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THE BULLIES' CLUB
New York Post ^ | 5/14/05 | JOHN PODHORETZ

Posted on 05/14/2005 10:50:01 AM PDT by ricks_place

ALL eyes are now on the United States Senate, which has unexpectedly become the epicenter of American politics. The question of the year is whether a change in a specific Senate rule — the one that creates the condition for the never-ending debate called a "filibuster" — would represent a shocking breach of American tradition.

The Senate, we're told, is an institution that exists to slow down the mad rush of politics and allow issues to percolate and stew.

But as yesterday's debate in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the nomination of John Bolton demonstrated yet again, at moments of great partisan strife the Senate doesn't debate issues.

The Senate does not allow important topics to get a full hearing. Rather, it allows senators to abuse those who come before them in a process mandated by the U.S. Constitution. ...snip...

In the midst of controversy, the Senate frequently uses its authority in appalling ways — by engaging in unanswerable character assassination. The assassination is unanswerable by definition because those whose characters are being assassinated are required by the dynamic of the Senate to behave respectfully toward those who are dragging their names through the mud.

There is something profoundly immoral about all this. Increasingly, it seems, strong-willed people with strong views must submit themselves to the humiliation of standing mute while they are excoriated for their life's work — and while senators and their staffs go hunting for personal dirt on them.

It's not a fair fight. It's a proxy fight. The nominees are often stand-ins for the administration whom the senators wish to bloody — as is the case with John Bolton and the Democrats. ...snip...

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 109th; bolton; filibuster; johnpodhoretz; obstructionistdems
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1 posted on 05/14/2005 10:50:02 AM PDT by ricks_place
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To: ricks_place
... the one that creates the condition for the never-ending debate called a "filibuster"..."

A filibuster is not a debate. It is the forced absence of debate. It is a stall against action for the sake of the stall, for the sake of preventing action.
2 posted on 05/14/2005 10:55:18 AM PDT by HowardDeanScream08
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To: ricks_place

says it all...
Bttt


3 posted on 05/14/2005 11:00:57 AM PDT by firewalk
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To: ricks_place

I cant wait until Frist bends the collective donk party over the barstool next week.

Hey boxface, you ingnorant twit, W is your daddy. Sing it like babs, boxer, like in the senate minority is just like buddah...


4 posted on 05/14/2005 11:07:20 AM PDT by Truth Table
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To: ricks_place
This is a link to your article.For some reason the Post printer only version doesnt allow linking. Ive had the same problem before.

http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/43882.htm

:^)

5 posted on 05/14/2005 11:11:43 AM PDT by smoothsailing (Qui Nhon Turtle Co.)
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To: ricks_place
Whose your daddy?

Yesterday Hewitt interviewed Kyl:

Hugh Hewitt: Have you got the votes… if it has to go to a vote?

Jon Kyl: Yes we do. And I remember you were talking to me about this when folks were getting really frustrated and we kind of backed it up and said first of all, we have to get the people through the committee, to the floor. We have now done that, except for one person, as you noted. And so now, it’s ready. It’s teed up. We’ve got the votes, and the only thing that really we’ve been waiting for is to just see if there’s any hope for compromise here. It appears to me that the Democrats actually want the confrontation. Bill Frist has put out the most reasonable proposals you can imagine. They’ve been rejected.

6 posted on 05/14/2005 11:14:20 AM PDT by Truth Table
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To: Truth Table
I cant wait until Frist bends the collective donk party over the barstool next week.

He could get three of them on a single barstool by simply turning it upside down.

7 posted on 05/14/2005 11:18:11 AM PDT by Mr Ramsbotham (Laws against sodomy are honored in the breech.)
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To: ricks_place

Liberals don't respect voters. They think they can bully a result contrary to the will of the people. Voters gave us 55 Republicans in the Senate and a Republican President. But the liberals still think they run the place.


