The Constitutional Option

confirmthem.com ^ | 05/15/2005 | Andrew Whyman

[Checkers]

"The seven key GOP Senators are Collins, DeWine, Hagel, Murkowski, Roberts, Specter, and Warner. Frist can afford to lose only two, because McCain, Chafee, and Snowe have declined to end the judicial filibusters. Sununu is off the list, based on his Capital Gang appearance yesterday (e.g. he said “I think it’s likely that the votes are there”). Phone numbers are below the fold. Polite calls from constituents are best."

[Checkers]

Susan Collins of Maine

Washington D.C. Office (202) 224-2523

Augusta Office (207) 622-8414

Bangor Office (207) 945-0417

Biddeford Office (207) 283-1101

Caribou Office (207) 493-7873

Lewiston Office (207) 784-6969

Portland Office (207) 780-3575

Mike DeWine of Ohio

Washington, D.C. (202) 224-2315

Xenia, OH (937) 376-3080

Cleveland, OH (216) 522-7272

Marietta, OH (740) 373-2317

Cincinnati, OH (513) 763-8260

Columbus, OH (614) 469-5186

Toledo, OH (419) 259-7536

Chuck Hagel of Nebraska

Washington, D.C. Office (202) 224-4224

Lincoln Office (402) 476-1400

Scottsbluff Office (308) 632-6032

Omaha Office (402) 758-8981

Kearney Office (308) 236-7602

Lisa Murkowski of Alaska

Washington, D.C. Office 202-224-6665

Juneau Delegation Office 907-586-7400

MatSu Delegation Office 907-376-7665

Anchorage Office 907-271-3735

Kenai Delegation Office 907-283-5808

Bethel Delegation Office 907-543-1639

Fairbanks Office 907-456-0233

Ketchikan Delegation Office 907-225-6880

Pat Roberts of Kansas

Washington, DC: 202-224-4774

Dodge City, KS: 620-227-2244

Topeka, KS: 785-295-2745

Overland Park, KS: 913-451-9343

Wichita, KS: 316-263-0416

Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania

Washington DC Office 202-224-4254

Allentown Office 610-434-1444

Harrisburg Office 717-782-3951

Pittsburgh Office 412-644-3400

Wilkes-Barre Office 570-826-6265

Erie Office 814-453-3010

Philadelphia Office 215-597-7200

Scranton Office 570-346-2006

John Warner of Virginia

Washington Office (202) 224-2023

Roanoke District Office (540) 857-2676

Norfolk District Office (757) 441-3079

Midlothian District Office (804) 739-0247

Abingdon District Office (276) 628-8158

[Logical me]

I really can't see calling. The best is for Frist to drop the hammer, Constitutional Option, and let the timber fall where it may. Catering to these nut cases will do no good. What will be a benefit is to really find how we stand and those turncoats need to be ostracized from the party. Then as their reelection comes up, do all we can to stop them. It is time to remind the voters in each state that they are not loyal Republicans.

[strategofr]

"I really can't see calling."

You are wrong. Senators can be moved by a volume of calls from constituents. You should call because this is the critical moment.

They really don't care about calls from other people. One exception is Sen. George Allen. Since he is running for President, I guess he sees everyone as his constituent.

I live in PA and would not call Specter. I know what he will do. Vote against the nuclear option, unless he's sure it will be decided regardless of his vote.

[strategofr]

Then he can afford to lose only one, because Specter is gone, I guarantee.

Frankly, I think the Repubs are defeated. How could this go on with Bush over in Georgia, etc? He needs to be in DC at a time like this.

Bush and Frist. Both weak, it seems.

[Lancey Howard]

I would take Specter off the list as well. Here is a post I lifted from another thread:

___________________________________________________
To: Lancey Howard

This is Arlen Specter on the Senate floor last week:

"In the exchange of offers and counter offers between Sen. Frist, the Majority Leader and Sen. Harry Reid, the Democrat Leader, Democrats have made an offer to avoid a vote on the nuclear/constitutional option by confirming one of the four filibustered judges: Priscilla Owen, Janice Rogers Brown, William Pryor and William Myers with the choice to be selected by Republicans.

