Read a Great Book: Women of the West by Dorothy Gray

This is a really great book to read right now. This is a book of short, well written profiles of extraordinary women in the American old west. The women come from all over the spectrum, but the one thing that they have in common is that they overcame tredmondous odds. I was inspired, unlifted and encouraged. Order it and read it and feel better about what we can accomplish today, Women of the West

Deal reached on Nuclear Option in the Senate

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS

We respect the diligent, conscientious efforts, to date, rendered to the Senate by Majority Leader Frist and Democratic Leader Reid. This memorandum confirms an understanding among the signatories, based upon mutual trust and confidence, related to pending and future judicial nominations in the 109th Congress.


This memorandum is in two parts. Part I relates to the currently pending judicial nominees; Part II relates to subsequent individual nominations to be made by the President and to be acted upon by the Senate’s Judiciary Committee.


We have agreed to the following:


Part I: Commitments on Pending Judicial Nominations


A. Votes for Certain Nominees. We will vote to invoke cloture on the following judicial nominees: Janice Rogers Brown (D.C. Circuit), William Pryor (11th Circuit), and Priscilla Owen (5th Circuit).


B. Status of Other Nominees. Signatories make no commitment to vote for or against cloture on the following judicial nominees: William Myers (9th Circuit) and Henry Saad (6th Circuit).


Part II: Commitments for Future Nominations


A. Future Nominations. Signatories will exercise their responsibilities under the Advice and Consent Clause of the United States Constitution in good faith. Nominees should only be filibustered under extraordinary circumstances, and each signatory must use his or her own discretion and judgment in determining whether such circumstances exist.


B. Rules Changes. In light of the spirit and continuing commitments made in this agreement, we commit to oppose the rules changes in the 109th Congress, which we understand to be any amendment to or interpretation of the Rules of the Senate that would force a vote on a judicial nomination by means other than unanimous consent or Rule XXII.


We believe that, under Article II, Section 2, of the United States Constitution, the word “Advice” speaks to consultation between the Senate and the President with regard to the use of the President’s power to make nominations. We encourage the Executive branch of government to consult with members of the Senate, both Democratic and Republican, prior to submitting a judicial nomination to the Senate for consideration.


Such a return to the early practices of our government may well serve to reduce the rancor that unfortunately accompanies the advice and consent process in the Senate.


We firmly believe this agreement is consistent with the traditions of the United States Senate that we as Senators seek to uphold.

San Diego

Just arrived home from a very refreshing week in San Diego. What a lovely town. Took the kids to the zoo, where my husband observed that the animals are fed an ultra healthy, nutrient rich diet, and the humans eat chemo-crap. We also visited the Star of India and the aircraft carrier Midway. The Flower Fields in Carlsbad are also quite spectacular.

Very pleasant trip, indeed. the biggest news is that I'm pregnant again. Baby is due at the end of the year. We will offiically be outnumbered. Everyone is hoping for a girl, even though everything I have already is for boys.