Ben Nelson Tougher On Obama's Nominees Than Bush's [View All]

#1 if push come to shove I hope Obama does her as a recess appointee. #2 When the hell is he going to counter punch Nelson?

“Sen. Ben Nelson's opposition to President Obama's choice to head the Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel appears to be the key obstacle to her confirmation. Democrats say Dawn Johnsen, an Indiana University law professor, has 59 backers in the Senate -- just one vote shy of cloture. Nelson, a Nebraska Democrat, is standing firmly against her appointment, pointing to Johnsen's job 15 years ago as a counsel to the abortion rights group NARAL.

All of which has left Nelson's critics furious. Where was the principled opposition from the Senator during the Bush years? Why is he refusing to show Obama the same deference that he offered the previous administration?

The votes, they argue tell the story. Nelson supported cloture or confirmation for some of Bush's most controversial judges and political nominees, including several who were never able to be confirmed even under a GOP-controlled Senate. Moreover, Nelson often defended his positions by citing presidential prerogative.

"The president's nominees, especially to the Supreme Court, deserve an up-or-down vote," he said of the nominating process, "even if the nominee isn't popular with the special-interest groups in Washington."cont…

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/14/ben-nelson-tougher-on-oba_n_203447.html