Posted on 05/23/2005 4:18:39 PM PDT by jern
Announce Filibuster Compromise
Mark for later
Senators Said to Reach Filibuster Deal
Senators From Both Parties Reportedly Reach Compromise on Filibusters, Judicial Nominees
WASHINGTON May 23, 2005 — Centrists from both parties reached a compromise Monday night to avoid a showdown on President Bush's stalled judicial nominees and the Senate's own filibuster rules, officials from both parties said.
These officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the agreement would clear the way for yes-or-no votes on some of Bush's nominees, but make no guarantee.
Under the agreement, Democrats would pledge not to filibuster any of Bush's future appeals court or Supreme Court nominees except in "extraordinary circumstances."
For their part, Republicans agreed not to support an attempt to strip Democrats of their right to block votes.
Under the agreement, Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen, nominated to a seat on the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, would advance to a final confirmation vote.
Senate Republican leader Bill Frist has made her a test vote in a bruising showdown over the fate of several appeals courts nominees that Democrats blocked in the past and had threatened to block again.
With the series of climatic vote set for Tuesday, compromise-minded senators of both parties met in the office of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for a last stab at compromise
They arranged to make a formal anouncement at a news conference.
Associated Press
I'd vote for Hillary over McStain.
I guess it is just more fun for some folks to run circles and scream.
From what I hear, this is a win, because we get the nominees that are up, with some vague threat that the Dems may filibuster future nominees, but with a corresponding threat that the Republicans can still go nuclear. The Dem line hasn't broken, but it's fallen back. This is win, albeit it isn't a rout.
Bush's "Political Capital" was just lost.
Exactly -- why campaign for a Republican so he can laugh that I wasted my time and money -- so he can vote liberal?
McCain looked at happy as Bill O'Reilly in a whorehouse with a fistfull of money and a shopping basket full of fully charged vibrators.
I could live with that. And one thing you know is that a "deal" with the Dems isn't worth the saliva it took to say it.
I hope the folks that are gathering the pitchforks and walking through town square with torches will slow down and realize that we lost nothing in this game.
We are going to get our judges, so I am happy. McCain is taking credit for it, so I am outraged. We need to get this rule changed before the supreme court fight comes up. If we change it then, then the R's will really look like they are changing the rules in the middle of the game.
Graham, Lindsey - (R - SC)
(202) 224-5972
You are wrong. Frist won't have the opportunity to exercise the nuclear option again. He needs momentum to do that, and the Democrats and RINOs seized the momentum from him. From now on, they will control the Senate. That means, they will have the say on social security reform as well.
Did I hear Garrett say these are the 3 most conservative judges ever? He can't be serious.
**Yes, the Dems punted. And to do that they had to agree to allow 3 judges, while the Repubs did not concede any judges.**
>Watch closely. You're about to learn how to read between the lines. We just got screwed out of our one chance to impact the next 40 years of judicial decisions.<
Why? Three -- Owens, Rogers-Brown and Pryor, are going to be brought up.
Presumably they will get an up or down vote.
Let's say they pass. That presents the possibility for President Bush to nominate the first African American woman to go to the Supreme Court.
Do you think those are the last judges that will be brought up in the near future? I don't believe that the president is going to stop nominating judges.
Let's say the next batch comes up, including, say, a conservative Hispanic. The same issues will arise.
Let's say theyt all get votes. Most would probably pass, and some would not -- just like always. And if none get filibustered, how is this a bad deal?
Me... I prefer the constitutional option. I am not ecstatic about this, but I also am not morose.
Looks like the GOP got three judges through, and the GOP leaders did not have to promise that they would not try to change the rules in the future -- just as the Democrats did not promise that they would never filibuster.
Both sides punted until after a vacancy appears on the SCOTUS.
-George
The creeps mailbox is full..wait till morning when there is someone at the phone..
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