[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.

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[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[cardinal4]

I hate the "Extraordinary Circumstances" escape clause, and Im furious at the 14 and McCain for intervening the way they did, but I will concede the point; Frist DID stand his ground. Further, he was blindsided by a bunch of self centered RINOs whose sense of Government responsbility is below that of the Senate Old Boy syndrome..

[hobbes1]

I said this that day. Excellent Post Coop.

[Regulator]

Charming little damage control article.

Good to see the children at NR continue to be a reliable propaganda venue for the dissembling weaklings currently in the "majority" in the Senate.

[Redleg Duke]

Coop, my friend, there are too many on this forum who take it as an article of faith that Republicans will always whimp-out. They cannot fathom any other situation and frankly, are miserable if Republicans are successful.

The Libertarians I can understand. They want the RATS back in power and running wild in hopes that it will cause an armed insurrection that will create a power vacuum that they can fill. They won't get leadership any other way.

The others, the "Conservative Purists", strike me more as masochistic. They seem to get their rocks-off in misery and complaining.

[Mo1]

I don't blame First for any of this

But I do blame the 7 clowns and I will NEVER forget what they did

[bert]

Hmmmm there was no mention of the Free Republic die hard Frist bashers having any influence on events of the days in question.

It would seem that any Free Republic influence must have come from Jim Robinson and his efforts to make the constitution prevail.

[Pelican 5]

Good analysis. At first, I was very upset but I felt that I would wait to see how it played out. So far, so good.

I knew that there would be hand wringing and threats of throwing the baby out with the bath water, but I don't subscribe to that outlook.

Keep the nominations coming like trying to drink water from a firehose.

Pelican Five

[Allosaurs_r_us]

While I agree the Pubbies came away with an up or down vote for these judges, this still does not SOLVE the problem. This practice of filibustering judges needs to just STOP. The majority of the American people have had enough of this!

 

It is nothing but an obstructionist tactic and does nothing but waste the time of every Senator in DC. It is high time both parties put this to bed and change the rules so it cannot be used at all, period. We sent these people to Washington to work for the people. When they pull this petty B.S. they are not doing the job we the people elected them to do,  and are preventing other Senators, who do not agree with them, of doing what is clearly the will of the people. Our constitution is set up so that the majority of the people call the shots. If you want to live where the minority controls the government, move to Cuba.

 

We should have the votes to change this so it never happens again. If not, we need to know the traitors to the party so we can remove them and get somebody in office that will stick to party lines and accomplish the business of the country. It is time these folks, who make their living off the public dime, go to work everyday and do their jobs, just like we the people, who pay their wages, have to do. When was the last time any of us could go to work and sit on our hands all day?

 

I am sick and tired of obstructionists tactics on both sides of government. The constitutional option needs to be exercised in order to put and end to this practice once and for all.

 

 

[GulfBreeze]

Yes we gained alot in this deal but I would akin it much more to hedging our bets than winning a battle.

We let the Dems do the same (taking their losses where it hurt the least.) They gave up six judges that they had no chance of stopping anyway.

We lost some of the inertia that would have overwhelmed anyone standing against cloture.

They gained a better position when filibustering judges who might not actually make it once the up or down vote is given.

In the end. The seven repubs sold out the leadership. but, it's not the catastrophy it looked like.

The big loser I beleive it is the reputation of the Senate by stretching out (YET AGAIN) one of those long drawn ordeals tha makes both sides look like inneffective BAFOONS!

Much better would it have been for the whole thing to just come to a head.

[TBarnett34]

Admittedly, I'm still in a 'wait and see' mode on this whole compromise deal. It's great that the libs have gone and completely exposed themselves as hypocrites in this compromise -- "THEY'RE ALL EXTREMISTS!!!...but we'll let some of them get on the bench I guess!" -- but, of course, this is all contingent on every member of the gang of 14 keeping their word.

And, of course, I don't trust KKK Byrd to keep his. Ever.

[Unknown Freeper]

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