Deal averts filibuster showdown

MSNBC ^ | May 23, 2005 | Associated Press

[kennedy]

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.

[Thud]

cardinal4,

You're looking at the wrong end of this. You focus on the six Republican Senators while ignoring the six Democratic ones. The six Democrats just effectively said that they will vote for cloture tomorrow. That is the only possible way they can avoid a vote which permanently terminates filibusters - by terminating individual ones.

These six Democratic Senators just said that they are moving the problem downstream. But, unless the other Democratic Senators don't filibuster future judicial nominees at all, this problem will come up again EVERY TIME THE DEMOCRATS FILIBUSTER ANY NOMINEE, not just judicial ones.

I.e., if the Democrats filibuster Bolton's nomination as ambassador to the U.N., Frist can use that to try to permanently terminate all filibusters.

IMO this means the end, for the current session of Congress, of all partisan filibusters.

[El Gato]

I just left the GoP.

I think I would at least wait to see what happens to the traitors to the Constitution. If they get a hand slap from the party leadership, or less, then yes, by all means leave. But if there is a significant price paid by those Senators, then one can hardly blame the party as a whole.

My prediction. A slap on the wrist for the Republican "moderates". Promotion and perks for the Democratic moderates, who likely were working with the full knowledge and permission of their party leaders.

I wanted to puke when Sheets Byrd got so many accolades by the plotters, but I was in my car and couldn't pull over to void. So I cussed at the radio instead.

I guess that dem speaker that predicted a coup was correct. But it was a Democrat coup, made possible by the Benedict Arnolds of the Republican party.

[Osage Orange]

You don't know? McCain just ensured her election about 45 minutes ago.

I will hold my final opinion....until I see what transpires with a vote. IF....it happens.

[mollynme]

I agree. I see no reason for wailing and gnashing of teeth yet. If the dims go back to filiblustering what's to stop the pubbies from claiming they have breached the truce and voting for a rules change?

[AgThorn]

Respond to this related survey that was posted with the article:

Are you in favor of the deal?

[El Gato]

I thought Owens and Clark were extremist and a threat to the nation.

But as not as big a threat as any future Bush appointees to the Supreme Court. Not a threat to the nation of course, but to the liberal agenda.

[Toddsterpatriot]

We traded an empty phrase ('extraordinary circumstances') for actual judicial positions.

I agree. They hit us with 'extraordinary circumstances' and we change the filibuster rule then.

[byablue]

I agree. I will not celebrate until I see Owen, Pryor, and Brown officially confirmed but getting them to a vote is a win. Democrats were especially blocking Brown because of having to possibly fight an African-American woman to the Supreme Court. Also, Nelson made the express point that if any Senator, even one, sees insufficient evidence of extraordinary circumstances, all bets are off.

[Skip Ripley]

Personally, I can live with a template of Brown, Owens and Pryor as acceptable judicial appointees. The Dems have spent so much time, effort and energy on defaminng those three as "Outside o fthe mainstream". They're now the acceptable limit? Ok by me.

My only concern is the nagging feeling that if the Dems folded on those three, could we have gotten a complete capitualtion by simply staying united?

In the end, I think the realization may have set in that the "constitutional option" was a weapon similar the government shutdown in 1995/1996. It's a stick better waived than used

[FROGTOWN CONSERVATIVE]

Read Bench Memos at NRO for some expert and live commentary

"It's a shame" [Kathryn Jean Lopez 05/23 08:16 PM] not everyone is going to get an up and down vote, Bill Frist is saying now on the Senate floor. What about Meyers and Saad, he says. Who's the majority leader again?

[Camel Joe]

Well look at it this way, if were going to be forced to live in a third world country, then it may as well be a socialist one. That way we won't be forced to work any harder than the next guy for no recompense.

WANTED: TAR and FEATHERS, I'VE GOT a RAIL!!!

[DeepRed]

The idiots at DU are not to happy with this deal either.

[AlGone2001]

"I think I would at least wait to see what happens to the traitors to the Constitution. If they get a hand slap from the party leadership, or less, then yes, by all means leave. But if there is a significant price paid by those Senators, then one can hardly blame the party as a whole."

Where were the "conservatives" in the GOP tonight? Where was there press conference?

Who was hitting the TV hard each night pushing for the up or down vote?

They are all coward in my honest opinion.

I hope Frist can overcome this, but I have serious doubts.

The GOP has been long giving our hard earned money to these RINOs. Not one more penny from me.

Put a fork in me-I'm done.

[pctech]

Frist didn't cave.

Excuse me???? Frist is the head of the GOP in the Senate. If his party caved, then HE caved as well. Guilt by association. I will no longer vote GOP, or anyone for that matter.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"I just left the GOP

Me too."

---

So you're leaving the GOP because 7 GOP Senators made a weasely deal? What about the 48 GOP Senators who *didn't* betray our principles? I think a party 87% of whose Senators are willing to change a longstanding rule so as to approve all of President Bush's nominations is a party worth staying in.

[wouldntbprudent]

this makes me want to puke

[AlGone2001]

"They agree to vote on all Judges, unless extraordinary circumstances exist"

Insert "pro-life" or anti gay marriage here.

America just lost big time and I'm not supporting the GOP with one more cent.

[madprof98]

So you're leaving the GOP because 7 GOP Senators made a weasely deal? What about the 48 GOP Senators who *didn't* betray our principles?

I'm still trying to figure out the names. Who are these seven???

[Dog Gone]

That's the way I see it, at least as it pertains to nominations.

[LasVegasMac]

Democrats would pledge not to filibuster any of Bush’s future appeals court or Supreme Court nominees except in “extraordinary circumstances.”

Good enough for me. I believe them!

After all, Slick Willy was the one that told us, finger wag and all, ..........

"I did not have sex with that woman!"

So I figure these guys are just as trustworthy.

LVM