GOP's Filibuster Strategy Could Backfire (Tom Raum)

AP ^ | 4/16/05 | Tom Raum

[Jean S]

AP's Tom Raum, fair and balanced.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

The Senate is "not always going to be Republican," former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, the 1996 GOP presidential candidate, is reminding fellow Republicans. "Think down the road," he advises.

That's right. And if we don't do it now, the 'Rats will most assuredly turn around and do it to us anyway, someday in the future.

Go back to shilling for Viagra, Bob.

[KillBill]

Personally, I don't understand how filibusters are OK for Senate business, but not for judicial nominations. Wouldn't the Dems just filibuster something else so there wouldn't be judicial nominations?

Why don't they just change the Senate rules to guarantee a vote within 30 (or 60) days of getting a nomination, and automatically confirm it if the nomination is not acted on by that time?

[NormsRevenge]

EDITOR'S NOTE — Tom Raum has covered national and international news for The Associated Press since 1973.

---

They like to post this for some of the bigwig political hacks at AP. Like it adds credibility to his ranting. ;-)

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

"And if we don't do it now, the 'Rats will most assuredly turn around and do it to us anyway, someday in the future."

What gives you that idea? The rats have shown great 'comedy' in the past. =]

[bitt]

barf alert, please?

[medscribe]

Someone should remind AP of the Whigs. That is where today's Democratic party is headed.

[cripplecreek]

The strategy the republicans are using now doesn't seem to be terribly helpfull. The democrats have already brought everything to a halt so their threat to do so in the future doesn't mean a whole lot.

[Cyclopean Squid]

Exactly. This may be the dumbest straw man argument I've ever heard. If a simple majority can change the Senate Rules, then the Dems will change the rules once (if, hopefully) they get back into the majority. Or, the GOP can change them now and actually accomplish something. Either way, the Dems will take advantage of the Option--the only difference in the scenarios is if the GOP does as well.

[Diogenesis]

"Dole is one of several former Senate majority leaders who have counseled a go-slow approach "

Having won, he would know. [/sarcasm] When Dole (Republican) ran for the President,
he was forced (by the Democrats and their servants, the Press) to give up his Senate seat.
When Lieberman (Democrat) ran for Vice President,
he cleverly ran for BOTH Semate and VP in the same election.
Kerry kept his seat, too.

CONCLUSION: DOLE is a Democratic pleaser, tractable, docile and limp.

[Big Mack]

"Someday there will be a liberal Democrat president and a liberal Democrat Congress," Sen. John McCain


I'd like to ask McCain if he is talking about himself in that role.

[Jean S]

LOL, isn't Tom Raum in the title enough of a barf alert?

[YOUGOTIT]

Unless we put judges in power that support the Constitution there will be no reason to consider the future. Republicans have never used the filibuster to deny a vote on judges. It is not Constitutional and is a direct violation of the advise and consent clause of the Constitution. As a matter of FACT there is not requirement for a vote all that is needed is for the majority leader to send a letter to the President saying that the Senate concurs with his nomination.

[T.L.Sink]

I am outraged that the Republicans are ALREADY acting
like the minority party. I am further outraged because
the Senate rule (22) allowing filibusters is clearly
UNCONSTITUTIONAL no matter by whom employed! There are
only seven instances in the U.S. Constitution which
require supermajority votes and confirmation of judicial
nominees is NOT one of them. Wouldn't it be a shock if
these politicians did something once simply because it
is the RIGHT thing to do?

[mainepatsfan]

More like wishful thinking on his part.

[bitt]

these days, even obvious barf set-ups require large barf alerts...we are getting to the tipping point and ....I'm getting barfed out......:)

[HostileTerritory]

When Dole ran for Vice President in 1976, he kept his Senate seat.

He only resigned in '96 because his campaign wasn't getting any traction and he thought it would make people take him more seriously. Unfortunately, people were fat and happy with Clinton in power and didn't want to think too deeply about the race.

[el_doctor2]

Spend the Time and Effort that would be put into this effort...into getting a Filibuster free Majority in 2006.

If we make this a Law and we down the road end up a minority..we may as well just shoot ourselves in the foot.

[Muleteam1]

>Some are calling this approach the "nuclear option," one sure to cause Democrats to retaliate and sour any semblance of a working relationship between the parties.<<

What semblance of a working relationship is this guy talking about? Either he is too dumb to realize there is no relationship, or smart enough to know the Pubs are dumb enough to believe there still is one. John McCann just happens to be the dumbest of the lot. I say nuke 'em while you can.

Muleteam1