Frist up on the floor of the Senate. Very subdued. Wants to see how the Memorandum of Agreement will be implemented.
Reid saying it was his understanding they wouldn't be moving on judges in this period but would wait until next session.
Frist says we should move ahead and thinks we have time and now we have this MOU regarding up or down votes and we should plan on how to move ahead since we've waited a long time. At the same time we have other important business, John Bolton. I want to appeal to our Senators that a lot has been said about our judges and it doesn't need to be re-said. We want to make sure everything gets said but I want to move ahead too. I want to meet with the Democratic leader to plan the week.
Frist continues that he wants to talk about last night and how it altered the course of what may occur over the course of today. I am not a party of the MOU signed last night by 14 of our colleagues, I have had the opportunity to further review in more detail and the MOU makes modest progress in that three individuals will get up or down votes.
But to me it does stop far short of guaranteeing judicial nominees of the up or down votes for other nominees and other nominees in the future. I say that with civility and trust and with the MOU being a starting point and the spirit in which it was generated, I think we can successfully bring these judicial nominees to a vote.
It will be spun by the left and right in various ways but I look at that MOU which I didn't sign off on because it stops far short of what we want, but it does show a way to go forward with nominees with filibuster.
Frist: Other qualified nominees deserve the same up or down vote. The agreement stops far short of the principal that I have brought to the floor.
The agreement if followed in good faith will make filibusters in the future, including Supremem Court nominees, almost impossible.
The words in the agreement about extraordinary circumstances, obviously I'm concerned about that because if extraordinary circumstances are described about people like Miguel Estrada, then this agreement will mean very little.
Frist continues, the constitutional option remains on the table. It remains an option and I won't hesitate to use it if necessary as a last resort.
It is the only response if there is a change in response like the last Congress. My goal is restoring the principal of fairness for 214 years until the last Congress for up or down votes.
If the other side of the aisle continues the obstructionism and filibustering, the constitutional option will come out once again and I'll set a date to use it.
It's not a threat. It ought to be used to enforce appropriate behavior. All it does it bring it to the floor.
Did Frist call for a vote on Owen today? I am SO confused!
Well said, Mr. Peach. See Harry squirm. See Harry sweat.
Like Frist said, the seven didn't represent him in no uncertain terms.
....this looks like a show down between McCain and Frist...
Uh huh.
They will invoke the "extraordinary circumstances" clause whenever ANY juducial nominee isn't liberal enough to suit them.