Reid Says Showdown Imminent in Senate

Associated Press ^ | May 16, 2005 | DAVID ESPO

[RWR8189]

Democratic Leader Harry Reid declared an end Monday to compromise talks with Republican leaders over President Bush's controversial judicial nominees, saying their fate along with the future of long-standing filibuster rules will be settled in a showdown on the Senate floor.

"I've tried to compromise and they want all or nothing, and I can't do that," Reid told reporters after a private meeting with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.

"The leader's door remains open to Senator Reid," Frist's spokeswoman, Amy Call, said in reply.

With Democrats threatening to block confirmation votes on several of Bush's appeals court nominees, Frist has threatened to change Senate procedures to strip them of their ability to do so. At issue is the filibuster, a parliamentary device that can be defeated only by a majority of 60 votes or higher.

Reid made his comments at the same time a small group of Democrats, who have been meeting with Republicans also eager to avoid a showdown, floated a proposal under which they would clear the way for confirmation of five nominees while scuttling three others.

Under the proposal, circulated in writing, Republicans would have to pledge no change through 2006 in the Senate's rules that allow filibusters against judicial nominees. For their part, Democrats would commit not to block votes on Bush's Supreme Court or appeals court nominees during the same period, except in extreme circumstances.

[Dog]

So he didn't roll Frist at that dinner...

[QQQQQ]

Here is a misleading title, if there ever was one:

Democratic leader reaches out to Republicans

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=8507240


Then you read, that he is trying to get Republicans to defect and support the Dems. THAT is NOT "reaching out".



"With time running out for a possible compromise, U.S. Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid appealed to Republican colleagues on Monday to break ranks in the battle over President Bush's judicial nominees.

Reid said if a handful of Republicans side with Democrats, they could preserve Senate rules that help check the powers of the White House by permitting procedural roadblocks, known as filibusters, against candidates for the federal bench.

"I'm confident and hopeful that there will be six Republican senators who will be profiles in courage," said Reid of Nevada in a Senate speech. "I believe there must be at least six out there."

[QQQQQ]

But McCain is trying to undermine Frist:

"Sens. John McCain, an Arizona Republican, and Ben Nelson, a Nebraska Democrat, are seeking a possible compromise of their own. Their aim is to provide six Democratic votes to win confirmation of some of the disputed nominees as well as six Republican votes to preserve the judicial filibuster. "


http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=5XCBUGJO1HXA4CRBAEOCFFA?type=politicsNews&storyID=8507240&pageNumber=1


With friends like McCain...

[bamaborn]

I pray that Republicans in the Senate will do what's necessary to ensure that we are given an up or down vote on our judicial nominees.

The Homo-Leninsts must not be allowed to continue to rule our republic through the judicial branch. In order to be a more perfect union we need judges who are strict Constitutionalists.

The Constitution is to be used to interpret issues of the current day; not to itself be interpreted to fit what a few judges perceive as today's social climate.

This issue is quite possibly more of a threat to our republic than fanatical Islam.

[MarcusTulliusCicero]

Interesting that it is McCain now, while last week it was Lott. Guess Johnny was jealous of all the media attention it got Trent.

[Soul Seeker]

That is what caught my eye. Odd that the name of the one behind scenes switched.

Reid doesn't have the votes. Everyone intensify pressure on the Senators. It's our job to let them know we have not changed our mind. Any defection will be met with retaliation election day.

[Libloather]

Reid ends talks on U.S. judges with Frist
By Thomas Ferraro
27 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Talks by the Senate's top two leaders to try and avert a showdown over President Bush's judicial nominees came to a halt on Monday.

"The negotiations are over," declared Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, as he emerged from a meeting with his Republican counterpart, Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee.

"I've tried to compromise (but) they want all or nothing, and I can't do that." Reid told reporters. "So now it will be decided on the Senate floor, hopefully this week."

That left it up to other senators -- including Republican John McCain of Arizona and Democrat Bill Nelson of Nebraska -- to find an elusive compromise to prevent a battle that could shift the balance of power between Congress and the White House.

Frist plans to begin several days of debate on Wednesday on two of the seven appeals court candidates blocked by Democrats during the last Congress and renominated by Bush after he won re-election in November.

If Democrats again stop any of them with procedural hurdles known as filibusters, Republicans threaten to move to ban such tactics on appeals court as well as U.S. Supreme Court nominees.

