Dammit. A filibuster! Not even the chance for an up-or-down vote. Funny how Senate Republicans are suddenly cool with filibusters. Hypocrisy. With its 52-to-43 vote, the Senate fell eight votes short of the 60 needed to end debate on Liu's nomination: Senate Republicans block appeals court nomination of Goodwin Liu.
Democrats failed to come close to the 60 votes needed to override the filibuster, with just one member of the GOP breaking ranks. The final tally was 52-43.Professor Liu is a fiercely intelligent, tremendously accomplished and highly qualified nominee. But he apparently spooked Republican Senators, who viewed his liberal views as too controversial. Maybe they were scared of his potential as a possible future Supreme Court candidate. Or maybe they thought he wanted to turn America into 'Communist' China.
Liu's nomination to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals had languished for more than year, but Thursday marked the first attempt by Senate Democrats to force a floor vote on Liu, who has been fiercely opposed by Republicans for what they say are too-liberal legal views.
But the nominee's prospects for success were never strong — Obama has had to renominate him for the seat twice -- and in the end, Liu did worse than projected, with just one Republican supporting him, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and one Democratic senator, Ben Nelson of Nebraska -- who faces a difficult reelection fight -- voting with the GOP. That may spell the end for Liu's bid for the appeals court, although his nomination remains pending.
If he had been confirmed, Goodwin Liu would have become just the second Asian American on a federal appeals court -- and the first Asian Pacific American on the 9th Circuit. This sucks. More here: Senate Republicans Block Vote on Obama-Appointed Judge.