Posted on 05/16/2005 3:33:25 PM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
I agree with you. Let's remain optomistic and give them the benefit of the doubt.
If any Republican senators take Reid's bait and try to throw overboard ANY of President Bush's nominees they should feel the full wrath of the Republican base.
Brit Hume reported that the alleged deal would have had all the nominees EXCEPT PRISCILLA OWEN(guess because she's from Bush's Texas?) getting a vote, then the Dems would say no more filibusters through 2006 "except in extreme circumstances". To hear that Republicans were spending time even talking about such a thing made my blood boil.
Well, not quite the benefit of the doubt but in the case of Frist I DO believe he will accept no less than a vote on ALL judges.
We currently have the votes. This means WE have the upperhand. It is absolutely absurd to acts as losers when currently it is the Dems with the losing deck. Our Job to heighten the pressure on the Senators to keep all these senators onboard, since the MSM will do all it can to try to talk them off from now till the vote.
ANY Senators or Staff reading this let me make this absolutely clear. You will NOT survive a dissent vote. We will not accept lame justifications, excuses or spinelessness. We will not accept betrayal. You vote, or you lose our votes. Praise in the NYT's isn't going to do you a damn bit of good if you are reading it on your couch outside of washington after being ejected election day. We WILL remember this votes, 2-4-6 years from now.
To Red State Dems, IF you vote WITH us I, for one, would be open to consideration of keeping you in office. This is a deal breaker issue. Either vote to end the filibuster, or prepare to be daschled.
We can guess who those Rep Senators are. Just write them back and tell them "Hell NO". All judges get a vote or they lose the base in the next election.
The problem is that "we"--much like Reid and Frist--can "count."
There are already 2 for-sure defections: McSwine and Chaff-eee.
Next, it appears from this article and not surprising (coming from another PSO RINO who is pushing "HARD"--and in bed with the UN--LOST treaty) Lugar is made up his mind and will jump ship.
Now, a very probable turncoat is Snowe.
Then, Collins (also form Maine) is a RINO and would not be surprised if she joined her other lib/friend.
ALREADY THAT's FIVE.
On top of that, Murkowski (AL) has been making some comments which does not give one confidence that she will "stay the course."
SIX
Furthermore, you have Hagel, Voinovich and the other "wild card," Specter.
NOW UP TO NINE
Does not look promising for the good guys.
Would not be a bit surprised that this is the reason (Frist KNOWING he did NOT have the votes) has not "dropped the bomb!" IMHO.
I/WE/Many have been calling, writing, sending emails, imploring, begging, threatening, etc., and we are at wits end.
I think Bush should go public and urge all voters to "encourage" their Senators to support this option.
Sadly, he wants to "stay above the fray" and the silence from the White House, has been deafening.
I would like to believe that the Gipper would not stand still for this and would be making a full court press.
Lastly, I hope Frist goes for the vote regardless (and that's my latest imploring) then at least, we will know who to work against and try to replace, in 06/08.
And now we hear that the RATs will allow EITHER Owen or Brown, but not both. Could the RAT's hyprocisy be more evident?
NUKE THE FILIBUSTER!
I thought the reason the "bomb" has not been dropped is because the nominations need to be on the floor for the vote, the vote denied by filibuster then the rule can be changed by Cheney's ruling and subsequent senate vote on the rule. Maybe I have this wrong...
Alea iacta est.
It means Dem rats are giving ground. They don't have the votes.
Who in his right mind would take the word of Dems on any "deal"? They would define "extreme circumstances" as any time the president nominates a conservative judge. His father was burned big time by lying Democrats in the "read my lips" fiasco, so W definitely knows they can't be trusted.
"Reid already has the repub votes he needs...count on it."
I don't think so. If he does, why is the DNC sending out an email with this message today:
"We have a tough leader in the Senate with Harry Reid. He has kept Democrats together and worked with moderate Republicans trying to get their leadership to step back from the brink.
But he can't win this fight alone. Every one of us will have to get the Democratic message out -- to our neighbors, in our local press, and, most importantly, to our Senators.
To do that, you'll need the very latest information. So please join a conference call briefing with Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid this Wednesday, May 18, at 11:45 a.m. Eastern time (8:45 a.m. Pacific).
http://www.democrats.org/briefingcall"
Reid is supposed to tell them at this conference call the status of the Republicans planning to vote with the Dems. If he had the votes, I don't think they would be trying to get their people to call their Senators and Republicans. I hope our Republicans leaders are working on Democrats to join us, and I hope the Republicans who vote with the Democrats find out there are consequences for their actions.
Every Justice who has ever sat on the Supreme Court got there with an up or down simple majority vote. The flibuster was a legislative blackmail tool and should be put out of it's misery forever.
I see.
So you choose to believe that since there are a few Republicans that are itching to play Maverick that they will jump on this issue. I'd prefer evidence of that belief and so far judging from McConnell and Reid's comments there is nothing to suggest what you just cited can be substantiated.
"The filibuster was a legislative blackmail tool and should be put out of it's misery forever."
I used to think the filibuster served a purpose, but I agree it is being used as a form of blackmail lately.
In the same DNC newsletter, they gave an URL where you can listen to a briefing (MP3 format) Ted Kennedy had last week with their supporters warning 'what's at stake and the potential consequences if the GOP keeps pursuing this dangerous, unpopular course.' If you are interested, the URL is: http://www.democrats.org/kennedybriefing
I hope and pray we beat the Democrats on this, and these Judicial nominees get an 'up and down' vote.
If you ever need someone to play poker with who you can take to the cleaners, call Dingy Harry.
I'd like to see just ONE or TWO Demodogs who belong on the "Profiles in Courage" list.
Forget the Republicans... where are the HONEST DEMOCRATS?
Filthy Hairy Reid and the bullie boy dems are expecting another easy romp over the sissy nerd boy Repubs, just like so many times in the past. Hairy, apparently has never had the benefit of viewing "The Revenge of the Nerds".
Look for Reid, Porky Kennedy and company to be taken to school in the next few days.
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