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."
Not even the Republicans are that stupid, are they?
LMAO! There's ol' John McCain, the good guy in the "mainstream" middle (ie., NOT an "extremist"), who America needs as its President. Yessirree, here comes the Straight Talk Express, the little engine that could.
Really? Who?
Well......Ummm...... Ah........ Yes.
I don't say too muc myself, ever since Mums washed my mouth out with soap.
In an interview with CBS this morning, McCain calmed the fears of the anchor by assuring her that he would vote against giving the nominees a vote.
Or worse, a nation of loosers.
Make your time. All your base are belong to us. Zig with great justice.
LIGHTEN UP, FRANCIS!!
When you've been a Freeper as long as me, then you can complain!
Dya think Snowe and Collins want to get to the head of the line on reconsideration of base closings? Or do they want the woodshed again?
MY bad!!!! I wrote the last line after going through spell check. I obviously didn't proofread well enough!
I'm not sure who gets to be the 5th one. I bet a number of the squishy middle are fighting over it! Anyway, I think Specter's role will be to bottle up some nominees in Committee. 7 of 12 renominees are still in committee. A behind the scenes action is ALWAYS underway.
-IF- it comes to a stalled vote on the floor of the Senate, I doubt Specter will vote against imposing a simple majority for calling the vote on the nominee presently under consideration.
I guess it depends upon what he finds in Scottish law.
Are you makinh fun of CWW?
Most importantly, does Matthews know about Chaffee?? ;-)
Heck if I know who will actually ultimately discredit and embarrass themselves along with McCain (D).
I would never do such a thinh. I'm stuned you're suggestinh it.
ROTFLOL! Good one! LOL-LOL-LOL
I think the base closings and realignments will be decided more or less independently of how the nomination process goes down. If they can make a case for keeping the bases open, then they will be.
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