"An offer to confirm any one of the those four nominees is an explicit concession that each is qualified for the court and that they are being held hostage as pawns in a convoluted chess game which has spiraled out of control. If the Democrats really believe each is unqualified, a “deal” for confirmation for any one of them is repugnant to the basic democratic principle of individual, fair and equitable treatment and violates Senators’ oaths on the constitutional confirmation process. Such “deal” making confirms public cynicism about what goes on behind Washington’s closed doors.

"Instead, let the Senate consider each of the four without the constraints of party line voting. Let us revert to the tried and tested method of evaluating each nominee individually."

This doesn't sound like a man about to go wobbly. In fact he sounds as though someone put some steel in his spine.

57 posted on 05/16/2005 1:21:14 AM EDT by John Valentine (Whoop dee doo)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]
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[Tall_Texan]

Pat Roberts is one of the seven?

I'm surprised at that. He normally falls into line. What's got into him, another base closure?

[Sonny M]

Then he can afford to lose only one, because Specter is gone, I guarantee.

Specter has made it clear he will vote in favor of the constitutional option.

Now, I don't think he likes it, but he's going to do it, I doubt he grew a pair, more likely, they threatened to boot him off the committee or something if he didn't.

[tomakaze]

getting rid of the filibuster is a shortsighted bad idea.
what needs to be done is to make the filibuster an actual old school filibuster (where you have to stay and talk the whole time, no bathroom breaks, hardcore roberts rules of order, etc)
far as i know (correct me if someone knows better, my RRoO knowledge is based on being an FFA officer in highschool some 18 years ago) the way it works now is it's basicly just "phoned in" for lack of a better term. "Hey Im gonna filibuster this motion" "cool, everyone break for lunch".

[An American Patriot]

"I really can't see calling. The best is for Frist to drop the hammer, Constitutional Option, and let the timber fall where it may."

I agree.

I read this yesterday in our local (only statewide liberal rag) The Burlington Free Press (VT) and was not surprised.

I read that the Dims had "three" RINOS in their back pocket but did not name them.

I knew about McSwine and Chaff-eeeee, but don't know who the third is, do you?

Also, been warning all, on this site, about comments made in past my Murkowski. She appears to be an unknown variable and a "weak" Pube.

As far as calling anyone, I would suggest we focus our energies and efforts on putting pressure on Frist.

Rumors abound about his possible seeking the nomination in 08 and if so, we need to let him know--in NO uncertain terms--that if drops the ball on this, he might as well forget it!

[An American Patriot]

”I HAD A DREAM"

And in my dream, Republicans in Congress were acting like they HAD “brass ones” like this:

Sadly, I woke up and reality set in; back to the real world in which the Pubes Party is infested with a bunch of “wusses” and RINOS, including—but not limited to—these:

[Sun]

We can't blame the Republicans if we don't even do our part and call. If you only have time to contact a few, please do so.

[Sun]

Drudge had a guest on his show last night, who said the Constitutional option vote is going to be CLOSE. It could go either way. Just a couple of RINOs could make the difference.

Even if none of these SWING senators is your own senator,
please invest the time needed to call each right now.


Fax or e-mail info can be found here:
http://www.conservativeusa.org/mega-cong.htm

Urge each to FULLY SUPPORT THE FILIBUSTERING
RULES CHANGE.


We can call toll-free at 877-762-8762 or call them directly by using the numbers next to their names.

Here's some direct numbers:

Sen. Susan Collins (ME) 202-224-2523
Sen. Lamar Alexander (TN) 202-224-4944
Sen. Trent Lott (MS) 202-224-6253

Sen. Chuck Hagel (NE) 202-224-4224
Sen. John Warner (VA) 202-224-2023

[strategofr]

"Specter has made it clear he will vote in favor of the constitutional option."

Here's my take on that. He probably will vote for the constitutional option---because his vote will probably not be the deciding one.

As a super-insider on this vote, he will be abel to dtermine the other votes either exactly or very closely. It will probably be dediced one way or the other without him. Then he will vote for the "nuclear" option. This will preserve his position on the Judicairy Chair. Then, in the later phase, he will do everything possible to preveent Bush from appointing a strict constructionist---that is his only real goal here.

