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.

[Archon of the East]

Of course Dems call it mastery of Senate rules but when Republicans do it it's manipulation. That's why we need to cool out, get Owen, Pryor, and Brown officially in place, then start from there.

Agreed, Win battles easily if and when you can. Start doing a better job of getting the word out that legislating from the bench is not in the Constitution, nor is following the law a radical idea. Keep repeating it until the day the Dummies scream "extremist" and then fight like hell on the definition of extreme. The main battle has yet to be fought and the war is far from over.

[FreeReign]

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.

You really don't know what you are talking about. Seriously!

I was stabbed in the back tonight.

The problem is you don't know who stabbed you. So you blame everybody.

Unlike many here, I refuse to be their fool.

You are acting like one.

[jsk10]

I agree. The deal itself isnt' all that bad. I'd like to see the judges confirmed and then at the next hint of a filibuster, the nuclear option is voted immediately. However, what is bad is, why should we compromise? Only one group should look for a compromise, the LOSING group. And with a 10 Senator majority, that shouldn't be us...other than McCain, Warner, et. al. Bottom line, we were sold out by those who have been asking us for money. Hard to believe Republicans control anything right now. Everyone, please be aware of where your money goes. Candidates - good. The RNC - bad.

[Dionysiusdecordealcis]

I think you're right, but again, I'll wait and see the votes. Personally, I think after a week or two the Dems are going to slink away on these judge issues and shut the hell up so that we all forget it, cause they are getting killed on this.

I wish I could agree with you but we have to remember that for the Democrats, what is at stake with the judges is abortion--nothing more and nothing less. They cannot afford to slink away--their base would be even madder and would hurt them more than the anger in the Republican base hurts the Republicans. The Dems have fought a reargard action, were on the verge of annihilation and the pursuing army pulled back. The Democrats will live to fight another day and while they may not destroy as many judicial nominees as they hoped to, they hope that they can block just enough and intimidate Bush into nominating Souter-types so that, in the end, they squeak away with Roe-v-Wade intact. That is the truly horrific scenario I think looms on the horizon.

And the only solution is to defeat all RINOs in the future and get a solid pro-life majority in the Senate. It probably is not wise to abandon the Republicans, as angry as we are. Rather, we have to focus at the grassroots level on getting solid prolifers to run against the RINOs and defeat them. Those who have money to give to Republicans will need to be selective in who they give it to--stop giving to the RNC but target trustworthy younger candidates. We thought we were close to the tipping point. It's farther off than we thought. 55 votes is not 55 votes when six or seven of them are RINOs.

The realignment is not complete yet. More conservative Democrats have come over to the Republicans than traffic going the other way (Jeffords being the exception). The RINOs have to be made to see that they belong on the other side of the equation and they have to be replaced with solid pro-lifers. Targeting money and effort to primary challengers to the RINOs is probably the best way to send that message.

The problem is not with the Republican party as a whole but with the RINOs. We trusted too much that they would support the party. Never again.

[FreeReign]

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

Good luck with that.

[AlGone2001]

"The problem is you don't know who stabbed you. So you blame everybody."

These losers need to learn how to dance with the one who brung 'em.

[Tribune7]

There is nothing incremental about this.

We got three judges we didn't have fore including Brown and the other two are still nominated. Let's see how it plays out. It doesn't hurt to call it a win even if it's just to upset the DUmmies.

The worst thing we can do is call it a loss and blame the entire GOP for a half-dozen gutless wonders.

If it turns out Saad & the other one are kept off we can certainly punish McCain & Lindsay Graham. No point in going after the Maine girls.

[af_vet_1981]

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

Frist does not have the votes. He is two shy in the 109th Congress.

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

Because the 7 RINO Traitors don't take orders from President Bush

They must be removed from the Senate and replaced by loyal Republican Americans. Even Sen. Specter was more loyal than these 7 despicable traitors.

