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.
Oh they'll violate it alright.
Trouble is they are the ones determining whether it is violated. All they have to do is yell 'extreme'.
I'm so pi$$ed at the repubs that I'm about to start looking elsewhere for a conservative party. This Republican bunch in Washington is completely inept and politically tone deaf.
I come from Canada. When the Prime Minister Brian Mulrooney allienated his base his party suffered the worst election defeat in history.
This is all set up nice for Hillary and Bill to come up with another Ross Perot.
They don't need to "come up with" another Ross Perot.
All that needs to happen is for some very sincere pro-lifer to stand up and offer himself as a pro-life independent candidate, and there will be a rush of disgusted pro-lifers to him to cast the protest vote.
This will ensure a Democrat victory.
If Republicans want to avoid the parade of the horribles, they have to stop playing Russian Roulette and understand that they have no choice but to start getting those judges on the bench. They cannot win without the pro-life vote, and pro-lifers are not going to be dupes and not going to be their Black Bloc.
The nasty secret is that most of the Republican elite doesn't care about abortion, and really doesn't want it ILLEGAL. And they don't like to feel that their hand is forced to do something they actually intellectually oppose. So they play at it, indulge in legerdemain. Example: Souter's nomination. After the conservatives fail, does HW Bush, who always was pro-choice but stopped saying it to get elected, name yet another conservative? No. He finds someone who is a Republican liberal. Souter didn't "turn" when he got on the court. He went on the Court who he was before, and stayed that way. No surprise, except maybe to us roped dopes out in pro-life droolin' rube-land.
The Republicans need to suffer a bad defeat. They really need the pro-life base to stay home for an election, just like the anti-tax conservatives stayed home and let George HW Bush get creamed in his re-election bid. This is the only way that they will experience enough pain and loss to focus their minds and realize that being pro-life is not an OPTION for Republicans, but a part of the platform they cannot PLAY with any more than they can lark about high taxes.
Some are really committed pro-lifers. But the ones who won't act decisively are actually playing at it. If they were sincere, we would already have the nuclear option in place.
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