Reid's Reinventions

Investors.com ^ | May 20, 2005

[El Oviedo]

Filibuster: The Democrats' attempt to block votes on President Bush's judicial nominees is a grasp at minority power, not a defense of minority rights.

As the Senate began debate Wednesday over the nomination of Priscilla Owen to the federal appeals court, Democratic leader Harry Reid accused Republicans of trying to "rewrite the Constitution and reinvent reality."

"If Republicans roll back our rights in this chamber, there will be no check on their power," he said. "The radical right wing will be free to pursue any agenda they want. And not just on judges. Their power will be unchecked on Supreme Court nominees, the president's nominees in general and legislation like Social Security privatization."

Taking those words at face value, Reid is saying that the Republican Party is a fringe group that must be stopped before it takes over. If he's right, then we're already in big trouble, since the GOP holds the presidency, the Senate, the House and the governorships of 28 states, representing 63% of the U.S. population.

Reid wants us to believe that the Democratic Party is still the true voice of the people — even if the people are voting Republican — and that the people have a stake in defending the Democrats' "rights" to block Senate action through the filibuster. This is where his own reinvention of reality really starts taking off.

[El Oviedo]

Here's another story -

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FILIBUSTER_FIGHT?SITE=NVLAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Joe Boucher]

However you state it, it seems that the Dems are kicking the repubs butt all over the maton this issue and most others that are controversial.

Weenie repub leadership.
No balls.
I'm looking for a real conservative party.

[zencycler]

"If Republicans roll back our rights in this chamber, there will be no check on their power," he said.

Ah, excuse me Senator Reid. Have you ever heard of this thing called an ELECTION?

With 1/3 of the senate up for election every 2 years, I'd say that's a pretty good "check on their power".

Oh, I forgot. You party doesn't like elections since it started losing them. I guess that's why you only want judges who will ignore what the constitution actually says, and will ignore legislation voted on by elected representatives, in favor of their own views of what they think the law should be.

[John Valentine]

You haven't been watching the same action I have then.

The Republicans are totally dominating the Democrats, forcing them to ever more extreme psotions and inflammatory dialog. By the time this is over, the Democrats are going to lose McCain and even a couple of proclaimed Democrats. There might even be 60 votes to kill the filibuster on the first try.

This would actually be the Democrats smart move, but I don't think they are astute enough to make it.

[CDHart]

"I'm looking for a real conservative party."

Let me know if you find one.

Carolyn

[Joe Boucher]

John you have much more optimism then I do with regards to the republican leadership.
I don't think the repubs will stick together as I see the dims.
Here's hoping you are right.
The installation of constitutionalist judges is the most important thing we can do for America at this point.

[pageonetoo]

There are only a handfull of true conservatives left, and few of them are in the leadership.

I no longer belong to the Republican Party. I re-registered as "Independent". The party is only a name, these days, with only a shadow of the possiblity it promised in 1994, with the Contract...

They have no more integrity than most Dims! They just want to get re-elected!

On the first day of the 104th Congress, the new Republican majority will immediately pass the following major reforms, aimed at restoring the faith and trust of the American people in their government:

* FIRST, require all laws that apply to the rest of the country also apply equally to the Congress;

* SECOND, select a major, independent auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of Congress for waste, fraud or abuse;

* THIRD, cut the number of House committees, and cut committee staff by one-third;

* FOURTH, limit the terms of all committee chairs;

* FIFTH, ban the casting of proxy votes in committee;

* SIXTH, require committee meetings to be open to the public;

* SEVENTH, require a three-fifths majority vote to pass a tax increase;

* EIGHTH, guarantee an honest accounting of our Federal Budget by implementing zero base-line budgeting.

Bush budget scraps 9,790 border patrol agents

President uses law's escape clause to drop funding for new homeland security force. -Michael Hedges, Houston Chronicle Wednesday, February 9, 2005

[Hardastarboard]

"If Republicans roll back our rights in this chamber, there will be no check on their power,"

Uh, Mr. Reid, go back and re-read that silly old Constitution document a little more closely. There's NOTHING in there about minority party rights in the Senate. NOTHING.

[SERKIT]

I thought "every vote should count" was a Dem mantra. The majority have rights, too.

[tet68]

thought "every vote should count" was a Dem mantra.

It is, "Every democrat vote should count".(because they
are in the minority, their votes should count MORE!
To protect the little people, doncha know.)