Posted on 12/12/2005 2:46:53 PM PST by SmithL
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia said Monday he doesn't expect Democrats to filibuster the nomination of Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, but he still chastised Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist for threatening to stop any such effort through a drastic parliamentary effort that has been dubbed the "nuclear option."
"If he ever tries to exercise that, he's going to see a real filibuster if I'm living and able to stand on my feet or sit in my seat," Byrd said in a Senate debate with Frist, R-Tenn.
"If the senator wants a fight, let him try it," said Byrd, the Senate's senior Democrat. "I'm 88 years old, but I can still fight, and fight I will for freedom of speech. I haven't been here for 47 years to see that freedom of speech whittled away and undermined. "
The animated exchange, springing from the majority leader's threat on Sunday to block judicial filibusters, featured Frist waving his hands and wiping his brow in exasperation.
Byrd insisted that Democrats have not threatened to filibuster Alito, who was chosen by President Bush as the replacement for retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. In response, Frist read from a half-dozen news stories that quoted Democrats mentioning the option, looking back at Byrd after each item.
"I will do everything I possibly can if your side chooses, if the Democrat side chooses to filibuster," Frist said.
Senate Democrats have questioned whether Alito, a federal appeals court judge, has the proper judicial temperament and ideology to replace O'Connor. Some have said Alito's views on issues such as voting rights and abortion could provoke a filibuster unless he allays their concerns about his commitment to civil rights at his confirmation hearings, beginning Jan. 9.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Robert, go wash your sheets.
If the 'Rats don't filibuster, then there's no need for the nuclear option Bob - why don't you make sure there's no filibuster??
Old blowhard looking for attention.
I may be wrong, but I've got this sense that the Republicans are starting to get at least some guts, and are starting to realize they are actually the majority in the senate, and if they don't start acting like it, they will be the ones whining to the majority, and a Dem majority will just laugh at them and not be afraid of them one bit.
You will still have the freedom of speech. You'll just have to do it outside the Capitol building after the vote. However after hearing some of what Exhalted Cyclops Robert Byrd has said in the past, I think it would be better if he were to exercise his freedom to shut the hell up.
My point is, if what John Lofton had to say is true, why do the RATS hate Alito? I would think that they would be praising Alito.
I watched this entire exchange and this in no way describes what Frist was doing. He could barely contain his amusement at Byrd's carryings on.
Bring it on!
I don't think it is guts. I think they just finally realized they were losing far more from their base than they were gaining from the left when they asked the Democrats for a kiss in the morning before they left the bedroom.
Do it, Bob !!!
That would be worth a pay-per-view.
lol
Gimme that old time sheets boogie...
Shut it, Sheets.
Given his age, condition and circumstance, I'd say that's a pretty big
Bite me, Byrd!
Make 'em hold their breath until they turn blue and DIE.
Now that's where he might have a problem. What a helium-filled gasbag. Shove it down his throat.
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