Just POlitics

Anonymous holds

Senate Democrats are not only using the filibuster in their obstructionist strategy to bring the Bush Administration to a stand still they are also using holds by Senators to stop Bush appointees from being confirmed.

Any individual senator can place a hold on any appointee. This prevents bringing a nominee to the floor for debate and confirmation.

Democrats are using their holds to point out the huge difference between red and their constituency of blues state’s agendas. The reason that this is obvious is because senators do not have to reveal who placed holds on nominations. Yet, Democrats have made a point of raising issues that they feel will be embarrassing to the Bush Administration when placing holds.

The Associated Press has a story about the numerous holds by Democrats that give the particulars of the holds.

Senate campaign money

The National Republican Senatorial Committee raised $9.8 million in the first quarter of 2005 and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee raised $9.5 million, the committees reported Thursday.

Democrats say they have $5.6 million in the bank after raising what was a record for their committee for the first quarter of an election cycle. Republicans say they have $2.4 million in the bank after heavy spending this winter on the party's direct mail campaign.

Swift Boat complaint thrown out

A complaint with the Federal election Commission that said the Swift Boat Veterans group was incorporated and that therefore it’s spending on election-time ads in the presidential race was illegal was thrown out by the FEC.