Vacancies on the federal judiciary continue to be an issue for the Bush Administration. In recent months, media coverage has made it seem as if the Democrats in the Senate are engaging in new, unprecedented tactics by holding up such appointments.

First of all, there is a reason the Senate is allowed the "advise and consent" power under the Constitution. If they were supposed to be simply a rubber stamp, that power would not exist. Secondly, the Bush Administration has had a much smoother ride than the Clinton Administration had with a Republican Senate in getting their nominees approved according to the Alliance for Justice, a DC based organization which follows this process.

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