GOP JUDGES OFFENSIVE

Townhall ^ | 10/27/03 | Robert Novak

[Elkiejg]

Angry GOP base??? That doesn't begin to describe how I feel about the RATS or the lack of fight by the GOP. Below is my response to Mr. Novak about his article:

Mr. Novak:

Your article on the above subject is accurate except that the power behind Teddy is the Un-American Way and Ralph Neas - an unelected anti-America elephant in the room. It's time this group with it's strangle hold on the Senate be exposed.

[Joe Boucher]

I gotta believe that Frist like Lott must be being neutered by the hitlery brigade by her having all those F.B.I. files.
These "Leaders" are pathetic sniveling little men with no balls to take hard positions and raise hell where it comes to the Dems.
TAke a real stand and go for the nuclear option or else do a recess of bork and maybe Gingrich as Judges and let the Dems howl. but maybe they'd come around. At least it would be better then kissing the Dems asses.

[Long Cut]

It's really simple.

To the Left, judges are the one sure means of getting their agenda enacted, without the messy problem of selling it to voters.

This filibuster crap is just their way of stonewalling the President while pandering to their base voters. To them, this is just "tit-for-tat" revenge for the President having the temerity to win the election against their expected victor, Gore. For that "crime" against all that is Leftist, they will allow NO judges appointed by the President to be confirmed to higher courts.

Sad to say, the President will probably have to win re-election, PLUS pick up some more Republicans in the Senate, to get ANY of his upper-court picks confirmed. I don't even think the "nuke option" will do it.

[livius]

You're probably right. I would like the Republicans to at least scream, holler and call more attention to Dem obstructionism on this, however, even if they can't do anything about it on this go-round.

One of the problems with the "New Tone" in DC is that it is entirely one-sided. And because the Dems still shout, pound and make outrageous charges while the Republicans are polite and do not respond, the ones who get all the press are the Dems. Granted, they'd get more anyway, because the press is Dem-friendly. But the general impression that emerges is one of a timid, uncertain Republican party - and nobody likes to vote for a loser.

[jocon307]

"Republicans are sensitive to complaints that Frist is too timid to wage a 24-7 strategy to let Democrats talk themselves to death."

I don't understand why they are letting them get away with this "gentlemen's" fillabuster. Why don't they make them have a real filabuster, if that's their atittude? Bring everything to a halt, then the people can see, yet again, that the Dems crave nothing but power for themselves.

[Jim Noble]

I gotta believe that Frist like Lott must be being neutered by the hitlery brigade by her having all those F.B.I. files

I challenge you to name 51 Senators that would vote with Frist to change the rules.

You can't do it. The GOP Senate caucus is divided, and no amount of name-calling directed at Frist can chane that.

Only elections on November 2, 2004 can.

[Jim Noble]

Why don't they make them have a real filabuster, if that's their atittude?

Because they don't have the votes.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Correct. Bill Frist is being betrayed by turncoats in his own caucus. It doesn't seem to matter whether or not Republicans control the congress. They have too many traitors within their ranks.

[randita]

The GOP base, needed intact to re-elect George W. Bush, is angry -- angry with Kennedy's Democrats for blocking the judges, angry with Frist's Republicans for not trying harder. That could cost Bush's re-election if nothing is done.

Although I appreciate the GOP pushing this issue forward, Novak's assessment reads to me like they are making the effort primarily to appease GOP voters, rather than out of any real conviction and principle. This is pandering and I don't like the sound of it.

[chimera]

Not only that, but the strategy, even if successful, will have limited impact. It is important to "the GOP base". Well, yes, but so are a lot of things. I don't think Bush has to worry about "the base" too much, because we learned in '92, if we don't stick with the best available, electable candidate, a Rat a thousand times worse may get in.

But the voters outside the base, the undecideds and independents that generally end up deciding an election, probably won't care. Judicial nominations are generally off their radar screen. I'm not saying the 'Pubs shouldn't try to do what they can on the nominees, like doing the 24/7 filibuster thing, or simply not allowing any Rat legislative proposal to even see the light of day on any vote, or cutting funding for Rat staff and offices (petty, but effective), but they have to realize that attempting to make it an election issue probably won't cut much with the portion of the electorate they need to win. Those people will likely go to the polls focusing on economic issues and maybe national security, and the 'Pubs have to come up strong on those issues (especially the economy).

[hchutch]

It looks as if that is how it will turn out.

The Dems paid in 2002 for obstructing ta the committee level. They can be made to pay in 2004 for obstructing via filibuster.

[xzins]

All this refocusing is intended to set the scene for a bitter battle in next year's session of Congress. At that time, an effort may be made to rule out of order a filibuster against judicial nominations -- the "so-called" nuclear solution. This would require only 51 votes, but Frist does not even have that many today because of reluctance to tamper with the traditions of the Senate.

I knew it.

Republicans have indicated they will refuse to participate.

By saying it's about "tampering with traditions" they get to avoid VOTING on the nominees themselves. Most Rinos are more than glad to see the democrats taking the heat off of them by filibustering these constructivist judges.

There is no difference between a rino republican and a democrat.

[aculeus]

The GOP must learn the art of demonization. There's one repellent individual at the core of this problem: Chuck Schumer.

Every time Frist or any other Rep is interviewed he should put Schumer's name in every other sentence.

They should say the Senate has become "Schumerized". Call the filibuster "Schumergate".

Schumer is a detestable human being whose presence on the tv screen annoys millions.

Schumer loves attention. Give it to him in buckets.

[Uncle Hal]

It is about time the GOP Senators get some back bone and stand up to the Dems. There is no use Bush nominating new conservative judges if the GOP does not go to bat for them. This is ridiculous.

[Joe Boucher]

Probably right, It's just so maddening to watch the Dems play hard ball and stonewall and get away with it.
If the roles were reversed the media would be playing the Repubs out to be GODless.
I miss a stand up in your face repub like Gingrich. Someone willing to call Kennedy a drunk killer, and B. Clinton an embarassment.

[deport]

Joseph Farah: "In Support of Janice Brown Rogers"

News Briefs: Bush judicial nominations

[deport]

fyi

[WhiteGuy]

Many share the opinion that the problem is lack of committment on the part of the gop leadership at all levels of federal government.

I suspect that the real problem is actually that the gop as a whole has no intention of doing waht is right, they believe that occupying the moderate position lets them keep their jobs and the power that accompanies their jobs.

To today's gop, that appears to be the most important matter.

[narses]

The reason many of us voted for Bush was the judiciary. This is a critical issue. Please educate yourself and your families, friends, neighbors and parishes. Get involved. Please.

[Howlin]

FYI.