January 30, 2003
Calling Senator Wyden
So I just called my senator for the first time to express concerns.Independent Judiciary: The Nominees This link describes Miguel Estrada, a current nominee to the DC appeals court. I also found an opinion article.
What strikes me is the denial of the request by the Judiciary Committee to see Estrada's opinions and briefs while at the Solicitor General's office. Another article that I can't find right now said that these requests have been normally granted in the past.
So it appears that the Bush administration is trying to keep this justice's background secret and not even allow Congress to know what they're voting on. The republican majority will vote for him anyway. I think this is grounds for a filibuster so I called Senator Ron Wyden and told him so.
Posted by Curt at January 30, 2003 03:15 PM
Did you actually speak to him personally? What did he say?
Posted by: Tommy at February 1, 2003 01:42 AMNo, I guess I didn't mean I spoke to HIM. They don't offer to pass along the phone to him, although I didn't insist either. I said I had something to share and asked if that was the right place and he listened patiently and said he'd be glad to pass along the message.
I don't know how useful it is - I've heard others swear by it, but it's more effective if it's done in numbers. One other time I wrote a letter to my Congressman (Rep. David Wu) and I actually got a letter in reply.
Posted by: Curt at February 1, 2003 01:44 AM