Chafee ends speculation: He'll remain a Republican

Providence Journal ^ | 11/9/04 | John E. Mulligan

[1Old Pro]

Idiot

[Plutarch]

Rhode Island is such a Dem state, Chafee is about the best we can expect. His ACU rating is much better than any Dem would ever be from that (politically) detestable little state.

Its abbreviation, RI, is after all, the first two letters of RINO.

[nathanbedford]

(Pedophiles are pedophiles, even if they are female

There is a little good in everyone

[Degaston]

60 is the magic number to get a floor vote on judicial appointments and I spent 2 hours on Friday thoroughly investigating this issue and there isn't any easy way around it short of a major Constitutional crisis. The smoking gun showstopper is Senate Rule V that specifies that all Senate rules of the present Congress are automatically applicable to the next Congress. Looking just beyond the specific issues of this Congress, I think it's in the best long term interests of our country's stability to preserve the Filibuster rule in the US Senate. I personally think it's a real gray-area-matter for Judicial appointments.

The Republicans would be wise to remember that the key will be to get 50 yes votes on confirmation and 60 yes votes to break a filibuster. I'd highly suggest that it would be in the best interests of the Republicans to "go easy" on the potential 10 RINO(s) and flexible Democrats who will vote YES on breaking the filibuster and NO on the judicial appointee. The key will be to make sure they are on-board for all the filibuster-busting votes in the future. If you piss them off then you'll only make them more likely to not be on-board when they are really needed. Just remember that it doesn't matter if a judicial appointee gets 50 votes or 100 votes as long as there is a floor vote.

Now if you don't trust them to keep their Senate seat then when their election season comes up, be sure to work effectively to help them be relieved of their job. But as long as they are a Senator who is willing to work with the President, they are valuable for the Republicans to keep happy.

[Protagoras]

There is a little good in everyone

What does that mean?

[ambrose]

Yes, Freepers seem to be unaware how important RINOs can be on procedural votes and in cutting off filibusters. They also seem to have very little grasp on the reality of electoral politics - the only type of Republican who can win in RI is a RINO.

[KellyAdmirer]

Well, if what you say is true, terrific. But I am sitting here trying to think of the last time Chafee voted with the Republicans on an issue where his vote mattered.

Still thinking....

[mwl1]

Agreed, and their vote is also important way beyond judicial appointments -- on legislative matters such as social security privatization, making the tax cuts permanent, health care savings accounts, tort reform, and much more.

Both the cloture vote and the final passage votes are important. I don't give a damn how the moderates vote on final passage if they vote with us on cloture.

Tragically, too few around here understand how the Senate operates.