Bush, Frist Did Not Dispatch Graham & DeWine to Make a Deal

Rush Limbaugh ^ | 5/27/05 | Rush Limbaugh

[Babu]

I don't agree with Rush on this one, but neither would I expect him to give the Dems red meat. He's pretty much forced to defend the GOP.

Whoa, Back the bus up. Begging to differ -- Rush never feels forced to defend the GOP. He hammers them pretty regularly when they do things which are dumb, inept, or are just doing nothing when they should act.

[mountainfolk]

I want to believe your scenario because it makes sense and promises eventual victory for the Republicans. However, we have been watching this circus for months now and maybe the game has been played past the gain to be had. Perception of weakness of the Republican leaders is becoming ingrained in friend and foe and will remain long after this situation is resolved. Also, there is unfortunately, a history of Republican faithful watching an unfolding set of circumstances, believing that it is all chess moves and the end will justify their belief and patience by a favorable outcome for them. Turns out, whatever the game was, if any, it was all wishful thinking. There is every reason for involved Republicans to over time become sensitized to political deja vue. I sincerely hope you are right and somewhere under this pile of excrement somebody actually is in charge and working a plan. We shall see.

[.30Carbine]

Well that's the difference between us: I don't believe anything solely on the basis that someone - any person - says it is so, especially when the information itself is illogical. I like to think things out for myself. I understand that not everyone likes to do that.

[SAWTEX]

Are you by chance a McCain supporter? The deal was stupid
pure and simple if you are looking at it from a conservative
point of reference. If on the other hand you are coming from a whats good for McCain point of reference why not
roll the dice which came up snakeyes in the end.

[Kenny Bunkport]

No, I'm not a McCain supporter. In fact, I detest the man. I'm just saying that I don't think it's plausible that Pres. Bush and Sen. Frist are so out of the loop.

[Kenny Bunkport]

Because ANYONE who is in the least bit politically savvy

Which excludes about two-thirds of the people on FreeRepublic, apparently. Make that about 99% who don't have a clue about what really probably happened behind the scenes. All I've seen here over the past four days is mainly spleen-venting.

[Kenny Bunkport]

But if they had voted with Frist, then Frist had the votes.

Not if Specter was a "no" vote. The Seven, minus DeWine and Graham, makes 50, minus Specter makes 49. According to the report on Fox, Specter was a solid "uncommitted" -- Frist didn't have even a solid 50. And losing on the nuclear option would have been more devastating that this deal.

[Zechariah11]

How many times must people misunderestimate W. The Dems have been snookered. Comity became comedy in less then 48 hours. Call it a Bolten of Lightening if you will but the DEMS are in trouble and don't seem to understand they are sitting in the back seat and W is driving.

Finally, a voice of reason amongst some of the most idiotic speculation and conspiracy charges ever. Some of these guys sound like John Birch Society nutcases! Remember when Bush was silent during the Democratic primaries in '04? Everyone kept urging him to play his cards. He didn't until the time was right. He'll get his judges and probably increase his Senate Majority in '06.

[altura]

I think you are so wedded to your idea of the situation, you can't deal with the truth.

[Zechariah11]

They were extremely p!ssed. Cunningham and Hannity are hoping the idea that Kasich will challenge DeWine will come to pass. They vow to Hannitize the state of Ohio for him.

[txrangerette]

Could Frist and the WH also be afraid that if the RINOs are punished, some of them might pull a Jim Jeffords? That would not surprise me.

[sirthomasthemore]

My friends, as most Freepers, I am a cultural conservative; I view myself as a populist. I am concerned that recent events demonstrate that the GOP is engaging in a charade; viz: they are talking the conservative talk, but not walking the walk. I realize compromise is, at times necessary; but please don’t play conservatives for fools.

We see by recent legislation, the GOP has done nothing to cut spending, by rather agreed to increase it. In the Terri Schindler situation, they passed emergency legislation, but then ran for cover. With Terri, the National Leadership made absolutely no effort to “flip” 4 of the 9 GOP dummies in the Florida Legislature, and Jeb-to the humiliation of us all- went wobbly before Judge Greer. Now, we have the capitulation on the subject agreement, where the gravamen of the issue was purportedly a very fundamental principled and constitutional stand, ie. that a presidential judicial nominee only requires 51 votes to confirm.

On May 23, I had an exchange with Freeper “Hotshu”where I suggested:

“This whole thing was a charade. All these speeches [CSPAN, 3 days] were just to give cover to those who wanted to play to the conservative base- you know, "shucks we tried". While all along, they knew that there was going to be a negotiated settlement.

It's repugnant. Yes, Frist caved, but did it go even farther than that? WH????

