McCain Says He Will Vote With Democrats on Filibuster Issue

MSNBC ^ | 4-14-2005

[kingattax]

This afternoon in a preview for tonight's Hardball on MSNBC at 7 EDT, Arizona Senator John McCain told host Chris Matthews that he will vote with the Democrats against exercising the so-called "nuclear option" to prevent the Democrats from using a filibuster stopping a floor vote on judicial nominees.

McCain said that he wanted to remind Republicans that some day there would be a "liberal president and a Democrat-controlled senate" and there would be no way for Republicans to stop the appointment of liberal judges as his reason for how he will vote.

[maryz]

The THREAT of the filibuster is what is bothering our lily-livered Republican arty.

I'm not real clear on why there aren't real filibusters. I know one time it was discussed during the last Congress: we had fewer votes anyway and a couple of our guys were more or less out of commission -- recent surgery, etc. and wouldn't have been able to take the long hours.

Could the Republicans force a real filibuster if they wanted to?

[68 grunt]

... Melanoma

Megalomania!

[dmanLA]

Sounds like Clinton/McCain in '08!

[churchillbuff]

I despise this man. """

McCain used to be popular with freepers. Never with me, though.

[bmwcyle]

What a worthless RINO. He should have been left at the Hotel in South East Asia.

[InterceptPoint]

Well, does anybody wonder why Frist is reluctant to go with this option now? \

He doesn't have the votes.

I believe that he needs 51 votes and not 50 (but I could be wrong about that.) I'm betting that he has lost McPain, Snowe, Collins, Chaffee and Hagel. In a pinch even Specter cannot be guaranteed to vote with Frist despite his promises. That's just too many RINOs for Frist to manage.

So they will put off the nuclear option until after the 2006 election, hoping to get to 57 or 58 Pubbies. To get a really fool proof majority capable of shutting down a filibuster the magic number is probably something like 66 or 67 Republicans. Sad but true.

[KoRn]

F#*k Him!!

[Juan Valdez]

Your right, it is wrong for either party to do it, but if the Democrats are going to do it, and if the rules can't be changed, then it would only be fair if the Republicans did it, too. That is what John McCain is saying.

His fatal flaw in his argument however, is that the spineless Republicans (led by John McCain) would never, ever, have the guts to or the ability to pull off a filibuster to stop a Democrat appointed judge.

So he is voting to preserve an option for the Republicans that the Republicans will never use!!!!!!!!! Even if the staunch Republicans wanted to use it, defecting Rhinos like McCain would vote with the Democrats to give them the 60 votes they needed to break the filibuster.

Finally, if Republicans would just get the job done, we wouldn't have to worry about being in the minority for a long, long time. That is the defeatist mental attitude of McCain, and it will be self fulfilling prophesy if Republicans keep up this garbage.

[bitt]

ptpt-t-t-t-t-pt

(hiss, spit)

[AmishDude]

Oh, keeping nominees in committee is a well-worn tactic. The filibuster, being used as a matter of course, is new.

[AmishDude]

Yes, but committee consideration is a well-established bipartisan tactic and it is at least a tyranny of the majority. Even if the candidate would get 51 votes, it is the caucus of the majority of members puts the committee members in.

[AmishDude]

This is also why they talked about holding it in reserve until a SCOTUS nomination. McCain would be much more willing to throw his hands up and vote nuclear if they were holding up a Supreme court nomination.

[One Dight]

I'm so angry with wimpy republicans like McCain. When I recieved my RNC donation request letter today, I took a blank piece of paper and wrote......YOU WILL RECIEVE NO MONEY FROM ME UNTIL REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE GROW SPINES AND STAND UP TO THESE RADICAL DEMOCRATS BY EXCERCISING THE CONSTITUTIONAL OPTION OF ENDING THE FILIBUSTERS OF JUDICIAL NOMINEES., and put it back in the envelope.

I encourage other freepers who donate to do the same.

[BibChr]

McCain used to be popular with freepers. Never with me, though.

Never with me, and some others, as well.

And I'd say "popular with SOME freepers." We used to call them "McClones." They'd register, put up a spate of pro-McMeMeMe articles, and then leave.

Dan
Biblical Christianity BLOG

[pointsal]

John....once again, your head is up your (guess)

[WVNan]

do you really believe, John McCain, that they won't exercise the nuclear option if they have to?

BINGO! Can he really be that dumb?

[John Lenin]

How did this clown get 70% of the vote ?

[kingattax]

good question

[rcocean]

Because the repubs are in the majority and want to do Tax reform, social Security reform, provide $$$ for the war in IRAQ, etc. etc.

The Dems Just want to NO and support the status Quo.

The MSM would support the Dems and blame the republicans for not passing any needed legislation. They would frame the debate as - "Why is Bush holding up the senate to get some right-wing extremist judge nominated? Why can't he just compromise with the Dems and get on with the countries business?"

Besides, if you cant get 51 votes to confirm a Bush nominee - how could you get 60 votes to break the filibuster?

[rcocean]

Because the repubs are in the majority and want to do Tax reform, social Security reform, provide $$$ for the war in IRAQ, etc. etc.

The Dems Just want to NO and support the status Quo.

The MSM would support the Dems and blame the republicans for not passing any needed legislation. They would frame the debate as - "Why is Bush holding up the senate to get some right-wing extremist judge nominated? Why can't he just compromise with the Dems and get on with the countries business?"

Besides, if you cant get 51 votes to confirm a Bush nominee - how could you get 60 votes to break the filibuster?