The judges are the number one priority of the Rats. Name me ANYTHING that would move ANY ONE of those senators. You can't, because the ONLY thing that might make them move on this issue is giving them an even greater issue, like repealing the tax cut.
Leahy doesn't care one bit about anything except keeping those judges from being voted on.
The best thing to do is to hold the nominations open (which Bush has done with both Pickering and Owen) and then get them confirmed after November.
I am not a defeatist. I am simply pointing out that President Bush chooses his battles wisely, and this is one that cannot be won. He has elected to go with taking back the Senate as the preferred course of action.
And if you saw his speech which just concluded in Davenport, you would be convinced of his desire to do just that.
Name me ANYTHING that would move ANY ONE of those senators. You can't, because the ONLY thing that might make them move on this issue is giving them an even greater issue, like repealing the tax cut.
Losing the Senate. What would Leahy profit from that? Or Daschle.
President Bush has been quite shrewd, but has missed a number of opportunities. He's human.
I am simply pointing out that President Bush chooses his battles wisely, and this is one that cannot be won. He has elected to go with taking back the Senate as the preferred course of action.
There are such things as won-win propositions, where even a temporary defeat can be turned to advantage.
Making the case that gridlocking judicial nominations sabotages the war effort also makes the case for a GOP Senate.
And if you saw his speech which just concluded in Davenport, you would be convinced of his desire to do just that.
I'm not unconvinced of the President's desire, I'm unconvinced that his strategies are unquestionable in all cases.