[DCPatriot]

"...what is bad is, why should we compromise?

Uh...so that when we do invoke the nuclear option during SCOTUS nominations, we can show that we tried to take their word as truth?

[AlGone2001]

"Good luck with that."

What's the difference between a GOP majority and democrat majority?

I forget.

[byablue]

A Springer campaign would not be boring for sure! If everybody heads for the hills, who's gonna keep the pressure on to make sure this deal sticks and push for more ground? Stonewall Jackson didn't bail, neither will I.

[Les_Miserables]

Yep. I know. Specter appears to be under control though and his obedience on the Judiciary SubCommittee is working so far. He also is on his last horse so you may get another chance for a conservative senator sooner than you think. Keep the pressure on the RNC. I think Santorum may have noticed the voter's displeasure also.

[Zacs Mom]

"...can it be edited so the RINO is atop an elephant?



You're right!
This is more accurate!

[PeskyOne]

Thanks for your post #225. Your voice of reasoning was much needed and appreciated. I hope those threatening to leave the Republican Party will remember what happened when Perot divided the Republican Party in 1992.

I wish I could say my two Senators were conservative, but Lindsey Graham has been a big disappointment. I will work to see that a conservative replaces him in 2008. I wish others would work for a change rather than leaving the Party.

[AlGone2001]

"The worst thing we can do is call it a loss and blame the entire GOP for a half-dozen gutless wonders."

No. The worst thing we can do is add more pro-abort/gay marriage judges to lifelong appointments on the federal judiciary.

The GOP just stabbed the Christian conservatives in the back.

What you just saw tonight was the good ole bait and switch.

[Randjuke]

A compromise is by definition the point where both parties give up something to reach agreement. What exactly did the RATs give up?

Basically they agreed not to force the "nuclear" or "constitutional" option. As flawed as the filibuster rule has become, it is better to have it than not. The problem was not so much the rule as it's misuse - if I understand it right, it will not be misused any more for judicial candidates. While I understand those who say we are in the majority and should flex our muscles, there will be a day when we are weaker. In the long run this is a win.

[dfwddr]

I can't do much about "the 7 dwarfs" but I can do something about Frist -- if he should care to run again -- which is doubtful. I just think I need to spend my money a little more wisely, and with people who have a bit bigger ba11s than the GOP leadership has provided us.

In another thread on this subject, I expressed my fear that a GOP/Conservative split WOULD elect another Clinton, and I hold true to that thought, but the Senate has really let us down.

[jeremiah]

They're just mad because they believed the language of THEIR side....just like we did. To them Republicans are the worst thing since Hitler, to us Dems are. The leadership in both parties, and the President feel differently though. This is a game they play, and we watch. Maybe it is time we turned them off, and figured out a way to get rid of political parties, and make people run on their own initiative.

[AlGone2001]

"Thanks for your post #225. Your voice of reasoning was much needed and appreciated. I hope those threatening to leave the Republican Party will remember what happened when Perot divided the Republican Party in 1992."

What's the difference.

Be honest. The GOP left us.

They stabbed us right in the back.

Where's a real man when we need one.

Blame the RINOs all you want, but where were the leaders of the GOP? Did you see the RNC Chairman making a clear stand for the party.

The GOP just committed suicide tonight.

I was here telling everyone last year that the "November surprise" would be the strong turnout from the church. I was right.

The GOP just ensured a democrat majority in 2006 for both houses. This is a major issue for the church, and most of us will stay home if they can't find the guts to push this through.

Count that as a prophecy. Go to the bank on it.

[Archon of the East]

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.

You may very well be right, alot depends on the behind the scenes stuff. As long we have the majority it will still push our way, slowly maybe but still our way. Rome wasn't built in a day. If they want to get "an extreme" Judge to vote they just need to get the Dems to play the filibuster card a couple of times then throw up their hands and say we tried. We are then right back to where we started but with a couple of Judges already appointed.