How the Senate majority leader played a game of filibuster chicken

Dr. Frist's periodic E-mail/National Review ^ | 6/7/05 VOLPAC E-mail (6/20/05 publication) | Byron York

[Coop]

I don't know why it's so difficult for so many around here to comprehend. I won't go so far as to declare this as a victory for the GOP (that remains to be seen, IMHO), but tactically they gave up nothing in exchange for a few concessions.

The strategic risk of a ticked off conservative base remains, but that's controlled in part by people reading this thread.

Note: URL not yet available for this article.

[Coop]

Ping

[prairiebreeze]

ping

[kevkrom]

I won't go so far as to declare this as a victory for the GOP (that remains to be seen, IMHO), but tactically they gave up nothing in exchange for a few concessions.

The more I reflect on it, the harder it is for me to see that the GOP (not even the McCain RINOs) gave up anything, unless there's a part of the "deal" that hasn't been made public. The only actual effect I see of the "deal" is that the Democrats will abandon filibusters on most of the delayed nominations -- a clear win for Frist. If the Democrats try to filibuster another nominee, we're back to square one again (nothing lost for the GOP, but the Democrats already losing with regard to several nominations) except that there's a clear precedent over who will and won't back down.

I still think McCain & Co. acted like traitors in trying to broker a deal to get around their own party's position, but the net effect of the deal looks pretty good. For now.

[johnny7]

Wrong.

The only way this could be portrayed as a Republican victory... would be that when the it came to numbers, Frist didn't have the votes to break the filabuster.

You can dress it up any way you want... but it's still butt-ugly.

[Miss Marple]

Thanks, Coop. I was never mad at Frist, but I am still PO'd at The Gang of 14 (who made a fatuaous appearance on Hardball last night). Frist isn't a grandstander, so often what he does is unseen and unremarked upon.

This is a very informative article on the behind- the-scenes stuff. Thanks for posting it!

[Coop]

In other words, you will not or cannot argue with any points presented in this article. But you're still right anyway.

[yawn]

[Coop]

I still think McCain & Co. acted like traitors in trying to broker a deal to get around their own party's position

But as I suspected (Graham alluded to this when the deal came out) and this article supports, Frist was kept in the loop of what was going on.

Please don't mistake my comment as supporting John McCain! :-)

[Bahbah]

My sense of this whole thing is that Frist knew what he was doing and stuck to his guns. He did not lose any points with me in the great scheme of things.

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

Thanks for posting this Coop. The only unknown factor in this is whether Frist really has the 50 votes he needs even with DeWine and Graham on board. In other words, Specter has not indicated which way he would go if the option came up for a vote.

[rightazrain]

I believe this analysis is correct, confirmed by the unfolding of events since the gang of 14 made their deal.

The most important factor is the whooping Lindsey Graham and Mike DeWine have taken from their constituents. If the Dems filibuster again, these two have no political cover and will have to go along with the majority to salvage their political hides.

[johnny7]

[zzzz]

[cb]

P*** on the article trying to sugar coat a demorat win, instead note that Bolton is being filibustered while we speak!

One more thing, a plan to push through a bunch of district judges, which the demorats haven't been blocking, is a further retreat as it takes the attention away from what the demorats have been doing....which is block certain types of nominees. The republicans are in full retreat, and this time no amount of articles about how they really won will change my mind that a republican vote is a wasted vote!

[kevkrom]

But as I suspected (Graham alluded to this when the deal came out) and this article supports, Frist was kept in the loop of what was going on.

I imagine the message was sent loud and clear that a real betrayal of the party line would result in punishments (loss of prestigious committee assignments, withdrawal of support for re-election, etc.) -- nonetheless, the apparent betrayal was still damaging enough.

[funkywbr]

And LOST!

And lost my support $$$$$$$$$$ too!

The GOP can kiss my arse and stop sending me weekly beggings.

When the time comes the NRA and swifties will get my $$$ but not the GOP until they grow a pair.

[alnick]

In other words, Specter has not indicated which way he would go if the option came up for a vote.

I heard him say, or read a quote by him, that it would be unfair for these nominees not to get an up or down vote.

[Coldwater Creek]

I totally agree with you that Frist did his job correctly on this one.

Bill Frist is my senator and I do not always agree with his tactics, but my gut feeling on this one, was that he was not to blame for the mess, and I was right.

[Coop]

P*** on the article trying to sugar coat a demorat win

Hard to argue with such reasoned, point-by-point analysis and thoughtful prose. You've convinced me! Did you and johnny attend the same political strategy seminar?

[Coop]

LOL!! One thing that I knew would happen when I posted this article is that most critics would respond with general cyberscreaming and cursing and very little, if any, substantive arguments about the deal & strategy. Because that's exactly what we've seen for the past couple of weeks.

Do you really think you're helping your cause?

[StoneGiant]

Wrong.

The only way this could be portrayed as a Republican victory... would be that when the it came to numbers, Frist didn't have the votes to break the filibuster.

You can dress it up any way you want... but it's still butt-ugly.

 

 

I agree.  You can put lipstick on it, but it's still a