The rules of the Senate are in these lawmakers' hands

The Hill ^ | 5/19/05 | editors

[ricks_place]

The rules of the Senate are in these lawmakers' hands Centrists yesterday sought a deal to deflect the "nuclear" end to filibusters of judicial nominees. Continued impasse will mean "one of the most important [votes] in the history of this institution," says Sen. Specter. GOP Sens. McCain, Chafee and Snowe openly oppose the nuclear option.

But Democrats still need three more GOP defectors, more if they lose anyone from their own ranks .........snip

[ricks_place]

Group of three probable filibuster defections.

Senator McCain(RINO-AZ)
Senator Chafee(RINO-RI)
Senator Snowe(RINO-ME)

Group of seven possible filibuster defections.(only one darn Dem).

Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)
John Warner (R-Va.)
Arlen Specter (R-Pa.)
Susan Collins (R-Maine)
Mike DeWine (R-Ohio)
Gordon Smith (R-Ore.)
Ben Nelson (D-Neb.)

[watsonfellow]

I think we'll be fine.

Collins and Warner can defect and we will still win.

I think we'll hold everyone but Collins, which will mean that we win.

[Busywhiskers]

Smith of Oregon didn't sound like a defector in his speech this morning.

[Ron in Acreage]

Once again the liberal democrats are relying on an uninformed uneducated public to believe their lies about the senate rules. They are trying to equate senate "rules" and the constitution. These so called rules can be changed every time a new senate convenes or any day of the week for that matter. Yet they are pushing the lie that we are changing the constitution. You can fool some of the people...............

[RetSignman]

I am not happy to see Lindsey Graham of my state on that list but if he doesn't change his opinion I can change my opinion come the next election.

On the matter of the debate before the Senate, if I was a liberal democrat, I would be trying to find a way to drop opposition to the current judges under debate and live to fight another time, like when there is a Supreme Court vacancy. I can't think of a way they can find a face saving way they could accomplish this, but I'll bet it is being considered by some from their side of aisle.

[Ron in Acreage]

I saw Smith say flat out he will vote for the change. He is onboard with Frist.

[Ron in Acreage]

With Specters days numbered, I don't think he'll betray us. He doesn't want to go out as a ratfink.

[Pirate21]

With Specters days numbered, I don't think he'll betray us. He doesn't want to go out as a ratfink. “Go out as a rat fink?!” He already is one. He’s likely to act like most other Democrats [party affiliation purposefully corrected] and try to get in one last skewer. My ire is not targeted at you, Ron in Acreage. Believe me, it’s at RINO Specter.

[watsonfellow]

Well the news is that Smith is voting with us.

Which means we can lose Warner and Collins and still win.

I don't think we'll lose Warner.

[Sonny M]

Holy Crap????

Senator Hagel is not on that list but Senator Nelson is.

If anyone here ever believed in Senator Nelson, this is your wake up call.

He's a rat whos trying to help his rat party out.

I just gained, a wee bit more respect for Senator Hagel.....if he really isn't part of this crew.

[conshack]

I just gained, a wee bit more respect for Senator Hagel.....if he really isn't part of this crew

I don't understand why you would gain even a wee bit of respect for Hagel. He's coming around because he has POTUS aspirations and doesn't want to further alienate himself from the party. I wouldn't consider him a RINO, but he has sold out the party on several occasions. Now he's trying to redeem himself for some party support. I'd vote for Nelson before I'd vote for Hagel(and I've never flipped a switch in a voting booth that had a "D" after their name). I'd make an exception in this case.

[conservative blonde]

I also saw Smith of Oregon on CSpan today and he didn't sound like a RINO to me.

[conservative blonde]

I don't think Specter will defect either because he owes Bush and Santorum for his PA win. If he would defect, he could lose his chair on the Judiciary.

[harpo11]

I guess these senators care more about being friends with the obstructor leftists than they do the people who got them into their precious senate seat. I think I would remember that come next election.

[WOSG]

Gordon Smith was quoted on NPR making comments supportive of Frist.

Sounds like the Liberals are grasping at straws.
And Frist wouldnt press the button if he doesnt have the votes --- barring a "Voinovich"-type problem (a la Bolton nomination).

I cant imagine Graham, Warner and Smith defecting.
Spectre and Collins possible loose cannons, but as Judiciary chairman, even Specter has a stake in the up-or-down votes.

So it looks like a 52-48 vote to sustain the Frist up-or-down vote.

[WOSG]

"I am not happy to see Lindsey Graham of my state on that list but if he doesn't change his opinion I can change my opinion come the next election."

Call his office and tell him that -- a little heat never hurt to concentrate their thinking.

[JLS]

Well negotiating and bolting are to different things. My take after the article is:

1. Graham is solid. If he sued the Senate over such filibusters, he is voting to change the rules. But that does not make negotiating the wrong thing to do.

2. Warner, I think vote for the rules change. He is from such a red state. But I am less sure on him.

3. Spector, I think votes for the rules change too. Surely he did not get the chairmanship without a firm commitment on this vote that everyone knew was coming?

4. Collins, I think she will vote for the rules change too. Armed Services is a big committee chair. I think she will not want to slap in the face the people who got her that.

5. Smith, is solidly in like in my opinion Graham is. As other said, he said so yesterday or today.

6. DeWine, I think he vote for the rule change too.

6. B. Nelson, will vote for cloture but not the rule change if the GOP has the votes. No sense in him making his caucus mad at him unless his home state polling says he must for reelection purposes.

So that leaves room for two surprises or Collins and Warner surprising me and defecting.

[Busywhiskers]

I happen to live in Oregon and followed Smith's career. He is what I would call an inconsistent RINO. I am frankly suprised by his speech on the floor and his support of Frist. If Smith is developing some backbone and is acting as if principle trumps "bipartisanship", there may be hope for the Republicans after all.

[Sonny M]

Now he's trying to redeem himself for some party support. I'd vote for Nelson before I'd vote for Hagel(and I've never flipped a switch in a voting booth that had a "D" after their name). I'd make an exception in this case.

To be honest, Senator Nelson has gotten way to much of a free ride. I don't like Hagel, but his record has been conservative but he always talks liberal (hell, he back stabbed his friend McCaine). I just hate the fact that conservatives give Nelson a free ride like he's a good guy when reality is, he is more of a rat then anyone else.

We need to punish guys who hurt this country, but instead we praise them if they "sound right". Sen. Nelson is a B.S. artist who has alot of these guys fooled. They think he really is on there side, he's not. Talking a good game now puts him ahead of folks who actually do the right thing.

[Pirate21]

Your spelling of Spectre is noted! :)