Posted on 05/24/2005 11:10:14 AM PDT by JoeBob
Senate RINOs Betray GOP By Carol Devine-Molin May 24, 2005
Ultimately, Republicans caved and 214 years of Senate tradition have been cast out the window. It appears that "judicial filibuster" is here to stay.
In a deal struck with Senate Republicans, Democrats will be permitted to engage in filibuster of future judicial nominees under "extraordinary circumstances". Well what does that mean? It means that the Senate Democrats will utilize the judicial filibuster liberally and will continue in their obstructionist mode.
The "nuclear option" - that would have banned judicial filibusters - was averted. Never mind that all decent Republicans felt that it was imperative to implement the "nuclear option" or "Constitutional option" as it's frequently dubbed.
Senator John McCain claims that this compromise with Senate Democrats was in the "finest traditions of the Senate." Personally, I'm sickened. That characterization is sure to sicken most grassroots Republicans as well.
We know when we've been knifed in the back. Yep, this is the so-called bi-partisanship that the RINOs pride themselves on achieving. To these RINO Senators I ask, where are your principles? And is "judicial filibuster" even in keeping with the spirit of the Constitution and "advice and consent" of the Senate? I think not.
The GOP is often its worst enemy. Regarding this "deal", most Republicans are beside themselves, while Democrats are elated. Here are the RINO Senators, one and all, who have betrayed the GOP: Senators McCain, Chafee, DeWine, Graham, Warner, Collins and Snowe. The Republican grassroots really should extract a price from this motley crew in some shape or manner.
These "elites" have now provided the Senate Democrats with a powerful weapon to be used to derail President Bush's judicial nominees and, most importantly, his forthcoming Supreme Court nominees. And, of course, this was always about the anticipated fight surrounding Bush's Supreme Court nominees in the not too distant future, where the rubber will truly meet the road as they say.
I've always wondered why Republican bigwigs often sell out the grassroots of the party. In contrast, Democratic leaders are faithful to their ideological base, consistently play hardball, and wield their power to the fullest. The Democrats have always understood the use of power.
In contrast, the GOP still does not know how to act as a majority party. It's a pity. For Republican compliance with the "deal", they essentially received assurances that judicial nominees Janice Rogers Brown, William Pryor and Priscilla R. Owen will get floor votes. There was nothing for nominees William Myers and Henry Saad.
Was it worth it? No, absolutely not! Where are the up-or-down votes on ALL Bush judicial nominees? That's what Republican Senators should have insisted upon in any negotiations with Democrats.
The only positive note is that Senate majority leader Bill Frist has stated that "bad faith and bad behavior" on the part of Democrats would force him to bring back the "nuclear option" into play. I hope he's sincere. Clearly, Frist was disappointed by this atrocious brokered agreement that primarily benefits the Democrats.
What is it with the State of Maine?
Why do they keep electing these RINOs to the legislature? Snowe and Collins? Gimmie a break!
What is it with the State of Maine?
Why do they keep electing these RINOs to the legislature? Snowe and Collins?
Gimmie a break!
"Thanks to McCain & Co., it was over before it began."
No.
You are letting the Republican Party off far too easily.
48 other Republicans, including the Senate Majority Leader, did NOT agree to that deal. THERE IS NO DEAL unless the Republican Party leadership GOES ALONG WITH IT.
Frist can kill this deal right now.
All he needs to do is to say "We said all 10 get a vote, and all 10 shall have a vote", and then nominate Saad BEFORE debating and passing the other three. Force the confrontation to a head right not. Destroy the "compromise" that 7/8th of Republican Senators did not sign onto. This puts the 7 who did in a position: they can vote for the DEMOCRATS' filibuster and then against the Republicans' nuclear option, or they can cave again.
One or two Republican Senators (McCain is a good choice) who vote against the nuclear option and FOR the Democratic filibuster can be expelled from the Republican caucus.
Everyone is focusing on the RINOs here, because they struck a "deal". But they are only 0ne-eighth of the Republican caucus. THERE IS NO DEAL unless the Republican caucus ACCEPTS the deal, and if they do, they become complicit with McCain and just as guilty.
My point is that now is not the time for pro-life and pro-judicial restraint Republicans to start pretending that it was the RINO sliver that cost them. This is a "Read my lips" moment. The RINOs have proven they are spineless by cutting a deal. But do they have the spine to ALL stick with the deal if the other 48 Republicans move ahead and press forward on all the nominees, making it clear that Republicans who vote for the Democrat position will lose positions and may be expelled from the caucus.
Frist still has the power to force the issue.
If he doesn't, he is no different than George H W Bush signing the tax hike instead of vetoing it.
What happened when Bush 41 did that was that fiscal Republicans walked away for an election. Clinton won, yes, but the tax appeasers were blown out of the Republican Party, and an election later came the Gingrich Revolution, and no more waffling on taxes.
This is the moment for the pro-life right. The Republicans in the Senate, led by Frist, can still force the issue. If they don't, THEY, and not just McCain, are responsible for allowing this "deal" becoming policy.
Elected Republicans don't have a clue what their responsibilities are...in the end they are just bureacrats protecting their own jobs!...They are not standing on principles of conservatism for sure. They probably figure they did there best...what a load of crap!...The beached whale Ted Kennedy must be laughing his ass off!
Five (5)! He was a REVERSE ace!
