• Home
• About
• Advertising
• Contact
• Print Subscriptions
• Donate
• Archives
• Links

Wednesday Morning Quarterback: Senators

By David Evans.

The people of New Mexico were visited by two U.S. Senators over the weekend. Joe Biden was in Mesilla Friday afternoon and Colorado’s Ken Salazar was in Albuquerque Saturday afternoon. Both have grueling schedules, but each took half an hour to talk about the future, and to listen carefully.

Biden is well-known in the Southwest, having campaigned for the presidential nomination and having spoken at the Denver convention. He has chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is responsible for the “consent” part of “advice and consent.” Rarely does an appointee to the federal judiciary get a chance to be approved by the whole Senate without first winning a majority vote of the Judiciary Committee.

Experienced Judiciary staffers gather and review all the writings of nominees, especially legal opinions that have been reviewed by a higher court. Nominees typically have a chance to visit Senators in their offices, usually a couple of days before committee appearances. During five minute rounds of questions, each member of the committee can ask the nominee anything. With due deference to civility, there is no limit to how many rounds of questions may be asked. Typically, the nominee stays until each Senator has had a chance to ask all of their questions.

A little over 20 years ago, Biden chaired the hearing for Reagan appointee Robert Bork, a minor Watergate figure who had been rewarded for his loyalty to Nixon with a federal judgeship. Reagan tried to put him on the Supreme Court.

Biden and others carried out their duties as specified in the Constitution. Bork was rejected for the nomination. Biden and Reagan probably did not share soft drinks and idle chatter that day. Each did his job. In this showdown, the Constitution and the people won.

“Advice and consent” is a requirement that resulted from a compromise long ago. The King could appoint judges, but the balance of power between parliament and crown was being eroded by such unchecked authority. In the several states, some judges are elected, some are appointed. The best compromise is retention elections, a mechanism which allows people to change judges they do not favor. This mechanism approximates a military antebellum tradition of electing officers. Lincoln, for example, was elected this way, in the Blackhawk War.

Biden has also chaired the Foreign Relations Committee. He knows more European leaders than any potential vice-president since “George, the elected one.” He understands the world and the challenges the next president will face.

This weekend, John S & L McCain took a sage Biden insight and distorted it. Trying to achieve political advantage, he craftily implied Biden meant something he did not mean. He did so by seeming to accuse Biden of saying something he did not say.

Two things scream out about this. Most obviously, the tactic is one of a desperate campaign. Also, such mischaracterizations require a forceful response. Biden has let McCain slide, so far. This is a Dukakis approach, believing that such nonsense will be immediately rejected. Biden must cause it to be rejected.

Ken Salazar was Attorney General of Colorado. By all accounts, he was moderately conservative but unwilling to back away from a clash, even if he was outgunned, if he believed he was right. He fought and won the battle to stop mid-decade redistricting in Colorado. He probably doesn’t drink Coors. His 2004 Senate campaign was masterful, methodical, and hard-fought. Colorado had not elected a Democratic Senator since the three and a third terms of Hart/Wirth/Nighthorse from 1974 to 1994. Salazar will become the senior Democratic Senator from Colorado on election day.

He comes from a state with a strong populist tradition, very independent voters, and a healthy share of the defense budget. This year, Colorado has the longest ballot in the country, with initiatives on affirmative action, stem-cell research, and three dozen other alleged issues. Unprepared voters will take thirty minutes to vote, or perhaps mark their ballots Obama, Udall, Polis and leave.

Colorado’s seventh congressional district was drawn to be very fair after the 2000 census. About 150 votes decided the 2002 contest. In its way, this is a laboratory of democracy as it ought to function. Only a few voters changing their mind will change their representative.
The incumbent advantage is very slight. Against the wishes of Tom Delay, the seventh district will have five elections with the same boundaries.

On Saturday Oct.18, Ken Salazar showed his command of issues and a rather considerable oratorical skill to a new generation of voters. They were marching under a clear warm sky, determined to achieve a change from the current miasma. Senator Salazar talked to voters briefly as they were on the way to vote early near UNM. It appeared that they heard him clearly and understood his message. It could well be described as follows: fired up, ready to go. The West is blessed by such a public presence.

Between the Montana trio of national leaders and New Mexico, more substantial leadership is on the rise. Ken Salazar is certainly destined for, and deserving of, higher office one day. The state with a red name is looking fairly blue.

Come On Now, Big Sky Country! If there are blue southern states this time, you will be behind the times if you don’t send your electors for Obama/Biden. Don’t let the downrange folks lead the change all by themselves. Be a part of it. You will be happy you did. Only Thirteen Days To Change. We have all waited a long time.

Comments