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.

[LS]

Perhaps. Except for Estrada, what evidence does anyone have that Bush is backing down? We haven't begun to see his "full court press" on these guys yet. I suspect he let them (Graham, et al) have their little way for a while, as long as his people keep getting confirmed.

I suspect when the USSC nomination comes, you'll see armtwisting nothing short of the WWF.

[Dat Mon]

I'm confused. I thought that the filibustering of presidential nominees...in effect denying a sitting president an up or down vote, far exceeds the stipulation in the Constitution that the Senate act in its capacity to "advise and consent".

Is there a Constitutional precedent that is being violated here...a skewing of the checks and balances between the legislative and executive...and not even the majority of the legislature to boot?

I thought that the "nuclear option" was the only remedy to this unconstitutional activity. Does this 'deal' represent a constitutional remedy also?

If it doesn't remedy the situation, I think its bad move...it is better IMHO to stand and fight for a principal....the Constitution. Let the RINOS and opportunists in this party go on record as opposing a remedy. Then hang that vote around their RINO necks come the next statewide primary campaign.

A little righteous anger from the President...who is after all the defacto leader of the Republican party wouldn't hurt either.

[Archon of the East]

As per my previous responses to you, I am quickly leaning the other way now that I've learned that only 3 of the justices have been agreed to be allowed to be voted on. If this is true then it is BS unless they plan to actually make the Dem's pull a real filibuster for the others.

[JRochelle]

Thanks.
Linsey Graham sounded like he would have voted to end the filibuster if the dems would have filibustered Owen.

[garbanzo]

Leave the Republicans and vote 3rd Party so we can get more liberal RATs in the Senate

Can you tell me how this would be any different than what we have now?

[Tribune7]

Any reason for the RINOS to vote for these judges???

If they don't then I'll be upset. I'll be shocked senseless. Then get upset.

[LS]

Who "trusted" that they would support the party? I never expect anything: I'm pleasantly suprised when they do vote the right way. BTW, two of the worst so-called "RINOS" have been rock-solid when it comes to pro-life, DeWine and Voino.

And one of the guys everyone worried about, Lamar Alexander, has been pretty good on everything so far.

We're gonna get what we want.

Now, if you or anyone thought Roe was going to be reversed, I think you're living in a dream. It took 60 years before ANY court overruled Plessey. We will see some eroding, perhaps, but this is not about abortion---it's about so -called "gay marriage," and that's the next battle, not the last war.

[demkicker]

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?

GOP pressure has been intense behind the scenes. And I've seen plenty of Republican Senators on the airways speaking on behalf of the Constitutional Option. The MSM, of course, doesn't cover them like they should but many have been out front and vocal. And I guarantee you that all have been busy answering to their constituents. I believe that these turncoat RINOS will pay a very dear price for this pathetic farce. Contrary to your tantrum (and I'm throwing one too), the entire party shouldn't be thrown out with the bath water.

I refuse to give up that easily and hope you won't either.

[LS]

Stonewall knew how to feign retreat, though, to lure the enemy in and make him overconfident.

[JRochelle]

"Bush and Frist retain the high ground and the options as we vote to confirm judge after judge."

I would have loved to see the dems go down in defeat tomorrow. But this deal just saves face for the dems. Nothing else.

[LS]

Yep. It's not as satisfying as an excrement sandwich for the Dems, but politics rarely is that cut-and-dried. The fact is, we get our people. Just watch.

[demkicker]

A little righteous anger from the President...who is after all the defacto leader of the Republican party wouldn't hurt either.

Ditto! It's high time W. showed us some justifiable temper over this charade.

[Tribune7]

This might cheer you up

The two nominees who ostensibly got tossed will be back.
And this whole thing is nothing but lubricating the Democrats for when F...face nominates Assface Scalia to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
I am sick to death of Democrats in the Senate.

[comebacknewt]

The fact is, we get our people. Just watch.

I'm inclined to agree. The RATs saved a little face, but who cares.

We won.

[JulieRNR21]

Darth McFarce defines himself as a quisling unworthy of the nomination in 2008.


NEVER FORGET !!!

[PhilDragoo]

It's no secret McCain, Dewine, Graham, Collins, Snowe, Specter, Warner have been working on a deal with Nelson et al.

This is all their maverickitis and has nothing to do with Frist.

The Democrats have agreed to eschew the filibuster except in extreme cases.

The likeliest outcome is that we have votes on most of the nominees resulting in their confirmation.

In any case where Democrats attempt their perennial filibuster Frist proceeds in prepared fashion.

This isn't a comic book where a zap balloon appears over an enemy resulting in a puff-of-smoke vaporization.

This is the sausage making wherein we get judges--and there is no limit on our possibilities if no one cares who gets the credit.

[Nyboe]

we will know for sure who "won" when all the judges and other nominations are voted upon.

My gut tells me that Bush will get all his judges confirmed and Bolton too.

All that happened today was that the dems weren't forced to eat a excrement sandwich.

But If in the end all the judges are confirmed ... who cares. The main point is the judges not rubbing the dems face in their patheticness.

[COEXERJ145]

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!

You're using logic. That isn't allowed on Free Republic. We must run totally on emotion and act like th DUers.

[COEXERJ145]

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?

Because the President doesn't run the Senate.

[Tunehead54]

Reappoint Miguel Estrada!

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Arrgh!