We never thought it would get to this point but it did. It is difficult to now believe that Frist will do right by the Constitution. The demos are much better fighters than the Reps. The Reps are a bunch of sissy's. McCain should be expelled from the Party. He is a traitor to this Republic. He is a vile and sick man. I wish I could laugh in his face and tell him that, HE WILL NEVER BE PRESIDENT of this Republic.
yea, it must feel good to be a demoRat in Congress. They surely know how to make the sissy RINOs dance. It is a sad day for Liberty. Another stab to our Constitution. Our Founders would not be proud.
RINOcrats rule the day in the so-called republican party, now officially the RINOcrat party to me.
Having just finished working for weeks with my lawyer on a buyout contract for my business, I can assure you this deal is absolutely worthless to the Republicans because what the Democrats allegedly give up is never clearly defined and is therefore unenforceable. "Extraordinary circumstances" is a completely nebulous term, and they can apply it to anything they want. For instance: "Priscilla Owens is extraordinarily conservative, therefore we have the right under the deal to filibuster her." From this royal snookering, it's more obvious than ever that all the lawyers are on the side of the Democrats.
Stealing your tagline and sending a donation to the Brinkman campaign.
Yes, it got to this point.
Obviously McCain is trouble, but he's just one Senator.
I keep raising this point because I think it's crucial.
The two Senators from Maine and Lincoln Chafee are liberal Republicans. That's what they are, and there's no point grousing about it. Rhode Island isn't going to elect a conservative anyhow, so in New England you take what you can get. Better to have three liberal New England Republicans adding to the GOP caucus than having three liberal Democrats adding to the Democratic Caucus. No point in punishing the three New England Senators for being liberals. They don't pretend in their campaigns to be conservatives, so when they agree to the deal, it's not surprising nor particularly offensive.
McCain's position is offensive.
But that's only FOUR, which means that Republicans STILL have to lose TWO Republican Senators' votes to not be able to pass the nuclear option.
Who?
Who are those Senators?
John McCain can't offer anything. Frist, and Bush, can. Why haven't those Senators been stood up in front of an open grave and had their political fate explained to them?
It's fine to be mad at McCain, but the Republican leadership does not have to follow the terms of this "deal". It can press ahead anyhow, and it had better.
After the Specter business after the election, and Terri Schiavo, the "trust me" of the Republicans has been worn out. They have got to act, or as a party they are going to suffer terrible defections. These will not be pro-lifers voting for Hillary, but rather folks getting frustrated and failing to vote, or folks following a legitimate, unabashedly pro-life third party candidate, should one come along.
This is Waterloo.
Sure, but how to explain the National Firearms Act, the '68 Gun Control Act, the machine gun ban contained in the Firearms Owners Protection Act, the Brady Act, and the Assault Weapons bill?
No they'd never do that. If they did no President would sign such a bill and if he did, the Supreme Court would take the first available case to negate it. Right?
And your point is what? It seems your point is:
1. The Supreme Court has no more respect for the second amendment than Congress and
2. At least when Congress votes for these stupid bills the voters can punish them. Notice how gun control is scarcely mentioned in Congress these days--the dems got burned by the issue and don't push it anymore.
You highlight very good points. Even though we had a inkling McCain would betray this Republic, I feel we are more fearful that the Rep leadership will drop the ball. Frist can negate the action of the traitorous seven, but the big question, will he? I fear he may loose the will.. It seems the Rep leadership never fails to disappoint us in the end (while giving it to us in the end) :(
The Press is only hands off McCain until they get him nominated. You can be sure that once that happens, he's dead in three news cycles. They have enough tape of him on his "straight talk" express to destroy him. He fell for their charms and his "straight talk" will be used against him. Watch the Republican candidate tell nigger jokes. Ha Ha, isn't that funny! Wait a minute, maybe he's a NOT a hero and this isn't staight talk. Maybe he's racist!!!!!! Wait here he is telling a gay joke. A HOMOPHOBE too. Three new cycles and he's done.
Count on it.
He's not just dangerous. He's unelectable and the Press knows it. That's why they want him in the front of the GOP.
I'll vote for Hillary first and send her money. That's my position and the GOP better listen.
"will" drop the ball?
The Republican leadership already has dropped the ball.
Were DeWine and Graham in the Oval Office being offered deals this past week?
No?
Were DeWine and Graham stood in front of an open grave by Senator Frist?
No?
Then what happened, happened with the tacit endorsement of the President and Frist.
I hold the leadership responsible.
They have lost my trust.
With 3 branches able to stop such legislation, such stuff should survive less often than it would with only two branches required to pass it. It should survive less often, but if where we are now is "less often", I'd hate to see what "more often" might be like. Of course the way things are done now, there is no recourse, save Constitutional amendment, to correct the error of commission (declaring laws to be unconstitutional that aren't.)
I just want the Courts, especially the Supreme Court to do their job, which is to exercise the Judicial Power in all cases arising under the Constitution, thus I want originalists on the Court, not "living document" adherents. This fiasco has made getting to that goal more difficult.
When (not if) the RATS violate the agreement Frist will have the traitorous RINOs by the "short and curlies". Maybe this is a way to rope and tie them. I'm content to let this thing play out for a while longer, but not much longer. When I got home I called Frist's office and was told the very same thing, and I asked questions.
1) Will the pubbies do everything in their power (majority power) to assure that all noms have that vote. Answer=yes, nothing has changed.
2) Is this a RAT/MSM ploy to take away the sting of the compromise. Answer= we think that it is. Again, nothing has changed when it comes to up or down votes on ALL nominees.
I'm a bit more hopeful cause I KNOW the RATS will violate the agreement. I'm just hoping that the pubbies will pull the trigger this time and leave the RINOs holding their "you know whats".
I agree with that completely but man the political pandering and snobbish better than thou attitude is gonna get him thrown overboard and not soon enough !
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