Posted on 05/25/2005 6:28:42 AM PDT by GaryL
All you conservatives out there – listen up! Take a deep breath! Climb down from the ledge! Chill out! Things are not as bad as they seem! As a matter of fact, things are downright rosy!
In spite of what all the conservative pundits are saying – including Rush Limbaugh, Bill Bennett, Laura Ingraham, Thomas Sowell – we did not get rolled in Monday’s deal with the Democrats. As a matter of fact, it’s just the opposite. The Democrats have been taken to the cleaners…only they don’t know it yet! As usual, they have followed Teddy Kennedy’s advice and he has led them into another political disaster.
The problem is that no one – including our side - is looking at the big picture. What actually happened as a result of this deal is that, for all practical purposes, the filibuster as a means to obstruct judicial nominees is dead! Isn’t that what we wanted in the first place? And like Reagan winning the Cold War without firing a shot, we achieved this goal without having to initiate the so-called “nuclear option,” and thus avoided taking the huge hit from the mainstream media. The MSM was waiting with bated breath, ready to pounce on the Republicans like a cat on a cornered mouse. Can’t you just hear them repeating the mantra “…and the Republicans actually changed the rules in the middle of the debate!”
In the first place, we now will get confirmed the three nominees deemed by the Democrats to be the most “extreme”: Pricilla Owens, Janice Rodgers Brown, and William Pryor. OK. Follow me on this. If these three are the most “extreme” - by the Democrats own definition - what does that make the others? That’s right…moderates! Does anyone really believe that the Democrats will now resurrect the filibuster to obstruct “moderate judges”? Of course not! Majority Leader Frist has vowed that all of the remaining judges will be put forward for votes promptly, possibly within a week or two. Should the Democrats be foolish enough to filibuster any of these “moderates,” he has also vowed again to ignite the “nuclear option.” All the centrist Republicans who supported the agreement – including Susan Collins and Lindsey Graham – have likewise vowed to support Frist should it become necessary. Let me see…they give up the filibuster while we retain the right to use the “nuclear option” against the filibuster and have become united in our opposition to it. Sounds like a victory to me!
How about the seven Democratic “centrist” senators? I doubt very seriously that any of them would support a filibuster at this stage of any kind, most especially against the remaining “moderate” judges. Guess what. These people have been looking for a way to dissociate themselves from the Teddy Kennedy wing of their party… and now they have found it. Trust me…THE FILIBUSTER IS DEAD! Without these seven senators, the Democrats couldn’t filibuster Attila the Hun!
And don’t you see how silly the Democrats are looking already? What was all the fuss about Pricilla Owens in the first place that they had to block her for four years? This so-called “extremist” will be confirmed today with a sizeable number of their own party voting for her! That’s some “extremist!” In other words, they’ve proven again for all to see that you can’t trust their judgment on who is really “extremist” and who isn’t. Like the little boy who cried wolf, their use of the label “extremist” has a definite “hollow ring” to it.
Let’s recap: the Republicans have effective eliminated the filibuster without taking the huge media hit, while letting it be know that they retain the threat of the “nuclear option,” with their seven senators on record as supporting Frist should the Democrats be foolish to try the filibuster again. In addition, the Republicans appear as the “moderates” in the debate, willing to try compromise to avoid a senate showdown. As an added side benefit, John McClain – by taking the lead on this and being so willing to side with the Democrats – has shown once again that he can’t be trusted and for all practical purposes has committed political suicide. Can anyone imagine him winning a single Republican primary in 2008? As usual the media has got it wrong again, making McCain the winner and Frist the loser.
All in all, not a bad day’s work!
Where did you read or see that?
I heard the same argument on Jim Bohannan's show and don't think I quite buy it.
Flame me if you like but I generally agree with this analysis. The proof will be in the pudding but it looks to me like Graham is in the cat bird seat. We'll see.
I agree with this sentiment and have been saying it as often as possible since the compromise was annouced. Just because we didn't get to humiliate the Democrats does not mean that we didn't whip them. If they start filibustering again, the Rules will be changed and no one will be able to say that the Dems weren't given one last chance to act like adults.
Remember, they want "consultation rather than confrontation", and "mainstream jurists" for "lifetime postitions on the federal bench." The fillibuster is being saved for Supreme Court nominees.
This will be a great piece of ammunition to use against the Dems in their upcoming elections. "My opponent voted against Judge Owens before he voted for her." It will help paint the Dems as power-hungry and unscrupulous (which, of course, they are). It'd make a great 30 second spot.
If the Democrats were logical, and honorable, I'd agree with you. But the fact is, the next judicial nominee that comes up that Harry Reid and the Swimmer don't like, they'll filibuster him/her. Period. The media will NEVER call them on the hypocrisy they show, and the majority of the sheeple either don't care or don't understand the issue. Remember, according to the Gang of Fourteen, President Bush is supposed to "consult" with the Senate before sending them nominees now. They can simply say, "Well, the President didn't consult with us, so he broke the agreement, it's filibuster time"--never mind that nobody from the White House is even PART of this "agreement." The MSM won't care, they'll report what the Rats tell them to.
I don't think it's a massive defeat. I do think that it's not a victory, it's at best a postponement of the inevitable, which is a showdown over a judicial nominee that forces the Republicans to finally use the "nucular option."
}:-)4
Yes, McCain sold us out. But I think we will be in a better position for confirmation of judges from now on.
Reminds me of the Clinton impeachment. Yes, the senate should have convicted him and removed him from office.
But on the other hand, I'm glad Bush didn't have to run against President Al Gore in 2000.
I agree but will remain somewhat skeptical until the "4th" nominee comes up for a vote.
I think the GOP got rolled.
I think this analysis is correct. Most of the complainers don't understand anything but a full frontal assault.
We can scuttle the agreement any time it suits our convenience, on the slightest pretext.
Anyone who thinks George W. Bush came this far in politics only to have his executive appointments held up by an old, mediocre inbred like Robert Byrd is really delusional.
I'll believe it when I see it!
What is even more important is we don't know anything that occurred behind close doors at the White House or among other Senators who were not participants in the agreement.
.
Ping.
Thanks for your reply. I'm sure we'll get flamed, but I think this was a huge victory for our side!
80-20 for Owen? You're dreaming. The RATs will have very few defections.
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