However, if it turns out Specter can see he is casting the deciding vote, or it is too close to call even for him, Specter will vote against the nuclear option. I am certain of this. I know this guy. I am a PA guy. I have his book. I fought against his confirmation to the Judiciary Chair.

Before Bush's term is over, Conservative Republicans will be beyond furious with Specter. Which will bother him not at all. He is a Leftist. He doesn't care about what Republicans think about him anymore than you care about what a Liberal Democrat who posts on FR thinks about you.

[Sonny M]

He doesn't care about what Republicans think about him anymore than you care about what a Liberal Democrat who posts on FR thinks about you.

I would care if it could cost me.

Specter could and absoltuly would lose his chairmanship if he went against the Nuke option.

Not only that, but they would probably also penalize him on his pork, or his influence.

If he's the deciding vote on the nuke option, it'll come down to him being chairman or him losing power. I see him as an cheap oppurtist more then having a real ideology.

I can't see him sacrifising his chairmanship on "principle". Hell, I can't see him making any kind of decision based on anything other then himself. Sacrifising the chairmanship to maintain filibusters, would require something specter doesn't have.

I figure he'll be a pain, and have a win some lose some thing going on, but I can't see him throwing all that away for nothing. The democrats certainly can't offer him anything. (He's seen jumping jim jeffords, and what that amounted to).

[strategofr]

"I can't see him sacrifising his chairmanship on "principle". Hell, I can't see him making any kind of decision based on anything other then himself."

You are wrong about Arlen. He is an idealist, It just doesn't seem that way because he has to lie so much. But lying does not conflict with the ideals of the Left. Nor does subversion (infiltrating the other side, which is what he's done).

Arlen is pretty sick. Maybe dying. He's very old. No one thinks he will ever run for office again. What difference does pork make? He is going to "make a difference" and "contribute to the nation." He's not an idiot. Just an ideologue dedicated to destroying our Constitution.

But just wait. I'll save your name. By the end of Bush's term, if I'm not proved right on Arlen, I will give you a public apology on this board.

[strategofr]

Specter is not a wuss. He is a dangerous snake who can be a Tiger. He's just not our Tiger.

[Checkers]

bump

[Checkers]

evening bump

[Checkers]

Hugh Hewitt of http://www.hughhewitt.com/ says:

"If you are motivated, call 202-225-3121 and ask for the office of Senator Collins of Maine and urge her to support the Republican caucus and the president's nominees. Then use the same number to call John Warner's office. Then, for safety's sake though his name is no longer mentioned on the wobblies list, put a call into Chuck Hagel. And if you have anymore time and energy, call John McCain and let his staff know that, in no uncertain terms, you will use all your time to assure he doesn't get the presidential nomination if he holds to his announced aim to side with the Democrats on this vote.

Rarely has a major American political figure contemplating a run for the presidency made such an unnecessary blunder on a policy matter as McCain has made here. He spent five years rehabilitating his image with the GOP base, and had made great strides, especially when he worked hard from the convention forward to re-elect Bush/Cheney. But he almost casually threw it away in a conversation with Chris Matthews. He could, of course, announce that he had to change his mind and vote with the GOP because of the intransigence of the Dems, which would be a very shrewd cutting of his losses, but the McCain stubborn streak may prohibit such a move.

And Lincoln Chaffee's vote will be interesting as well. If Chaffee sides with the Dems, it will end his career when the voters come around in next year's primary and general elections in Rhode Island. He has voted against the war in Iraq, didn't vote for the president's re-election, and now will side with the Dems on the crucial domestic vote of the past decade. Getting Bolton out of committee doesn't give him cover. Michael Crowley has a piece in The New Republic that suggests otherwise, but it doesn't mention the judges' vote. Cranston Mayor Steve Laffey will find my check in his campaign account if he challenges Chaffee, and if Laffey doesn't, then either Matt Brown or Sheldon Whitehouse --the two Dems in contention to challenge Chaffee-- will be getting some surprising dollar support next summer and fall. Paybacks are unpleasant, but a tent isn't a tent unless it has an inside and an outside. Chaffee is making his choice.

For more, visit ConfirmThem and BenchMemo throughout the day, and just watch C-Span."