Posted on 05/17/2005 7:11:09 AM PDT by CWW
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - On the eve of a high-stakes showdown, a key lawmaker said on Tuesday it was unclear if a group of bipartisan U.S. senators could strike a deal on President Bush's contested judicial nominees.
"It's hard to say. There's a lot of cross-pressures. There's a lot of activity on both extremes of the political spectrum," Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican, told CNN. "We'll know more today."
The Senate is to begin what's expected to be several days of debate on Wednesday on two of the seven appeals court candidates blocked by Democrats during the last Congress and then renominated by Bush after he won re-election in November.
Republicans have vowed that if Democrats again stop the nominees with procedural hurdles known as filibusters, they will move to ban such tactics on appeals court as well as U.S. Supreme Court nominees.
Republican leaders say they will have the 51 votes needed in the 100-member Senate to abolish such filibusters. But Democrats argue it is too close to call.
Efforts to find common ground persisted despite a breakdown in talks on Monday between Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican, and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat.
McCain and Sen. Ben Nelson, a Nebraska Democrat, are leading an effort to attract a half dozen largely moderate senators from each party to a last ditch-compromise.
Their proposal would clear the way for votes on some of Bush's stalled judicial nominees while blocking others.
Under the proposal, Republicans would promise not to eliminate judicial filibusters through the end of next year, and Democrats would vow not to use such tactics against any circuit court or Supreme Court nominee except in "extreme circumstances."
Republicans hold 55 of 100 Senate seats. A simple majority is needed to confirm a nominee, but 60 votes are required to end a filibuster.
The aim of Nelson and McCain has been to provide six Democratic votes to clear the way for confirmation votes on some of the disputed nominees and six Republican votes to preserve the judicial filibuster. Nelson was confident he had enough Democrats on board, but was still working to attract a total of six Republicans, an aide said.
Talks between Frist and Reid ended following months of futile efforts to find common ground.
"The negotiations are over," Reid said. "I've tried to compromise (but) they want all or nothing, and I can't do that."
Frist said in a statement, "Republicans believe in the regular order of fair up and down votes and letting the Senate decide yes or no on judicial confirmations free from procedural gimmicks like the filibuster."
Chaffee and Snowe are up for re-election in 2006. We should be sure to not contribute appropriately.
"The aim of Nelson and McCain has been to provide six Democratic votes to clear the way for confirmation votes on some of the disputed nominees and six Republican votes to preserve the judicial filibuster. Nelson was confident he had enough Democrats on board, but was still working to attract a total of six Republicans, an aide said."
They can get 6 demonrats to go along and pass some of the disputed nominees. They can't get six Republicans to allow the filibuster. Pretty easy to see who has the upper hand.
Now crush them.
The Democrat Pary delenda est.
McCain is the most naive Senator in America.
His "Campaign Finance Reform" was a bust from the word go but nobody could convince him of that. Now he thinks he can get Democrats to ever honor a "deal" over judicial appointments?
I'm in Maine. I didn't vote for her (Snowe) in 2000. The race wasn't even close. Had it been, I'd have voted for her because the opposition was a real moonbat.
The state republican apparatus does not admit conservatives.
As an example of why we should vote Republican?
Last night on H&C, Press defended Newsweek by saying, "It could have happened."
"McCain's staffers should be told that he can never be President because, "He's just another Bolton. He has never been able to work with commity with his fellow Republicans. He's just an egotistical bully.""
Only way he could become president now would be to switch to the demonrat party. I don't think he could make it through Rep. primaries now.
Maybe we could set up some television cameras and microphones somewhere on the Washington plaza to distract McCain away from this issue. That would be good to shut him up for at least 24 hours, sort of like a salt lick for cattle and deer.
Spellinh rules on FR have been changed forever. LOL
McCain's boy-toy -- Chrissy Matthews -- must be deeply saddened at this turn of events.
"
I wouldn't bet on that. However, it appears a couple Dems have some honor and are willing to vote to end the obstructionism in the Senate."
-----
I've read expressions of hope for demonrat crossovers but never any concrete suggestions of who they would be.
Do you have any more information?
McCain is going to have a hard time winning the primary in 2008 when he acts like this.
Skin that 'smokewagon... 'skin'it!!
Wasn't it SCARMABLE?
Who does McCain have besides Chaffee?
Is this some part of popular culture? I don't mind being hip and whatnot, but can we draw the line at proper spelling and grammar?
"I don't think he could make it through Rep. primaries now."
I would hope that to be true, but I think too many of the less-informed base would still vote for his image and not the rat we know him to be.
Their proposal would clear the way for votes on some of Bush's stalled judicial nominees while blocking others.
So, you're working on a plan that would keep many of the President's nominees from being voted on? F*** Off, McCain!
You missed it last night. It was a misspelling that has become a freeperism, like stuned beebers.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.