What you have said about Specter and the bigger picture is true enough.
However, Frist's refusal to give an audience to pro-life leaders, where he had a chance to reach out to them and explain what the overall plan was: THIS is really bad.
Probably the Republicans in the Senate were destined to put Specter in charge, and if they can get him to do the right thing on the nominations, that's fine.
But the party has GOT TO reach out to the pro-lifers, because they feel very betrayed and angry about all of this, and if that persists, it probably spells disaster for the Republicans in two short years.
Meeting with the pro-lifers is exactly the sort of thing Frist should be doing, along with Bush, Cheney, other leaders. Refusing to meet with the pro-lifers is a disaster.
Of course, there is another possibility here, one we should consider.
We all saw how manipulative and deceitful the media was in the last election.
Anyone with a modicum of involvement in politics knows that the Congressional switchboard is lit up with pro-lifers incandescent about Specter.
And anyone with a brain can see that if the pro-lifers become turned off and angry with the Republicans at the outset, that the Republican coalition will be weakened, not strengthened.
So, are we REALLY SURE that Frist "REFUSED" to meet with pro-life leaders?
Is that REALLY what happened?
Or is what happened that they called and asked for an urgent meeting, and Frist's folks said they couldn't do it now, but did not foreclose a later meeting, not because the Senator intends to "dis" the pro-lifers, but because they are all caucusing and he really couldn't meet them then.
So, while I'll admit that seeing the headline of this thread, my blood pressure went way up and I said "Uh Oh, the Republicans are blowing it." I remember the source: the media. And I remember the way the media was lying about everything else Republicans said or did a day ago, a week ago, two weeks ago, a month ago.
If I was trying to stir up pro-life anxiety and fury, I'd tell the pro-lifers that not only was Specter going to get the chair, but that the Republican leaders doing it were telling them to pack sand.
So, you're right, Soul Seeker. The thing to do is to take a DEEP BREATH.
Maybe we really have lost, big time, and been played for rubes, big time, and were used like chumps for the Republicans to get power, and now they're going to protect Roe v. Wade.
Maybe.
But if that's the case, we'll know for sure in a few months when the judges go up.
If the judges aren't pro-life, if the party doesn't break the filibusters, we'll know.
And we'll have plenty of time to talk with each other and decide exactly how to not be fooled again.
But until that happens, we need to take media reports like this with a grain of salt. Did Frist REALLY flip off the pro-lifers? Or did the media just spin it that way to yank our chain?
When you're out riding and your mount sees a shadow and goes nuts, there are three words you need to remember: Calm, straight and forward. Keep calm - or the horse will sense your anxiety and get more crazed. Keep moving straight ahead: the horse won't run headlong into a tree.
Keep moving forward - because if he's going forward, he can't buck you off.
Calm, straight and forward.
If the GOP really did flip us the bird, they are dead meat and we will calmly, presently, and forwardly ride them down like lackeys before a cavalry charge.
They probably didn't flip us off.
Frist probably is really meeting with pro-lifers and talking with them, and can't get his message out through a media that hates him, hates Republicans, and will lie to us to divide us.
We'll know over the months ahead.
Calm, straight and forward.
And remember that God is on our side.
#43
BTTT