Posted on 03/15/2005 12:22:27 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Democrats Threaten to Stop Senate Business if GOP Changes Rules on Judge Confirmations By David Espo The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrats served notice Tuesday that they will slow or stop most Senate business if Republicans unilaterally change the rules to assure confirmation of President Bush's controversial court appointments.
Any such change would mark "an unprecedented abuse of power," Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., wrote Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.
Reid, the Democratic leader, exempted military and national security legislation from the threat, and said Democrats would not block passage of measures needed to assure continuation of critical government services.
"To shut down the Senate would be irresponsible and partisan," Frist said in swift rebuttal. "The solution is simple: return to 200 years of tradition and allow up or down votes on judges."
The exchange marked the latest development in a long-simmering struggle over Bush's court appointments. Democrats blocked votes on 10 nominees during the last Congress, attacking them as too conservative to warrant lifetime appointments.
Accusing Democrats of obstruction, Republicans sought to make an issue of it in the elections last fall, in which they gained four seats.
Bush has already renominated some of the judges, and Reid has said previously the Democrats' position has not changed.
(Excerpt) Read more at ap.tbo.com ...
Even money. The Pubbies are gutless wonders who only want to be "luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuved" by the media. Ain't gonna happen, but, heck, they're too stupid to realize that.
Eleven years in the majority and they still act like @#$$y whipped little twerps when the DemonRATs open their maws and squall.
My kingdom for a majority leader with cojones.
IF you believe the MSM are all powerful, explain why the Reps conrol the House, Senate and W.H.
The MSM can blame Reps all they like. They can cause public opinion to rise and fall. We still can win at the ballot box and THAT overrides everything else. Their power has been capped. They can no longer guarentee the ability to cost a politician a job because they are a conservative or a Republican.
Bring it on.
We have needed this fight for the last 4 years.
I don't believe the MSM is all powerful, but in situations as this, they will indeed do a smear job against the Reps. Also, even though we control the three branches, do you honestly think the Reps would propose, say cutting back "Real" spending 5%? do you think they would fire 5% of the Federal workforce? Even though we control the three branches, spending has risen at a higher rate than under Clinton, Federal regulations are being promulgated every day. I see very little change now that we control the three branches.
The main thing to save this Republic is if Justices are put on the Court that believe in "strict original intent." The MSM is always ready "on the pounce" with any proposal by the Reps to reduce government. What the stupid Reps don't realize if they had the true spirit of the Founders they would pick, say the Dept of Education and de-fund it and fire all employees. There would be all kinds of screaming and crap from the MSM and parasites. But, in six months everyone wouldn't care, they would likely say, "huh, I guess we didn't need it." What the Reps need is a leader who truly understands what Liberty means and what limited government means. There is NO Rep in congress that truly respects the Constitution.
Let them.
Fred Barnes Reports: Senators say: Not IF but WHEN, the noockelar option will be deployed this spring. Full speed ahead and dern the torpedos!!!
Show them the exit, give 'em their final paychecks and let the new elections begin.
I'm not interested in discussing spending. That wasn't the subject of my post.
My contention is that the MSM is not a Goliath any longer. They smeared the President, and he won. Nov. 2, 2004 marked the end of their unlimited power. Anyone that fails to realize this is letting the past cloud their perception of the present.
The field has been leveled and the outcome of an election is now largely dependant on the candidate. Both Old and new media now cancel each out to make this reality. The Reps should have no reason to fear anyone BUT their own inaction on promises, so I suggest they seriously consider addressing points such as the Judicial obstruction of the courts.
When did Fred state this? On brit's show?
sorry for going off on a tangent, but there is something related. The MSM is highly tuned to smearing any proposal, no matter how rational to reign in government. The Reps, highly sensitive to this, react is ways that make them weak to cut spending. The MSM if it was truly objective would present the "rational" arguments for absolutes cuts in government. So, the MSM does still wield enormous sway over the ignorant masses. With the Internet and other outlets, we are seeing the MSM under attack, but it will take time to fully repudiate and diminish their power in the eyes of most citizens
Thanks. So what is stopping the Reps from changing THAT rule?
It's okay, I've gone off on tangents myself and you've every right to do so. It just wasn't a topic I was interested in addressing at the moment.
I do agree the Reps in Washington are fearful of the MSM and it influences how they govern. I don't deny the MSM still has some influence. My denial is that the ability to cause public opinion to fluctuate is no longer effective at the ballot box where it matters.
IMO, people have given opinion polls more power than the actual polls on election day. The people granted the Republicans the right to govern. To appoint judges, to fix Social Security, to cut taxes, to balance the budget. They did that in November. In '06 they'll evelaute how the Republicans answered their probational period of power, and assess if it should continue. Public opinion polls between than and now are irrelevant. In the end it will be leadership and action that determine if they retain power, as well as continued backlash against the Dems.
The Reps are committing suicide by failing to grasp this reality by fearing meaingless polls conducted over phones.
I see Strategery here.
Recall how the Korean war got started when the Soviets walked out of the UN in a huff......?
A win-win for the GOP
Strategery + Schardenfreude = Stratenschardenfreudery
They already have IMO or they wouldn't be putting out these phoney threats and would just do it!! (that is change the rules via so-called "nuclear" option)
Fine. Go home and WE'LL take care of business!
Don't forget the 48 % of brain deads that voted for Kerry. They are still out there and still brain dead so they won't care who was to blame, but will blame the Pubbies regardless.
If they 'strike' send em to MEXICO, then close the borders.
Robert Byrd will die on the floor. An appoplectic Teddy will stroke out. John Kerry the senator who served in Vietnam will stay home as ususal and ro prove her truly desire to moderate, Hilary Clinton will abstain.
LOL. It certainly should.
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