Senate Ends Marathon Debate, Stops Bush Nominee

Reuters ^ | 11-14-03

[Enterprise]

This will take time to settle in. Other than possible future election material, I'm not sure what the debate accomplished. But - wait and be patient.

[jonefab]

This provides fodder for 2004.

I don't think this will fit in with Bush's "new tone" policy. He will leave it up to the individual candidates to fight this battle and I think he will be AWOL. Wouldn't surprise me if Boxer got $25,000 from George the 1st for "public service".

[Coop]

We have the procedural "nuclear option".

Not really. By all accounts the GOP does not have the required 51 votes.

[Coop]

This provides fodder for 2004. Bush has amassed so much money, that some of his spots will be devoted to the obstructionist Dems. Don't be surprised if next Fall, we see infomercials for each of these good judicial nominees, and how they have been unfairly treated by the Dems. One might think that this marathon was staged explicitly for Karl Rove's archives. HHHMMMM . . . Can you say "come back to bite?"

See - Governor's race, Mississippi, 2003. :-)

[Coop]

Rather, the pubbieMORONs roll over and play dead based on the threat of a filibuster.

So please tell us all what magic you would work to correct this problem.

[eyespysomething]

The Federalist Paper, No. 58:

It has been said that more than a majority ought to have been required for a quorum; and in particular cases, if not in all, more than a majority of a quorum for a decision. That some advantages might have resulted from such a precaution, cannot be denied. It might have been an additional shield to some particular interests, and another obstacle generally to hasty and partial measures. But these considerations are outweighed by the inconveniences in the opposite scale. In all cases where justice or the general good might require new laws to be passed, or active measures to be pursued, the fundamental principle of free government would be reversed. It would be no longer the majority that would rule: the power would be transferred to the minority. Were the defensive privilege limited to particular cases, an interested minority might take advantage of it to screen themselves from equitable sacrifices to the general wealth, or, in particular emergencies, to extort unreasonable indulgences.

Sound familiar? We were warned of this at the founding of our nation.

[Enterprise]

I am an advocate of having President Bush throw up his hands and start doing recess appointments. Quit the debates, and start making the appointments. If he is re-elected, he can have conservative judges in the appeals courts until 2008, and a LOT of conservative decisions can be rendered by then. And don't make the appointments with any fanfare, just make them and let the Democrats melt down. At news conferences he can still stress that he believes that their tactics are not constitutional, but that his appointments ARE Constitutional, and he is making them in the interest of keeping the courts functioning smoothly.

[Starboard]

Rooter's appearance of encouragement and celebration.

It certainly came across that way. Democrats mentioned twice; Republicans not at all. The tone was one of smug elation.

[Coop]

I have no problem with recess appointments. Yes, they're temporary, but hopefully they can be made permanent after the next election. If not, well, they tried.

[clintonh8r]

Can federal judges be recess-appointed? If so, I agree. He should appoint every candidate who's been filibustered by the RATs. Time to play by the RATs' in-your-face rules.

[Jim Noble]

We have the procedural "nuclear option". The concern is that if and when the Dems ever return to power, they would use it against the GOP

The concern, my FRiend, is that Bill Frist has no more than 40 votes, and perhaps as few as 37, to change the rules.

Losing the "nuclear" vote with 12 GOP Senators defecting to Daschle would not be a good thing, eh?

[ampat]

I hope Bush does the recess appointments. Then when the senate returns, they can take a straw vote and see, if they had indeed voted, that the judical nominees would have been confirmed.

[1Old Pro]

The media hardly covered this. I hope this is just the beginning and I wish Bush would appoint Judge Bork as his first recess appointment.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

The Borkathon is over but the spirit remains.

[ampat]

I suppose its a double-edged sword, but if Bush does the recess appointments, then maybe that will lock in his re-election. Perhaps the American people will applaud his defeating our sad sack senate democrats.

[MamaLucci]

It looks like the GOP thinks it is better to have the dem obstruction as a 2004 campaign issue, rather than use the "nuclear option".

[yellowdoghunter]

The Republicans have done all they can in the Senate to get these nominees passed. All we can do now is have President Bush make recess appointments. I am very proud of the Republicans for taking a stand.

What I don't understand is the people of Arkansas and Louisiana. Why haven't they put more pressure on their Democrat Senators? We have a strong base in those states, but never seem to change the Democrats mind. What is the story on that?

The people of Arkansas and Louisiana need to work a little harder.

[MamaLucci]

I could be wrong, but I think the number needed to change the rule goes down with each procedural vote.

[ampat]

I think the dems have already escalated to that point. Look at the concessions Bush has made with Ted the swimmer. And then the swimmer stabs Bush in the back. I think that if the dems had the majority in the senate, they would do whatever it takes to move their agenda, and the willing accomplices in the press would say it's okay.

[Coop]

You're probably thinking of the compromise Frist wanted to introduce, where filibusters could be mounted, but the votes needed to break the filibuster would decrease after each vote.