Republican leaders insist they will have the 51 votes needed to abolish such filibusters. But Democrats insist it is still too close to call.

Reid earlier called on Republicans to break ranks. He said if a handful of Republicans side with Democrats, they could preserve Senate rules that help check the powers of the White House by permitting filibusters against candidates for the federal bench.

"I'm confident and hopeful that there will be six Republican senators who will be profiles in courage," Reid said.

Reid, who has been trying for more than a month to reach a compromise with Frist, said: "I don't think Senator Frist is capable of working something out on this. I think he is going to try to satisfy the radical right."

Special interest groups from the political right and left have weighed into the battle since the federal courts decide such issues as civil rights, abortion rights and gay rights.

Reid and Frist had dinner on Sunday, but Reid said the conversation was limited. "The only talk last night was how good the duck was," Reid told reporters.

Republicans hold 55 of 100 Senate seats. A simple majority is needed to confirm a nominee, but 60 votes are required to end a filibuster.

Republicans contend senators, as part of their constitutional duties, should vote on all judicial nominees who reach the full Senate for confirmation.

McCain and Nelson have sought a compromise of their own. Their aim is to provide six Democratic votes to win confirmation of some of the disputed nominees as well as six Republican votes to preserve the judicial filibuster.

As part of their proposed deal, many of the specifics yet to be finalized, Democrats would pledge not to filibuster future judicial nominees except in "extreme circumstances."

"The problem (is) ... if you use the word 'extraordinary' or 'extreme circumstances,' how would that be defined and who would make the determination," Sen. Trent Lott (news, bio, voting record), a Mississippi Republican, told CNN. "That's very difficult to do."

But Lott, who has also tried to find common ground, said, "We should look at all options."

Nelson was confident he had enough Democrats on board for his possible compromise, but was still working to attract a total of six Republicans, an aide said.

[TeleStraightShooter]

Wow
not one mention of the "Nuclear Option in that (D) media organ sfGate.

Are the (D)s backing away from their "Nuclear Option of shutting own the Senate?
{Juxtaposed to the Republicans Constitutional Option {as trail-Blazed by Byrd in 1979}}

[MarcusTulliusCicero]

Yes, even though the attitude of all the Dems I've seen lately is one of defeat, don't let up on the pressure until they are swearing in Justices Owens, Rogers-Brown, et al. to their new posts on the Courts of Appeal. As we all know, no one is better able to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory than our dear Senate Republicans. Also, a situation like this is just tailor-made for a RINO like McCain or Lott than pulling some last minute compromise to preserve the judicial filibuster. Why, the New York Times might devote a whole Sunday issue to the brave Republican who preserved the Democrats right to obstruct!

[onyx]

I was away last week. What did Lott do?

[thelastvirgil]

Reid will have no problem finding his six "responsible Republicans" from the ranks of RINO's. He knows this, and that explains why he has taken the initiative to stop the negotiations with Frist.

Get ready for it, folks, the RATS win again, and we'll end up with even more legislators on benches everywhere.

Any, A-N-Y, compromise and the Republicans are finished. In my book, anyway.

[planekT]

...So he didn't roll Frist at that dinner...

Not even close. Did you see Reid on CSPAN earlier today practically begging for SIX Republicans to come over to his side? If Reid had the votes, he wouldn't be out begging today.

[TeleStraightShooter]

I digress,
IMO Reid is out of gas.

[MarcusTulliusCicero]

This compromise was originally report last week as the work of Nelson and Lott. Now today, it's being reported as Nelson and McCain. It was rumored that Lott was doing this as a negotiating ploy for budget items and base closures and he apparently appeared on Hannity's radio show claiming that since the Republicans didn't stand up for him when he was deposed as Majority Leader, he doesn't owe the caucus any loyalty anyway. Now, all of a sudden, they are saying it's Nelson and McCain working on the compromise. So, perhaps Lott got what he wanted and now another RINO is taking his place as lead traitor.

[tet68]

One notes that in this entire blather there was not
one word quoted by Frist, you don't suppose the writer
has an agenda do you?

[onyx]

OMG! Whining and a pay back, huh? Geeeez.

[captnorb]

Reid already has the repub votes he needs...count on it.

[onyx]

Calling for SIX Profiles in Courage, no less.
Horrid Harry's performance was pathetic.

[bray]

The good news is that at least Sen InSane is NOT running for President!!! He won't pull one state if he trys this stunt.

Pray for W and Our Troops