Frist commits to invoking nuclear option, probably next week

Frist's office | May 13, 2005 | Office of Bill Frist, Majority Leader of the Senate

[Txsleuth]

With Frist coming out and announcing his "schedule", the dems will just find a couple of dozen more amendments to the transportation bill to further "slow walk" that legislation...and they have heard Inhofe state a dozen times this last week that this bill "is the most important bill they will pass this year"---

which will further sput them on to obstruct it---I know they voted yes to a cloture vote though, so maybe they won't be able to totally stall the bill...

[conservativecorner]

I have criticized Senator Frist on many occasions for this and other current issues, but my anger was directed at the wrong person. What is he do when he has Voinovich on Bolton, McCrazy teaming up with Teddy for amnesty and he's already said he will vote against ending the filibuster, Specter who tried to tell the President who to select [a moderate] when a SC Spot opens up and the two hags of Maine and their jackass sidekick Chaffe. That anything at all gets done is nothing short of a miracle when you are stuck with the team he must field. I take it all back Senator Frist and bravo for committing to the Constitutional solution to this impasse with the demoncrats. If you seek higher office, you now have my vote!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Why is that in this thread....seems totally unrelated>>>>

[SolomoninSouthDakota]

"They would end the filibuster so fast if the shoes were reversed in ten years, it would make your head spin"

Yep, the worst of the demorats have probably secretly been laughing themselves silly seeing how long it has taken for Frist to figure out how to use his power.
But all that's behind us. I certainly wish Mr. Frist the best. I've felt confident for a while now that it was going to happen.

[seamus]

It is a legit press release. Here's the link on Frist's website:

Click here for press release.

And here's the raw info on the link, in case I screwed up the html: http://frist.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=1937

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I hope he takes up the John Bolton nomination before the Firestorm!

[SolomoninSouthDakota]

I understand they set 30 hours on the Trans. Bill as the limit.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

First is exactly why Voinovich, et al are pulling these stunts. No guts. No leadership.
I wouldn't let this "doctor" pull a splinter from my little finger.

[RobFromGa]

My question is: How many ways are there to have fair up or down votes on judicial nominations?

They could agree on any amount of time to debate the appointments from 10 minutes to ten weeks, culminating in a vote for the candidate at the end of the debate.

My prediction, the RATS will cave on filibustering all the current nominees, and wait to obstruct on a SCOTUS nominee. THey will be hoping that something will change to peel away a couple votes from Frist. If they force the issue now, they LOSE. And the SCOTUS nominees are through.

If they hold their noses now, they could live another day.

That's what I'd do if I were them in this dilemma. Assuming we have the votes for the rule change.

[MinuteGal]

I, me and myself "mixed" it in here.

I had just heard the news bit, and the pic of the spinal column above reminded me of that finger in the chili, albeit with English teeth attached to it.

Lots of times freepers will post a quick bit on an unrelated thread to alert folks to breaking news.

I hope you won't hand me over to the moderator after you nailed me. I'm really a cuticle-pie.

Leni

[nativesoutherner]

Sen Frist was on one of the Nashville morning radio talk shows this morning about this. He was very emphatic when asked when this would come up. His response was, "Next week, period." I believe the fur's about to fly. Can't wait to hear Bobby Byrd, Klegal-WV.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I agree....Frist doesn't have enough Conservatives to work with....

[Dad yer funny]

yup ,... but hey, don't forget Dodd , perhaps he can be questioned about bolsheviks on his staff , BTW , the proposed closing of the sub base is GREAT leverage to get Senator Joe's vote ,LOL!!! ya can't make this stuff up , right??

[Miss Marple]

I agree. The only thing is that if they want to pull this with a SC nominee, Bush can nominate one of these people and their attempt falls flat.

[seamus]

Let's try that link again: Click here for press release on this from Frist's website.

[SolomoninSouthDakota]

"I hope you won't hand me over to the moderator after you nailed me. I'm really a cuticle-pie."

Now, if you were a cutie pie it would be different story, but...MODERATOR!!!!

[conservativecorner]

I really couldn't believe that so many of our supposed senators were out to defeat this President on various issues. I was wrong in a very big way.

[pabianice]

After having watched Robert Byrd fillibuster on the Senate floor -- during which he drooled, urinated on the carpet, and called President Bush a "doo-doo head" -- even Frist may finally be seeing the light.

[Czar]

"i'll believe it when i see it"

Took the words right out of my mouth. Note, though, it has taken a near conservative revolt to get this wuss to move.

[Polyxene]

"Believe it when I see it. The republicans have let me down one too many times."

I'm with you, Saundra! The coulda, shoulda, woulda GOP -- maybe, perhaps, sometime, next week, next month, next year, in the near future, blah, blah, blah.............
BUT, we're gonna do it! Yea, sure.