Posted on 05/10/2005 2:08:07 PM PDT by Cedar
Dobson: Lott Has Brokered Deal on Filibuster
By Chad Groening and Jody Brown May 10, 2005
(AgapePress) - A prominent pro-family leader says he is "disgusted and alarmed" that Mississippi Republican Senator Trent Lott appears ready to cut a deal with Senate Democrats to preserve their right to filibuster President Bush's judicial nominees.
On Tuesday (May 10), Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family told Don Wildmon, chairman and founder of the American Family Association, that a "totally reliable source" informed him that the senior senator from Mississippi has arranged a deal that would effectively prevent Majority Leader Bill Frist from invoking the constitutional option -- sometimes referred to as the "nuclear option" -- to stop the Democrats' continued filibuster against the president's conservative judicial nominees.
Speaking to Wildmon on American Family Radio's AFA Report, Dobson conveyed his feelings about the report given to him by that source.
"I don't remember being so disgusted and alarmed by what I just had confirmed in the Senate as I am now," Dobson stated emphatically. "Senator Trent Lott is about to sabotage Majority Leader Frist and cut a separate deal with the Democrats to preserve the filibuster of judges."
According to Dobson, Lott and five other GOP senators will join six Democrats in the arrangement. "The deal, which Senator Lott vigorously denied yesterday, proposes that four of the ten filibustered judges would be confirmed -- but that the filibuster would remain intact," the Focus on the Family founder says.
What's in it for the Democrats? Dobson explains: "The Democrats, for what it's worth, have promised not to filibuster [nominees for] Supreme Court justice [vacancies] unless there were 'extreme circumstances,'" Dobson says skeptically. "Guess what that means: it means that it's business as usual."
The possible deal was first mentioned on Monday (May 9) by Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper. Wildmon, like Dobson, voiced strong feelings about the plan at that time. "This is exactly the kind of compromise the liberals have been looking for," Wildmon stated in an Action Alert to his organization's supporters on Tuesday morning, distributed before he received word from Dobson. "Senator Lott's proposal will do nothing but allow the liberals to still be in control."
Wildmon describes the vote to end the filibuster as "the most important vote taken this year in the Senate" -- and Senator Lott's proposal, he says, "means we lose."
When he received word on Monday of the possible deal being discussed by Lott and Senate Democrats, Wildmon began alerting listeners to his American Family Radio stations throughout the Magnolia State, encouraging them to call the senator's main office in Washington, DC, and district offices located in four Mississippi cities, and providing phone numbers for those offices. Lott's offices were reportedly kept very busy fielding calls from constituents voicing their opinion on the filibuster deal.
© 2005 AgapePress
He also said he wasn't going to work with the RNC anymore; and he also expects to be majority leader again.
Great article. Gives me hope.
I voted Bush to stop terrorism and have him appoint judges who'd stop constitutional tear-o-rism. Both. Not either one. Both.
Got room for one more in that lifeboat? If Brown--the best federal appointee since Kozinski--isn't appointed, I'm swimming or paddling in the same boat with you.
What's the platform? A new contract with America, plus some?
I'm okay with a plank calling for the overturning of Roe v. Wade. But not a plank calling for a judicially imposed end to all abortion. I approve of a vote on a Constitutional Amendment, though.
"Who are these true GOP conservatives? Where are they?"
Apparently they haven't been elected yet....?? :-)
Good article, thanks.
It's sad a few liberal Senators have been able so far to keep Owens from being approved. We need a hundred more judges of her quality.
You use the word "slimeballs" as if it only applies to democRats. Been paying much attention the last few years?
"It's going to take a constitutional option by the voters to stage a prolonged and noisy demonstration on the steps of the capital."
You know the voters tried that with Arlen Specter's Chairmanship situation, and the voters were thoroughly ignored.
C'mon. It's not that hard. Big Government politicians.
QED
Contact Lott and tell him NO DEALS with the left! What good is a majority if you cave to minority DemocRATS??
Tell him to END the filibuster of judges....
senatorlott@lott.senate.gov
202-224-3121, 877-762-8762
I just called his DC office to leave him a message, they transfer you to a voice mail...so you are not required to leave a name or address......
Great idea - will call Senator Lott today.
We can grumble and grouse about the state of the Republican Party these days, but I suspect we'll dance as we're told to dance come November '06. Because the alternative will be so awful.
Point is, Santorum would be a better leader for conservatives in the Senate than Frist.
The way he saw Spector/Toomey, he could either have Sen. Spector with them some of the time or a Democrat with them none of the time because he did not see Toomey as being capable of winning.
I have no doubt that this was true when written. Ol' Plastic Hair must have underestimated the response and backed off. He never did have any courage.
I agree with your choice on how to deal with Roe v. Wade--
I think this should be able to be voted on, just like gay marriage....and the only way we get a direct say-so is a Constitutional amendment.
Agreed on the gay marriage issue too.
the voters were thoroughly ignored.
That's pathetic isn't it. I hope the voters have a good memory at election time. We've had enough distruction of the American Dream because of the people that have been elected to office.
Yes, it was pathetic. A sad example of how the government is no longer for the people, by the people.
Congress may need a complete re-doing. But then again, society does too.
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