Frist starts countdown to final vote on nominee

This morning, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist will take an official step to proceed toward a vote on Owen's nomination, starting the clock ticking toward a showdown over whether Democrats will retain their right to block judicial nominees with the filibuster.

Shortly after the Senate convenes this morning, Frist, R-Tenn., will file a cloture petition, which requires the approval of 60 of 100 senators, to end debate on Owen's nomination.

After the two-day ripening period ends on the cloture petition -- in this scenario on Tuesday -- senators must vote on the cloture motion one hour after the Senate comes into session for the day (as long as enough senators are present for a quorum).

If the cloture vote fails, Frist would direct an inquiry known as a "point of order" to the Senate's presiding officer, who is likely to be Vice President Dick Cheney. In the inquiry, Frist would argue that after extensive debate on a nominee like Owen, filibusters of judicial nominees are out of order.

****So it was not a real offer? I wondered because of course the Dims can vote cloture on all without any GOP agreement.***

Correct, what DICK Durbin 'offered' was not feasible - and he knew it.

I've been lucky enough to watch or listen to all of the 'debate' thus far, only missing about two hours, and I can categorically state that thus far the dems have not said one thing that was what we would call "the truth".

The latest lie being spewed is that current AG, Alberto Gonzalez said that Priscilla Owens was a "judicial activist". This lie has been spewed so many times by the RATS that Gonzalez had to issue a statement stating that 1) his quote was being taken out of context and 2) he was refering to himself.

Has this stopped the dems from saying this on the senate floor - nope. Every time a RAT says this a Republican corrects him when its their turn, but the next dem up says the exact same lie.

IMHO they don't need the "nuclear option", the dems in the senate need to be sued for libel and slander - or better yet a closed door meeting with "Mr Fist To The Nose".

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