[hflynn]

If the president did this, then he's as dumb as our enemies claim he is and personally, I don't think he's dumb at all.

Here's what the president did:

1. He and Frist stepped aside and let the Dems back-room an unenforceable deal with McCain and the other 6 Rep dwarfs. A deal not worth the paper it is written on.

2. W and Frist then watched the back-room dealers and the Dems announce to the world, as Sheets Bryd did, the Republic, the Senate and all that is democratic has been saved for future generations to come and that the Senate would now be able to get on with the peoples business. They go further and say the Filibuster lives but will only be invoked under extreme circumstances which remain undefined, but the nuclear option died and cannot be brought up again by this Congress. By the way Mr. President to top it all off we rewrote the Constitution in our little meeting and you Mr. President must now submit future appointees for anything to the 14 morons for our approval prior to being sent to any congressional committee.

3. Frist and W hit the Senate with a Bolten of Lightening by simply scheduling the Bolten appointment for Senate debate less than 48 hours after the Republic is saved by the Senate. The extreme circumstance not previously defined is now defined as 2 pieces of paper protected by Executive Privilege that the dems insist are the linchpin to Bolten approval or non-approval, the same Bolten approved by the Senate 4 previous times for other positions.

4. Basically W and Frist let the Dem Senators run in a gigantic circle for a couple of weeks. We now stand exactly where we were prior to the agreement. When the Senate reconvenes Frist will have no choice but to ask for a vote on changing the Senate rules and this time no 1 will listen to any arguments to not change the rules to a simple majority vote.

It was brilliant. The Dems were allowed to destroy their own arguments for not changing the rules in less than 48 hours by merely letting Dems be Dems.

[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.

[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!

[Cboldt]

You'll enjoy -> http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1412393/posts if you haven't been there already. Reid is reported to have requested some of the 7 DEM signers to oppose voting on the nominations of Haynes and Kavanaugh, ie., to vote NAY on cloture.

[Cboldt]

You'll enjoy -> http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1412706/posts too. Reid is reported to plan to filibuster Saad and Myers, i.e., to have the DEM caucus vote NAY on cloture. That's 4 nominations for circuit court judges as possible battlegrounds for the nuclear option, plus the Bolton nomination.