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MSNBC: Frist Issues New Warning On Filibusters
MSNBC ^ | May 24, 2005 | Tom Curry

Posted on 05/24/2005 2:44:50 PM PDT by West Coast Conservative

In the afterglow of the bipartisan accord announced Monday night to avert a Senate showdown on changing the filibuster rule, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist emphasized Tuesday that he wasn’t a party to the deal and would quickly try to implement the rule change if Democrats resumed use of the filibuster to derail President Bush’s judicial nominees.

Frist’s proposal, which he calls “the constitutional option,” and which his foes call “the nuclear option” would lower the threshold for ending Senate debate on a judicial nominee from 60 to 51.

Monday night’s bipartisan deal prevented a vote on Frist’s proposal, as seven GOP senators promised to vote against it.

“The constitutional option will be used if… mindless, irresponsible filibusters become the tool of choice for the Democrats,” Frist told reporters.

Thus Frist made it clear only 18 hours after the accord was announced just how brittle it was. It seemed that a decisive vote over filibusters of judicial nominees had only been deferred for a while.

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 109th; bush; democrat; filibuster; frist; judges; nuclearoption; obstruction; republican; senate; shutupyoupussyfrist; ussenate
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To: West Coast Conservative
In the afterglow

If they're using that word, then they think that somebody got f***ed.

41 posted on 05/24/2005 3:11:36 PM PDT by George Smiley (This tagline deliberately targeted journalists.)
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To: andyk
IMHO, Snowe, Collins, Chafee, and possibly McCain are all immune to constituent retribution).

They can be forced to declare themselves as Democrats or Independents and join Traitor Jeffords taking Democrat Committee assignments in the minority.

42 posted on 05/24/2005 3:12:21 PM PDT by af_vet_1981
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To: Dog

He's got wounds that licking won't heal.


43 posted on 05/24/2005 3:14:03 PM PDT by Miss Behave (Do androids dream of electric sheep?)
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To: West Coast Conservative

At anytime during a filibuster of a nominee Frist can ask the President of the Senate for a constitutional ruling. Cheney would then declare the Senate rule unconstitutional and non-operative opening the path for direct up/down votes. McCain would be left out in the cold (where he belongs).


44 posted on 05/24/2005 3:14:33 PM PDT by Natural Law
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To: West Coast Conservative

I'd wager that having Frist in this position is a part of the deal, that isn't formally in the deal.

IOW if the dems "default" then the whole deal is off, back to nuke option mode.

And if it goes that route (eg. the dems default their part), perhaps some wavering Republican Senators will vote nuke.

One reason Frist didn't just pull the nuke trigger sooner, is that I doubt he was sure of his votes.


45 posted on 05/24/2005 3:15:33 PM PDT by truth_seeker
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To: Cboldt

Sure and in six months, we could be looking to kill ourselves also. So, you are like me, you don't know. We all have opinions and that is what they are, our opinions.


46 posted on 05/24/2005 3:18:29 PM PDT by RetiredArmy (The Republican Party is now OFFICIALLY The RINOcratic Party!)
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To: West Coast Conservative
He's getting as mean and nasty as Trent Lott and Orin Hatch.
/sarc
47 posted on 05/24/2005 3:18:44 PM PDT by Vinnie
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To: West Coast Conservative

Can we please get off of this RINO talk. Frist is the man. If it weren't for moron McCain, the constitutional option would be in effect right now.


48 posted on 05/24/2005 3:20:54 PM PDT by mowkeka
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To: RetiredArmy
Do you really think the Bush administration is going to let its nominees get held up by professional @ssholes in the U.S. Senate?

Add one more item to the two I posted in #15:

3. Base Re-alignment And Closure

49 posted on 05/24/2005 3:22:08 PM PDT by Alberta's Child (I ain't got a dime, but what I got is mine. I ain't rich, but lord I'm free.)
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To: Dems_R_Losers

"If Frist really feels that way about the 7 usurping his power, he needs to call a Republican Caucus meeting tonight and call for a vote to strip all of them of all their committee and subcommittee chairmanships, and kick Lindsey Graham off the Judiciary Committee. He can kick ass and take names if he wants to. You can bet a Democrat majority leader would do it if a bunch of his members pulled the rug out from under him."

