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.
[yawn]
I agree. You can put lipstick on it, but it's still a
Wrong. History shows that ANY time there is a "compromise" (1850, 1991 budget deal) the winner is the one who gets ANYTHING tangible, regardless of the "principle" given up. Check it out: find me one "compromise" in Am. history where the winner got a principle. On the other hand, in the Comp. of 1850, the north got CA and the south got a promise to enforce the FSL. In 1991, the Dems got a tax hike for a promise to cut spending; and at Versailles in 1919, the Brits and French got tangible cuts in German arms in return for "promises" about "freedom of the seas" from Wilson.
No he didn't.
But from the article, he does now! That means that this was a masterful stroke for the conservatives inside the Party.
So, you're saying Frist won DESPITE not having the votes? I suggest you rethink your position.
You may think it would be smart for the Senate Demodogs to force a cloture vote on every single nomination to dogcatcher, as well as every other item of business, but I don't.
Would they be penalized by the voters? - I believe, yes.
Would it hurt the country? - I believe, yes, though you may simply wish that no business ever be done by Congress, and there are times I could agree with that.
Even if the C.O. had succeeded (and it was clearly very close) that would not have prevented extended "debate" on each and every nominee before the vote being taken - instead of the Demodogs conceding in the normal business manner of "unanimous consent" and quick (often voice) votes on many "non-controversials".
This is better (as far as THIS particular Congress is concerned) whether Frist had the votes or not. If this works out to keep the Senate functioning, it is easy to imagine that it could be much worse than this.
As far as future Congresses, I agree with you that it would be good to have this question settled for all time.
Let's see...Against the filibuster were McCain, Warner, Snowe, Collins, Chafee (that's five), and a firm "no-commitment" from Specter (that's six). Seems that Frist didn't have the votes for the nuclear option.