Nomination Is a Classic Case of Partisanship

• By Carl Tobias
• Special to Roll Call
• Sept. 27, 2007, Midnight

On Sept. 6, President Bush nominated Duncan Getchell, a Richmond lawyer, for an opening on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. The nominee was not one of the five individuals whom Virginia Sens. John Warner (R) and Jim Webb (D) had earlier proposed to Bush. This nomination is a classic example of divisive partisanship, although the president frequently mouths the platitudes of bipartisanship. Thus, the Commonwealth’s Senators and the entire Senate would be within their rights to reject the nominee. Indeed, Webb recently stated there was “no way” that he would return a “blue slip” allowing Getchell’s Senate consideration to proceed.