This criticism is shared by several Senate Republicans, including Sens. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, and Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine.
Here's the issue why the deal was struck. On paper, we are getting 56 votes to invoke cloture. It includes the above 4. In reality, we are 8 votes away and not just 4.
The rino senators vote for cloture because they know it won't be reached. If it were ever reached, they would then vote against it.
A side note: I'll bet what the religious writings of Mr Holmes really said was that a husband has the servant leadership rresponsibility in the home. This is biblical.
The above, though, does constitute a religious test for a government office. Now THAT is illegal.
Thanks for the ping ! :^)
"In return for the president's commitment, which Mr. Card has conveyed to us that there will be no further judicial recess appointments for the remainder of his term, we have committed to confirm now 25 of the judicial nominations currently on the executive calendar by the end of June," Mr. Daschle said. "Some may entail more floor time than others, but there will be a vote on each of the 25 nominations."The agreement is a reversal for Republicans, who had argued that Mr. Bush could make no such agreement because it would be an abrogation of his constitutional authority to make recess appointments.
Similar agreements have been made to dislodge nominees stuck in the Senate, but no one involved in the negotiations could recall a sitting president making such a compromise.
Although yesterday's deal was agreed to by the parties' leaders, it drew criticism from senators on both sides.
"My concern is, now that the Democrat obstructionists have successfully negotiated in exchange for their hostages, what will stop them from blocking all future nominees," asked Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Republican and member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. "What will stop future Congresses from employing similar tactics? When does it end?"