Deal averts filibuster showdown

MSNBC ^ | May 23, 2005 | Associated Press

[kennedy]

Centrists from both parties reached a compromise Monday night to avoid a showdown on President Bush’s stalled judicial nominees and the Senate’s own filibuster rules, officials from both parties said.

[LasVegasMac]

You can continue on with empty promises if you choose.

Who are we talking about here?

Politicians.

I would have loved to seen the slam dunk, in your face, run the score up to 78 - 7 type thing.

I'll be the first to tell you, I have not kept up to 100% on this issue --- maybe about 75%.

It looks to me though that, although the Republican Party has "thrown" several nominees to the wolves - the "offering", they have not lost much.

I may be wrong - and please tell me if I am - they still have the option? Yes?

I know, the Rino factor. That is the wild card, is it not?

I'm not blind.

I am upset about what happened, especially after listening to Frist on Hannity, "No, we won't back down!"

Politicians, remember?

LVM

[AlGone2001]

"You really do need to read a little military strategy."

I am not impressed with military strategy right now. This isn't a game. It's about betrayal.

By the way, how about the military rules on punishing deserters? Hmmmm? Does that one apply.

The Christian conservatives will make the GOP pay dearly for this one.

I want to know where the cowards in the GOP have been.

Where was the GOP Chairman?

Where has Frist been?

Where have the phone calls been?

[Nuc1]

Repubs vote against cloture, brillant! Hope Frist does it!! Do you want to bet a small confectionary he will?

[dfwddr]

I can spell BU11$HIT with 3 letters --- G - O - P

Mr. Frist, you now do not rank any higher than Gore. Don't expect much of a welcome home.

[kjam22]

This deal is not that bad for us. We got 3 judges. We got 7 dems to agree not to vote for a filibuster (and if they do we reserve the right to nuke them). If it plays out as the 14 have agreed among themselves, our judges will get up or down votes. What more do we want? I agree that I would have liked to nuke them. But the good news is that we didn't have to.

How would you like to be Reid right now. 7 of his 44 senators just signed an agreement not to support his filibusters.

[demkicker]

Don't lose sight of the fact that it was 7 RINOS that left the GOP. Don't punish the faithful. Dig your heels in and help elect true conservatives next election.

[AlGone2001]

"Politicians, remember?"

A knife hurts even when family places it there.

[Eagles6]

We in PA almost got rid of the RINO Specter in the Last election but we were let down by the GOP. Both Pres. Bush and Santorum backed Specter over a solid Conservative, Pat Toomey, in the primary and he barely lost.

[AlGone2001]

"Don't lose sight of the fact that it was 7 RINOS that left the GOP. Don't punish the faithful. Dig your heels in and help elect true conservatives next election."

Tell me.

Where were these real conservatives all week?

When was the last time you saw the GOP Chairman on TV?

How many people even know his name?

The GOP has been giving big money to the RINOs for years.

If the GOP senators don't have the guts to hit the airways and make a real stand for the rule change, they are all RINOs.

[El Gato]

As long as the GOP is willing to fight on the definition of extreme I don't see how the "Constitutional option" is taken off the table for that conflict.

You can't fight a definition that exists only the minds of the individual members of the Dirty 14. If the constitutional option (aka the Byrd option BTW) is tried again, the same 14, probably joined by a few others, will just agree to subvert the will of the majority, again, encouraged by their success in doing so this time.

[FreeReign]

The GOP has been giving big money to the RINOs for years.

Don't give money to the GOP. Give money to conservative R's only.

[Randjuke]

This won't be a popular position here, but a compromise that is hated by both the folks here AND at Dem Underground may well be a reasonable one. The DU folks are not happy if ANY Bush nominees go through and many here are not happy unless the Dems are crushed completely. Assuming (yes I know what they say about assuming) the optimal position is somewhere in the middle, maybe this is for the best.

[Les_Miserables]

Yep it's all the GOP's fault..Never mind the 7 dwarfs who jumped ship to join the RATs. Let's blame the whole d@mn party, why not. Then we can vote for Perot again..and get another Bubba. Get focused. Let's go after the Dwarfs not the mothership. Geese!

[AlGone2001]

"How do you know what pressure the other 48 applied?"

These people have near immediate access to public TV.

How many did you see do anything besides tell their stance?

Where was the GOP Chairman? When was the last time you saw him?

Who would even recognize his photo.

I was stabbed in the back tonight.

Unlike many here, I refuse to be their fool.

[Nuc1]

Done. Bet they are getting an ear full.

[Les_Miserables]

A compromise is by definition the point where both parties give up something to reach agreement. What exactly did the RATs give up? Can't find a single thing, really. They would have lost Pryor, Brown and Owen anyway..

[Wil H]

I would have put money on TRAITOR McCain selling Bush and the Republicans down the river..

He is beneath contempt.

[Les_Miserables]

Don't think it will take that long but maybe. Rhenquist is fading fast. Expect SCOTUS to hit in the next week or two, maybe three. Then it will hit the fan.

[AlGone2001]

"Don't give money to the GOP. Give money to conservative R's only."

I will probably continue to do that. I am simply not a republican any longer.

I won't support my GA US Senators because they didn't hit the airways supporting the rule change.

I simply will leave the ballot blank for US Senator.

I will also do the same for President if McCain or Frist (I may be persuaded otherwise with him, depending on his reaction) if they are on the ballot for president.

[DCPatriot]

Unless Frist says, "Anytime the Democrats filibuster I will submit the constitutional option for a majority vote" he is lost.

And why do you think President Bush won't order this approach...and state it publicly?