Posted on 05/10/2005 6:07:05 PM PDT by SmithL
WASHINGTON -- Arizona Sen. John McCain privately urged fellow Republicans Tuesday to compromise with Democrats over President Bush's stalled judicial nominees, but Majority Leader Bill Frist countered by asking which of the controversial appeals court candidates should be jettisoned as part of a deal, according to officials familiar with the meeting.
With a Senate showdown looming, possibly as early as next week, Democratic leader Harry Reid challenged Frist to allow GOP senators to "follow their consciences" when voting on a streamlined procedure for certain judicial nominations. "Senators should be bound by Senate loyalty rather than party loyalty on a question of this magnitude," he wrote.
"To me, it's common sense, and it has to do with principle, and that is that each of these nominees deserve an up or down vote on the floor of the United States Senate," Frist told reporters. "Confirm them or reject them, vote yes or no, but allow them the courtesy of a vote."
Republicans have threatened to use their majority to abolish judicial filibusters — a technique that establishes a 60-vote threshold and that Democrats used to block votes on 10 of Bush's first-term appeals court nominees.
Bush has renominated seven of the 10, triggering a confrontation in the early months of a new Congress more securely in Republican hands.
Republican officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said McCain told fellow GOP senators at their closed-door weekly lunch he believes Democrats will agree to a yes or no vote on nearly all of the seven judicial candidates they blocked during Bush's first term. In addition, he described Reid as a man of his word and said Republicans should trust reassurances he's made about any future Supreme Court appointments. Democrats want their right to filibuster judicial appointees as part of any compromise.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
No compromise. McCain is such a RINO.
I guess we have confirmation of the identity of one of Trent Lott's co-conspirators.
Once again, our leadership lacks clarity. This is about the SUPREME COURT and JUDICIAL USURPATION, not about individual nominees. If it's about individual nominees, there will be endless temptations to compromise with the Rats, and endless attempts by people like McVain.
"Compromise" appears to mean "No Actual Conservatives Need Apply".
McCain is a sellout. Let's get rid of him.
If the shoe was on the other foot, the DemLibs wouldn't give the GOP the time of day.
I can't believe that there are actually people who think this troll ought to be the GOP nominee for President next go-round.
Fine, as long as you have 60 others to invoke cloture.
Hey McCain, Reid is a loser!
I saw this one coming. McCain needed to flex his muscles in case America was fixated on Hagel and Voinovavitch, and forgot who the Alpha RINO is 'round here.
If Senate Republicans compromise and put the seal of approval on Judical filibusters it would be a huge mistake. It would put every other nomination at risk from here on out.
This one?
When has he ever been right?
McCain's been dipping into his wife's meds again. Leave the thorazine and prozac to the already halucinating crowd.
Speaking of losers, it was this Reid that McCain says he trusts, that called President Bush a loser, while the Pres. was in Russia....
Yeah, right, we can trust Reid, sure, uh-huh.......when Las Vegas goes out of the gambling business, maybe....
Once again, the lobster lunch is more important than the issues on the schedule. McStain as usual.
I'll believe it when I see it. And, unfortunately, I'm not betting on Frist.
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