GO NUCLEAR! (Response to NRO Editorial)

16 December 04 | Lancey Howard

[Lancey Howard]

Thanks for your comments!

Regards,
LH

[mull]

I agree wholeheartedly with the objective, but I think we should be framing this as the "constitutional option" as opposed to the "nuclear option". There has always been a negative connotation associated with anything "nuclear" though I'd love to see that word associated with Fallujah and a few other terroristr hot spots. Ending the filibuster of federal judges and presidential nominees is simply an effort to uphold the powers of the President as set forth in the U.S. Constitution.

[Lancey Howard]

One area I am looking forward to seeing addressed by a new Supreme Court is the mythical "separation of church and state". It is long past due for this lie to be put to rest.

Over the past twenty-five years or so the sneaky, athiest scumbags of the ACLU and the Democrat Party have taken advantage of the ignorant rabble (with great help from their allies in the rapidly-fading "old media") by fabricating a "separation of church and state" (based on an old throwaway line from Ku Klux Klanner Hugo Black) and then trying to convince them that it's in the First Amendment somewhere. It is, of course, not in there at all.

Just for reference purposes, here's the First Amendment. It tells Congress what kind of laws it cannot make. That's all it does. There's nothing in here about "separation of church and state" (as anybody with at least the literacy and IQ of Jethro Bodine can see):

AMENDMENT I

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

[thelastvirgil]

Excellent post, and so, so true. We can only hope for Sen. Frist to suddenly grow a pair along about early January.

I hold out little hope of that happening, though. Our paid reps are such weaklings, it makes me sick.

[AmericaUnited]

It's time to go to the mattresses! Enough of the weak, gutless, spineless routine!

[Ready4Freddy]

You need to bone up on your history. Justice Black is not the source of that phrase, nor was he the first to use it in a SCOTUS opinion.

PS - the 'nuclear option' doesn't refer to a simple change of Senate rules.

...by fabricating a "separation of church and state" (based on an old throwaway line from Ku Klux Klanner Hugo Black)...

[Ready4Freddy]

Over 200 of W's nominations have been confirmed, ~10 have been blocked.

Playing fast & loose w/ the facts doesn't help your case.

Fast forward a few years and today we see that the Democrats are filibustering any Republican nominee who appears to take the United States Constitution seriously. And they are doing so routinely!

[Buckhead]

I would like to see them force the dems into a for-real, sho-nuf filibuster that dragged on for weeks or months until victory is obtained and the enemy destroyed. They have only had sissy little pretend filibusters as a sop to conservatives up to now, The dems would loose the PR war over the filibusters as it dragged on and on, and you wouldn't have all this hand wringing over whether to "go nuclear." Once we kick their ass, if we decide we don't like winning, we can always go back to losing again.

[MeekOneGOP]

If Reid and gang continue to filibuster them, I'm game!

GO NUCLEAR! (Response to NRO Editorial)

Excerpt:

On the other hand, there is the "nuclear option". Unfortunately, the "nuclear option" appears to be the only option at this point. The next four years are likely to provide an historic opportunity for a conservative President, George W. Bush, to shape a Supreme Court comprised of a few more "strict constructionists"; a Supreme Court which values the rule of law, the separation of powers, and American tradition.

This opportunity must not be squandered.

As for the soon-to-be-outraged Democrats? Well, is there really any doubt that the party that invented "Borking" and has beaten the process down to the disgraceful low-point we now have would "go nuclear" if the shoes were on the other feet? Please.... OF COURSE they would.

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest or Texas ping list!. . .don't be shy.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks for the ping!

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

No problem.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Sounds like a plan!

John Kerry:

I had one of those, once.

(Looks across table, at wife, Theresa Heinz. Hangs head in shame.)

[Congressman Billybob]

My national column, which will go out the electronic door tomorrow, will deal with this subject. It was instigated by yesterday's thread on the NRO editorial, which also frosted your Christmas cookies.

I take the same position that you do, though with a slightly different approach. Bottom line: I agree that the nuclear option should be employed asap in January when the new Senators have been sworn in,

Cordially,

Congressman Billybob

Click for latest, "Should the Iraqi Election be Delayed?"

[Bahbah]

Pretty darn good essay, IMHO. I would fix this: "(enough votes for closure against a filibuster)" by changing "closure" to "cloture".

[NeoCaveman]

The editors at National Review Online have opined that the Republicans must resist the temptation to change the Senate rules (which Republican Senators believe they can do by a simple majority) to prevent filibusters of judicial nominees. This threat to change the rules has been referred to as the "nuclear option".

No wonder Ann Coulter calls them "girlie men"

[international american]

I will give you my opinion. This is a first rate essay !
You didn't waste words, and proved your case with pure reason. This was as well written as any I have come across this year. BRAVO!!

[kidd]

I read the NRO article and disagreed with it.

OTOH, your response is spot on.

You brought up some forethought that I hadn't considered yet. You've changed my mind about recess appointments - they are clearly not the answer.

[international american]

The ACLU is a scourge on the American landscape. Now, according to a segment on Fox News, George Soros has announced that he is pumping millions of dollars into the coffers of the ACLU. This is not welcome news!

[MeekOneGOP]

VERY GOOD commentary. Thanks for posting. :^D

[derheimwill]

Wait and see. I don't think they have the er... fortitude to do this. They never even demanded a real filibuster. These were "Gentlemen's Filibusters." They were allowed to do other business and come back to the filibuster later. Either it's a filibuster or ya don't come back.