Exactly.


50 posted on 05/24/2005 3:22:09 PM PDT by TEXOKIE (Father in Heaven, take command of America and her Mission, her leaders, her people, and her troops!)
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To: West Coast Conservative

Aren't the 7 RINOs committed to opposing any rules changes through 2006? Or am I misinterpreting the deal?


51 posted on 05/24/2005 3:24:19 PM PDT by mdwakeup
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To: RetiredArmy
Sure and in six months, we could be looking to kill ourselves also. So, you are like me, you don't know. We all have opinions and that is what they are, our opinions.

I doubt either one of us will be suicidal in 6 mos.

I could be wrong about the nominee situation, as you noted, all we have is speculation and opinion. But I don't see the DEMs taking any ground in the arena of presidential nominations, and I see plenty of opportunity for the GOP to take back some ground that Daschle and the DEMs took in 2003.

52 posted on 05/24/2005 3:26:34 PM PDT by Cboldt
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To: Normal4me
From what I have gathered, Frist is no longer in charge.

Tell it in a few hours when Owen finally winds confirmation.

Six dems and six rino's are.

7 from each side, and they aren't.

Has Bush spoken out on this today? (I just got home from work.

Yes. He's glad the nominees are going to get a vote and already congratulated Priscilla Owen (even before it's official).

53 posted on 05/24/2005 3:27:09 PM PDT by cyncooper
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To: West Coast Conservative
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist emphasized Tuesday that he wasn’t a party to the deal and would quickly try to implement the rule change if Democrats resumed use of the filibuster to derail President Bush’s judicial nominees.

The Senator was quoted as stating: "I really, really, cross my heart...can I say that? ...Hope to die, really, super-truly mean it this time, guys. Stop laughing, it's gonna happen...."

54 posted on 05/24/2005 3:27:26 PM PDT by Caipirabob (Democrats.. Socialists..Commies..Traitors...Who can tell the difference?)
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To: Soul Seeker
Frist just basically told the RINO's to go to hell on hannity. The first filibuster he pushes the button no matter what they agreed to.

Talk is cheap, and so far, that's all I've heard out of Frist.

55 posted on 05/24/2005 3:27:52 PM PDT by NRA2BFree (We've been sold out by spineless, gutless TRAITORS again!!!! They made a deal with the devil...)
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To: Soul Seeker
"The first filibuster he pushes the button no matter what they agreed to."

Get real.

Frist won't take a leak without first making sure it's okay with the Dems.

56 posted on 05/24/2005 3:28:51 PM PDT by daler
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To: mdwakeup
Aren't the 7 RINOs committed to opposing any rules changes through 2006? Or am I misinterpreting the deal?

You are misinterpreting the deal.

The Republicans, including the 7, can vote with Frist at any time to vote for the Constitutional option if the dems resort to filibuster.

57 posted on 05/24/2005 3:30:48 PM PDT by cyncooper
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To: mdwakeup
Can someone explain the new math to me?

(7 + 7) = 14 > (100 - 14) = 86

Isn't it ironic that with this single compromise sellout McCain has now done more harm to the U.S. than Jane Fonda ever did!

Sigh...

58 posted on 05/24/2005 3:32:25 PM PDT by Thom Pain
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To: West Coast Conservative

I suspect there is a side deal in this gang of 14 that goes something like this. They have identified a handful of judges that don't get approved as a condition for making the compromise. The RINO's will vote with the democrats to defeat those nominees. So they get the up or down vote but get defeated.


59 posted on 05/24/2005 3:34:07 PM PDT by gesully (gesully)
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To: Thom Pain

Vote today to invoke cloture, ending the filibuster on Priscilla Owen and finally bringing her nomination to the floor:

81 AYE
18 NAY

That's all the math you need to know regarding the filibuster regarding judicial nominees.


60 posted on 05/24/2005 3:34:35 PM PDT by cyncooper
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