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
The article has at least one error: Trent Lott (elected 1988) is the JUNIOR senator from MS. Thad Cochran (elected 1978) is the senior senator.
There's another alternative which is actually the likeliest. Conservative Republicans sit on their hands next election and give Congress and the Presidency back to the Democrats. Frankly, I can't see a lot of difference in the parties right about now.
I most forcefully agree. There is no sense in electing more business as usual. We the voters gave the republicans the majority and they don't know what to do with it. Things in Washington need to be changed, and as quickly as possible.
"There is no sense in electing more business as usual"
That's precisely what we have done by electing Republicans. Lately I can't tell the difference between the parties.
He'll never get his old job back carrying on like this - and he'll ahve to be exaordinarily lucky to be able to hold on to the one he's got.
but here in the Western Socialist State of Washington.....we're, well, outta luck.
We're out of luck in Illinois also. We have two socialist senators, thanks to our indicted ex-governor Ryan.
I just saw an amazing thing---on Hardball, Chrissy had Ben Ginsberg and Julian Bond.
They were discussing the filibuster fight going on right now, and Julian Bond said that it was necessary to keep the filibuster, because if it hadn't been for the filibuster, then CONSERVATIVES and racists would have kept the civil rights laws from passing---
I may be wrong, but I thought it was Robert KKK Byrd-Democrap that filibustered the civil rights act and it was the Republican party that helped it pass....
If anyone knows different facts, please let me know....I do know that Ginsberg and Matthews let him say it without any argument.
Who knows? These days I listen to the news with my fingers stuck in my ears, singing "la la la la!"
What's "news?" (LOL).....been meaning to ask you....what does your byline mean?
I thought so too. Rush was talking about it this morning - and said that Lott's office had been OVERWHELMED with email, faxes and phone calls which were not in favor of Lott's plan. And .. Lott had called some media outlet and said the story about his "deal" was misquoted [which is what they all say].
And .. I just have to comment that when Lott was not supported by the WH and was summarily voted out of leadership in the Senate - a lot of people were upset. But .. these actions by Lott the last few days with his alleged "deal" - showed me why the WH had to withdraw their support - because Lott was doing the same thing to Bush he is now doing to Frist - stabbing them in the back and making DEALS with the democrats.
Ah... that's the title King Prout bestowed upon me as a member of the Road Kill Beeber Association. An offshoot of the Viking Kitties.
"There are 30 votes AT THE MOST for Brown, Owens, and other similar judges."
Check out today's Washington Time's story:
washingtontimes.com/national/20050510-121748-5543r.htm
Only as long as there isn't going to be a vote.
If Capitol Hill staffers can't have abortions, what's a Senator supposed to DO?
Does anyone know who the other RINO's are?
Good idea!
E-mail, fax or call Lott, and if you have the time, do all three.
http://lott.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Office.View&Office_id=5
The other side, like PP, NOW, Soros-backed moveon.org has phone banks to call reps to represent their evil views.
If we fight harder than they do, we will win!
the true GOP conservatives care
To paraphrase the pompous Admiral Stockdale of 1992: Who are these true GOP conservatives? Where are they?
I think so too. I think they are longing for the 40 yrs. of wandering in the wilderness when nobody ever called to pressure them, the Democrats threw them scraps if they were nice so they could show the voters what pork they had brought home despite being in the minority, and they could all party, play golf and get along with one another and enjoy those trips to exotic places. Maybe they will even bring back Bob Michaels.
The Republican party is done. Illegal immigration, out of control spending, whimps.
We need 70 republican senators just to break even the way it looks now.
Nobody believes a word Lott says.
Well, he wanted his "revenge" and his "publicity." He's got it now; it might not even be true, but conservatives now realize that he's the turncoat, regardless of what he says.
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