So, did Frist cave? Admittedly. In his recent floor speech, he said the following: “The moment of truth was to have come on May 24. But action was preempted by an agreement between seven Republicans and seven Democrats to forestall use of the Constitutional option in exchange for confirmation votes on several nominees and a promise that filibusters would only be maintained in extraordinary circumstances. I was not a party to that agreement nor was the Republican Leadership.”

He then concluded:

“If filibusters again erupt under circumstances other than extraordinary , we will put the Constitutional option back on the table and move to implement it. “

By his acceptance of the filibuster in “extraordinary circumstances”, he acceded to the agreement. I don’t see how that is not the import of his exact words.

Had he said, “14 senators have entered an agreement, which I was not a party to and I do not recognize as valid and binding of the Senate, and therefore I will move to end debate on any filibuster of judicial nominees”- he would have remained steadfast and consistent with his own principles and beliefs.

But, he didn’t.

A majority leader of 55 senators may well be hamstrung by the act of 7. But, as a majority leader, he should never tolerate this attack of his power, never openly admit he is powerless to counteract this assault of his authority, and by no means, should he affirmatively acquiesce to the will of those who have so publicly abused him.

Unless, of course, the agreement is what he wanted all along- which seems to be the case.

Which brings us to the White House. GWB as a 55 member majority in the Senate. As above, a President cannot allow such a demonstrable, public affront to his power, he cannot appear powerless to counteract the assault of his authority, and he cannot acquiesce to the will of those who have so publicly abused him. Has this happened? Yes. Harry Reid made just that point of the floor of the Senate where he stated that the President had been put in his place, and here forward, he would be compelled to seek the advice of Dems before nominating someone for the judiciary.

What do we hear from the White House. Nothing. Silence. As my posting name sake said, “the maxim of the law is “qui tacet consentire”- silence is consent. When we hear nothing from the White House, we must then assume consent,

Now, it is very likely that GWB felt that it was better to negotiate a deal, then to undergo the potential political fallout should the GOP had passed the constitutional option and the Dems then followed through on their threat to shut down the senate. As Mister Baredog indicates in his post above, “Republicans must be careful, they're held to a double standard”- presumably by the media.

GWB may have felt it wasn’t worth the risk.

If that was the President’s judgment, that’s his right. I have great respect for his political instincts. However, cultural conservatives overwhelmingly stood behind this Senate and this President. Ridding ourselves of activist judges was likely are foremost goal and reason for supporting the GOP.

I speak for myself, but I presume I speak for many others when I say, the appointment of strict constructionists is non-negotiable. I think in exchange for our support, there should be no negotiated deals with the DEMS on transcendent issues, which command party loyalty. To the extent that either Frist or the WH say they are a non-complice, I don’t believe that it’s asking to much to see some manifestation of an OVERT effort to destroy this moderate coalition-and to make that known to the base. After all, WE suffer the humiliation and aggrievement of this Agreement; we have a right to know that our Votes and Money turn into policy. And to the extent its not done, I don’t believe its unreasonable to assume the alleged complicity by the GOP leadership.

Consider, why would Rush spend this time attempting to discredit this report. Perhaps it hit a raw nerve??? .

[Zechariah11]

I'm just saying that I don't think it's plausible that Pres. Bush and Sen. Frist are so out of the loop.

Do you think that any of the Seven would care to share with either Frist or Bush. Their act of treachery speaks for itself.

[sirthomasthemore]

txrangerette

Could be; but then let them go the way of Jeffords. They're no help to us if they refuse their loyalty to the GOP on the issue of activist judges. If they won't support is on this principled issue, when can we count on their support?

[PMCarey]

Not if Specter was a "no" vote.

Then why not have Specter be part of Gang of Seven? That's why this story doesn't work unless you think that Graham/DeWine are also "no" votes, but they say they're not.

[blam]

Looks like De Wine has been caught lying in public...I saw him say that this was ok'd by Bush.

[Babu]

Well that's the difference between us: I don't believe anything solely on the basis that someone - any person - says it is so, especially when the information itself is illogical. I like to think things out for myself. I understand that not everyone likes to do that.

I presume you're familiar with the term "trusted sources". Many people have a few "people they trust" and/or "trusted sources". I have very few, but Rush is on that very short list for me, due to many many years of experience. That however, does NOT mean I do not think for myself.

I think a combination of trusted sources and intuitive thought is the ideal combination. If one has no "trusted sources" other than ones own five senses, then I guess one must go to Washington to see and hear all ones own political news, but I don't personally know anyone who has the time or money for that.

[nopardons]

Whilst you and those on your side have done nothing but spin,spin,SPIN. And no, there are more politically savvy people here that you assume...but your side has been yelling over them.

[nopardons]

Exactly.

[nopardons]

What part of THE COMPROMISE AND MEMO ONLY COVERED JUDICIAL NOMINEES, don't you get?

BOLTON HAS LESS THAN NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH THE COMPROMISE AND MEMO!