Rove: Bolton will be confirmed; judges

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http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-04-25-karl-rove_x.htm

Rove: Bolton will be confirmed; judges deserve vote
By Judy Keen, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Karl Rove rejected a compromise with Senate Democrats Monday on long-stalled nominations for the federal judiciary and strongly defended President Bush's choice of John Bolton to be ambassador to the United Nations. (Audio: Rove speaks out)

In an hour-long interview with USA TODAY and Gannett News Service reporters and editors, Rove, deputy White House chief of staff, dismissed suggestions from Democrats that they might drop threats to use filibusters to prevent votes on Bush's judicial nominees if the president would withdraw a few of the most controversial names.

"I think that would be a worthwhile compromise," Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., said Monday. "We're willing to talk about a way of ending this impasse," said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Bush wants votes on seven federal judge nominees who were blocked in the last session of Congress. The filibuster allows 41 senators to block action on the Senate floor. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., has said he's prepared to change the rules to ban filibusters against judicial nominees. Such a tactic would alter Senate tradition and could bring Senate business to a halt. Reid and other Democrats have threatened to retaliate by slowing or blocking all but the most vital legislation.

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