Posted on 03/05/2010 8:41:05 AM PST by maggief
GOP senator tells Democratic centrists he was there for them when Republicans tried to force judges through in 2005.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is seeking bipartisan support to block Senate Democrats from using special parliamentary tactics to pass healthcare reform.
The Democratic strategy of using reconciliation to pass changes to the healthcare bill is reminiscent of Republican attempts to force President George W. Bush’s judicial nominees through with a simple majority vote, McCain said Thursday. He implored centrist Democrats to think about the consequences. He even invoked President Barack Obama’s own words to make his case.
And McCain reminded Democrats that he was a member of the bipartisan Gang of 14, which stopped Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) from using the so-called nuclear option in 2005.
It's time for a similar gang, he said. So far, he’s had no takers.
“Back a few years ago when the Republican side was in the majority and there was a movement toward the ‘nuclear option’ … I stood up as a member of the majority and said we should not erode the 60-vote majority rule that has prevailed here in the Senate for many years,” McCain said Thursday evening.
McCain noted that he took heat from fellow Republicans for standing up for their rights in the minority.
“That was not greeted on this side of the aisle, frankly, with approval by a lot, but what we did then was preserve the Senate,” he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
Hey McCain, why don’t you use the dime to call your RINO daughter off of the Republican Party? Who is putting you in charge of anything these days?
He's more concerned with 'preserv[ing] the Senate' than he is with killing bad legislation.
Earth to McCain: Your Senate is out of the loop. Its all in the House’s hands.
McCain arrives to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Someone tell McCain he’s gonna need more than 7 Dems to block reconciliation.
And McC gets a knife in the back from the Dems. That’s surprising, why?
Gang of 14. Up from the Keating 5. Must be inflation.
“Back a few years ago when the Republican side was in the majority and there was a movement toward the ‘nuclear option’ … I stood up as a member of the majority and said we should not erode the 60-vote majority rule that has prevailed here in the Senate for many years,” McCain said Thursday evening.
McCain noted that he took heat from fellow Republicans for standing up for their rights in the minority.
I said it then, I say it again. This dumb son-of-a-biotch actually thought the donks would reciprocate. Too f***ing stupid to be POTUS.
But, but....I thought you said, Juan, that we have nothing to fear w/ Obama being President, didn’t you? You actually praised this traitor!
Go back to Arizona & stay there.
That's probably true, but in point of fact, a "preserved" Senate has killed plenty of bad bills in the past, and would continue to kill them in the future. We're either going to have the "John McCain" Senate of yore, or the ALFRANKEN Senate of new. Take your pick.
The Senate has always been the place of the House's stupidity has gone on to die, we should keep it that way.
I like this tactic. I’m not a McCain fan ... but this is a good move. He can use his previous RINOism to demonstrate the unreasonable and anti-democratic tactics that are being employed by the left in this situation.
Good move.
SnakeDoc
The problem with the gang of 14 is that it will eventally lead to a compromise where we get government run health care. Go away McCain.
!Calla te Juan!
I have. I opt for neither.
Oh shut up old man.
McLame is a camera hound who has been played by the DNCmedia. He’s the only one that can’t see that.
But the little prick has been pretending to be in charge ever since he lost the nomination in 2000. He seems to feel that he is owed something. Time for him to go.
I just love it when the ‘maverick’ stands up and acts like he’s doing the right thing...’for the people’...
I notice he didn’t mention his ‘healthcare’ reform...his bill to KEEP all of us from freedom of choice about vitimins, herbs, etc.
Pop Quiz: Which D.C. Politician Wants to Takeover Your Vitamins?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2464287/posts
If only politics were that simple.
Seems as though many around here are impervious to common sense. Sigh!
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