8 posted on 05/14/2005 11:44:55 AM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Legislatures are so outdated. If you want real political victory, take your issue to court.)
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To: smoothsailing

Thanks-


9 posted on 05/14/2005 12:06:45 PM PDT by ricks_place
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past
liberals still think they run the place

They not only THINK they run things, they've learned quickly that by simply acting like they do, Republicans will roll over because Rs are always wringing their hands with worry over being called names. Liberals don't care if they're called names, only advancing their agendae.

10 posted on 05/14/2005 12:50:55 PM PDT by Fudd Fan (Theodore: the GOOD Roosevelt)
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To: Fudd Fan

You're right. They DO run the place. We're too scared that the bully media will call us names again. Wimps!


11 posted on 05/14/2005 1:19:50 PM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Legislatures are so outdated. If you want real political victory, take your issue to court.)
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To: smoothsailing

>>This is a link to your article.For some reason the Post printer only version doesnt allow linking. Ive had the same problem before.<<

Some sites do that to try to keep you from skipping their ads.


12 posted on 05/14/2005 1:22:00 PM PDT by paul_fromatlanta (Paul from Atlanta)
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To: Truth Table
"Hugh Hewitt: Have you got the votes… if it has to go to a vote?
Jon Kyl: Yes we do."

I trust Senator Kyl, trust his judgment. We're very proud of him in Arizona.
13 posted on 05/14/2005 1:24:55 PM PDT by righttackle44 (The most dangerous weapon in the world is a Marine with his rifle and the American people behind him)
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To: righttackle44

Good man. My mom and dad live in Thatcher. I grew up in Az, but after retiring from the AF, I now live in NC. My dad wants JD Hayworth to run against McCain.

So do I. Kyl and Hayworth would be great for Arizona. McCain is a sell-out, and needs to go away. Kyl is a smart man. I love to hear him tear apart the donks on constitutional matters.


14 posted on 05/14/2005 1:38:51 PM PDT by Truth Table
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past
But the liberals still think they run the place.

Too often, they do.

15 posted on 05/14/2005 2:05:10 PM PDT by ThanhPhero (di hanh huong den La Vang)
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To: ricks_place

Thanks for posting this. These vitriolic senators are addressing voters with their actions. They are campaigning. If states appointed senators, as was the original intent, there wouldn't be a need for such grandstanding.


16 posted on 05/14/2005 2:08:22 PM PDT by groanup (http://fairtax.org)
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To: Truth Table

"My dad wants JD Hayworth to run against McCain."

Love to see JD run against McCain. Unfortunately, McCain was just re-elected with a 70 per cent margin. He didn't even campaign. It's too bad. I used to be a heavy McCain supporter. (I don't mean I had money. I was just heavy.)

Should come home, man. We need you more than NC does.


17 posted on 05/14/2005 2:45:21 PM PDT by righttackle44 (The most dangerous weapon in the world is a Marine with his rifle and the American people behind him)
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To: HowardDeanScream08
A filibuster is not a debate. It is the forced absence of debate. It is a stall against action for the sake of the stall, for the sake of preventing action.

That's an important distinction that few lefties seem to get. Their battle cry is that "all sides be heard" or that the "minority has a voice", or one of my favorites, "to protect the rights of the minority." That's absurd. The rights of the minority at the expense of the rights of the majority. Absurd.
18 posted on 05/14/2005 3:43:11 PM PDT by Jaysun (No matter how hot she is, some man, somewhere, is tired of her sh*t)
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To: righttackle44
I trust Senator Kyl, trust his judgment. We're very proud of him in Arizona.

Now if you guys could just stop sending McCain up there ;o)
19 posted on 05/14/2005 3:46:04 PM PDT by Jaysun (No matter how hot she is, some man, somewhere, is tired of her sh*t)
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To: ThanhPhero

Amen! If only the repubs realized no matter what they do they will be on the liberal media's "bad" list. Might as well do what's right, and what the American people ELECTED them to do. Voinovich is a LOSER! I'm sorry I voted for this traitor.


20 posted on 05/14/2005 5:04:12 PM PDT by boop (Testing the tagline feature!)
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