Leak staffer ousted Frist aide forced out in an effort to assuage Dems By Alexander Bolton

The Hill ^ | 02-05-04

[MamaLucci]

Hatch is a disgrace. I used to give him the benefit of the doubt, but no more. He is more dangerous to conservative causes than McCain or Chaffee, IMHO. Hatch is trusted to do the right thing, and then never delivers. At least with the RINO's you know what to expect.

[Diogenesis]

The Republicans -- the other surrender monkeys.

[ken5050]

I agree with everything you say..but I believe that Bush, and Rove are playing for far bigger game...they're going for the whole shooting match...W wins, and the GOP picks up 4+ seats in the Senate, and 15+ in the House...we're gonna have ONE more cloture vote in the Senate after the election, and the Dems will be told that if they don't allow the votes on the nominees..then the GOP will go nuclear..

[MamaLucci]

Now, more than ever, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE JUDGES!!!

Perhaps we should call Hatch and Frist's offices and explain this to them?
How sad.

[skip2myloo]

I wish I could agree with you, but I don't believe the GOP could ever act like a partisan majority even if they controlled 99 Senate seats !!

[TomGuy]

Amazing. Every time a Dem gets in hot water, a Pub ends up resigning. Remember the several House members who resigned after Clinton was caught?

Pubbies should resign as the majority party. They seem to be capable of only acting as the minority party.

[MamaLucci]

....I don't believe the GOP could ever act like a partisan majority even if they controlled 99 Senate seats !!

Sadly, I must agree with skip2myloo on this.
They just can't risk the NY Times being mean to them. :(

[ken5050]

Did you hear Frist's speech to CPAC at the Reagan birthday dinner?...there's probably a transcript here on FR...maybe C-span has a video clip..may I suggest you try and find it, and read or listen to it, preferably the latter...it was magnificent..he took the gloves off and went right at the Dems..IMHO, it was the first speech in his '08 campaign for the WH....

[Steve_Seattle]

Goddammit - everyone in Washington leaks, but the only ones who ever pay for it are Republicans. This makes me REAL mad.

[ken5050]

Please read my #28..it was meant for you as well...FYI..I'll bet either of you a modest contribution to FR i the winner's name that Spector will not be the chair of the SJC...other than he might take it for a few days..at the start of the congress, then step down..I believe the deal has to be set in place...it's impossible to believe that anyone in the WH can imagine him heading the confirmation hearings and floor fights..it'd be like imagining W appointing Wes Clark as the next SecDef..

[skip2myloo]

Firing his staffer hardly sounds like an act of one taking off ones gloves ??

[MamaLucci]

Why the need to find a scapegoat in Miranda? Everything I've read on this says while it may not have been completely ethical, Miranda's actions were not illegal. The fierce culture war we are engaged in is not for the faint of heart, and sometimes to win you have to play dirty. Instead, they sack the only guy on staff that seems to have some fire in his belly over the rat obstruction of judicial nominees. Frustration doesn't even begin to explain how I feel about our Senate "leadership". /rant.

[MamaLucci]

...everyone in Washington leaks, but the only ones who ever pay for it are Republicans.

Exactly.

[ken5050]

It's possible that they want to defer this until after the election..look, the recess appointments were a huge surprise to many here..I loved them..tend to view them as a warning shot...and a sign that the fight is still on...had it been pushed now, the Senate Dems could have staged a walkout, a stall....why give them a national forum...

[hchutch]

It seems the Republicans are the only ones who seem to have a functioning sense of right and wrong - the Democrats have driven just about anyone who has out of their political coalition.

For me, that's one important reason for supporting them - yeah, it means the cheaters sometimes pull stuff off, but do we really want to turn towards a philosophy of "the ends justify the means" - much like Bill Clinton has?

[Zeppo]

a sacrifice offered by the GOP leadership in hope of persuading the Democrats to wind down the fight over leaked Judiciary Committee memos

Won't they ever learn? Appeasing a tyrannical enemy never works. It only fuels their fanaticism and their desire to extract more concessions. The Republicans have been fooled so many times by the Dems that I'm beginning to wonder whether the fools are in charge. Um, Hatch is involved? Case closed.

[MamaLucci]

Deferring a fight until after an election is not my idea of leadership.
The truth is, beltway insiders like Hatch simply do not have the courage
of their convictions.

[ken5050]

I don't think this is Hatch's decision...I believe the WH and Frist are together on this..strategry AND timing....BTW..did you see my earlier comment to you about Frist's speech...please let me know your thoughts after listening to it...regards..

[MamaLucci]

Within the law, all's fair in love and war....and make no mistake, this is a war.

[MamaLucci]

please let me know your thoughts after listening to it...regards.

Yes, I will do that. Thanks.