Posted on 11/28/2004 2:36:14 PM PST by NeoCaveman
Senate Republicans, boldly confident after their Nov. 2 electoral success, are preparing to end months of frustrating delays over President Bush's judicial picks by hitting Democrats with Republican's ultimate legislative weapon.
But the Republican threat to neuter long-cherished filibuster rules by steamrolling Democrats is risky — so potentially destructive that Capitol Hill calls it the "nuclear option." Democratic retaliation would be swift and long-lasting, raising the prospect of escalating clashes in a body that prides itself on gentility and cool judgment.
Even so, Republican leaders are signaling their intent to go nuclear in word and deed.
"We're going to use every tool we possibly can," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., who also unveiled a kinder, gentler phrase for the potential rules change: the "constitutional option."
"Republicans are loaded for bear, spoiling for a confrontation with Senate Democrats on judicial appointments," said Norm Ornstein, an expert on Congress for the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute. "For a lot of conservatives, this has really become an issue that leaves them passionate."
(Excerpt) Read more at timesargus.com ...
What vote is required to adopt the rules at the beginning of a session?
.
They are frantic - all are coming up with strategies to foil the "nuclear option". The one voice of sanity there was right, but totally ignored by the Kool-Aid Kids.
"They are simply going to reinterpret them. The person presiding over the Senate will rule that the 60% rule does not apply to judicial nominations. The Democrats will appeal this ruling, and the appeal will be put to a vote. The vote will go the GOP's way".
Launch codes entered - Begin the countdown.
Can't wait to see Dashole "troubled"......from his living room.
Should be "Michael Moore Audience Reaction"
And showing their utter ignorance....We should go nuclear on the DhimmiRATs. They're in the minority, let them learn what that means! Judas Priest....some of the DUmbasses were even whining for Daschhole to do something! HEY! DUmbwads! YOU LOST! DEAL WITH IT!
Good one.
The Democrats have been retaliatiing ever since they lost control of the House and Senate.
Steam roll them, then see how retaliatory they'll be when they no longer have the support of liberal judges.
The "Day of Jeffords" ended Senate gentility. We must let them have a taste of their own medicine or be run over. It is now or never.
Look, I'm as negative about the GOP Senate as anyone, but your note about the RINOs omits the fact that there are numerous Red State 'Rat senators up for re-election in '06 and '08. They remember what happened to Daschle and will be reluctant to take part in any obstructionism.
Plus, the RINOs saw the hoops Specter had to jump through and want no part of it for themselves. Snowe and Voinovich got a taste of it when Club for Growth started pummeling them in ads during the tax cut debates.
I have said from the beginning we need to take a hard line with the RINOs - if they leave, they leave. We will trade them for new Senators in Red States. Considering Bush won 31 states, an eventual Senate of 62 hard core GOP votes looks pretty good to me long-term.
I'm afraid you don't understand. The Senate makes its own rules. It can ignore its own rules as long as no constitutional provision is broken.
Well that is a given.
I thought everyone would understand that, I was just quoting some rules.
Shoulda been done a long time ago.
Each Senate starts with no rules and cannot be bound by anything that a previous Senate did. Once the Senate starts and passes rules, they can make the new rules whatever they want regarding future changes within that specific Congress.
If this were not so, then an outgoing majority would just pass "rules" to give them inflated power when the new majority took over, and they would be safe.
Actually, the Republican party is on TRIAL.. the excuses are gone. Put up or.. STFU... If they DON'T make some huge changes then anybody NOT going to a third party is a MORON.. And I don't mean the just Senate, but The House and the President too.. they will ALL be painted irrelevant. The democrats are not trial the republicans are.. Do we have two partys OR NOT...
We get our judges; they get [cheneyed].
So let it be written, so let it be done.
Oh! Okay, sorry, my bad. As long as 51( or 50 with the Veep) go along with something there's not much the world has to say with what goes on in the Senate(with the known provisos in effect).
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