The GOP's Favorite Democrat (Democrat Ben Nelson Helps Bill Frist Go Nuclear)

The Nation ^ | April 18, 2005 | Ari Berman

[RWR8189]

"You're like Zell Miller without the crack," Jon Stewart once told Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson. Lately, though, it looks like Nelson may be taking hits from the pipe.

Nelson, the Senate's most conservative Democrat, is drafting legislation to give bipartisan cover to Bill Frist's plan to outlaw the filibuster of judicial nominees, known as the "nuclear option." Nelson's proposal would bar the use of the filibuster and allow any Senator to call an up-or-down floor vote on any judicial nominee, even if the Senate Judiciary Committee blocks the nomination.

Essentially, Nelson is doing Frist's controversial bidding for him, at a time when conservative opposition to Frist's plan is rising--from a host of GOP moderates and from two influential right-wing groups, Gun Owners of America and the National Right to Work Committee. "When Bill Clinton was president, we, effectively, in the Judiciary Committee blocked a number of his nominees," John McCain told MSNBC. "I say to my conservative friends, some day there will be a liberal Democrat president and a liberal Democrat Congress." However, the support of one or two more centrist Democrats could resuscitate Frist's plan at the very moment it is dying.

Nelson argues that his party's well-organized resistance to the nuclear option puts red state Democrats in a tough spot. But there's a different between trying to reach consensus and giving the GOP whatever it wants. Just ask North Dakota's Kent Conrad, who recently said of the filibuster: "when judges are way outside of the mainstream, I'm willing to do it." If the president wants bipartisanship, says South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson, he could start by consulting with Democrats on his selections. Further undermining Nelson's rationale is the example of Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, a state where Bush beat John Kerry by 27 points, who has emerged as one of the most effective critics of this Administration.

If Nelson has his way, Republicans may soon control the entire judiciary. Already Republican appointees hold a majority on 10 of the nation's 13 federal appeals courts. Three more lifetime appointments would give Republicans an advantage on every appeals court except the ninth circuit in California.

In that case, Nelson, nicknamed "Nellie" by President Bush, may earn a new moniker. We suggest Nellienquent.

[JLS]

John McCain told MSNBC. "I say to my conservative friends, some day there will be a liberal Democrat president and a liberal Democrat Congress." However, the support of one or two more centrist Democrats could resuscitate Frist's plan at the very moment it is dying.
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Ok Senator McCain as far as I am concerned the GOP can do one of two things:

1. Not require an up or down vote on Judical nominees and I take that as an implicit PROMISE to behave as the Dims and block extremist Dim nominees.

2. Decide they would honor the history and traditions of the Senate if they were the minority party and then they must adopt a Constitutional option.

I suspect self promoting McCain would both not support the constitution option now and not support using unlimited debate to block Dim nominees.

[Ann Archy]

Interesting!! Thanks for the info. Some freeper said it was disgsting that i was even ASKING!

[Ann Archy]

Thanks....yes, he's a NUT CASE for sure. Is Cindy his first and only wife?

[lawdude]

"Thanks....yes, he's a NUT CASE for sure. Is Cindy his first and only wife?"

Nope. He dumped his first when IIRC she developed cancer. Not sure on that but I recall hearing that. If wrong, I apologise. In any event Cindy is the trophy arm-candy daughter of the local $$$$ionaire Budweiser Distributor.

[Redbob]

Great post!

I do so love it when the Dims get their knickers in a wad!

[votelife]

called Nelson and told him to support Frist on the Filibuster vote. If Nelson wants to keep his job, he better think twice about voting with Hillary, Kerry and Byrd on this one!

[jpl]

When Bill Clinton was president, we, effectively, in the Judiciary Committee blocked a number of his nominees," John McCain told MSNBC.

Gee, is McCain talking about the last six years of the Clinton presidency, from 1995 on? Because for those six years the Republicans controlled the Senate, and thus the Judiciary committee, thus that situation isn't comparable to what's going on now. I would hope that as a sitting U.S. Senator, McCain would have the most basic understanding of just how these things work.

[rileyObo]

John McCain was the senior POW at his prison camp. When POW's were being exchanged or released back to us, by their capture date. He refused to be released until all of the other POW's were. He went out with the last group. Remember at the Republican Convention when he came to the lines of , "Keep that faith. Keep your courage. Stick together. Stay strong. Do not yield. Do not flinch. Stand up. Stand up with our president and fight.
We're Americans. We're Americans, and we'll never surrender. They will." I was told this was part of the mantra American POW's said when they needed strength.