napoleon's fire station recently to celebrate federal firefighting grants he helped obtain, this may be less of a disappointment than a relief.
DeWine, 58, is in the thick of the Supreme Court debate. He's a member of the Judiciary Committee, which will hold hearings starting Sept. 6 on Roberts' nomination. He's also part of the self-styled Gang of 14, a bipartisan group of senators whose negotiations this spring averted a showdown between Senate Democrats and President Bush over judicial nominations. In DeWine's opinion, the deal set the stage for Roberts' likely confirmation.
But it may be creating problems for some of the dealmakers. DeWine is one of six "gang" members up for re-election next year. Several are under fire from important allies who are either unhappy with the deal on judges or with Roberts, the president's choice to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. The pressure comes from both ends of the political spectrum.
(More ... USATODAY.com - Filibuster compromise pins a target on dealmakers) ¶ 22:00
By Kathy Kiely, USA TODAY
NAPOLEON, Ohio — In Washington, the debate over Supreme Court nominee John Roberts is being billed as a battle royal. Conservative and liberal interest groups have teed up accusatory television ads. Democratic senators and the White House are skirmishing over documents.
But in this pretty-as-a-Currier & Ives-picture town in northwest Ohio, the matter has created fewer ripples.
"I'm not even versed in who the candidates are," shrugs Michael Plotts, chief of a volunteer fire department, when asked who should sit on the Supreme Court. "This is a rural, small-town area. It's not at the top of our list."
For Sen. Mike DeWine, a two-term Republican who was at Napoleon's fire station recently to celebrate federal firefighting grants he helped obtain, this may be less of a disappointment than a relief.
DeWine, 58, is in the thick of the Supreme Court debate. He's a member of the Judiciary Committee, which will hold hearings starting Sept. 6 on Roberts' nomination. He's also part of the self-styled Gang of 14, a bipartisan group of senators whose negotiations this spring averted a showdown between Senate Democrats and President Bush over judicial nominations. In DeWine's opinion, the deal set the stage for Roberts' likely confirmation.
But it may be creating problems for some of the dealmakers. DeWine is one of six "gang" members up for re-election next year. Several are under fire from important allies who are either unhappy with the deal on judges or with Roberts, the president's choice to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. The pressure comes from both ends of the political spectrum.
(More ... USATODAY.com - Filibuster compromise pins a target on dealmakers) ¶ 22:00
