Posted on 05/24/2005 8:38:54 PM PDT by CHARLITE
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D.-Nev.) released the following statement Monday after 14 senators struck a deal to avert the nuclear option and allow votes on certain judicial nominees.
“There is good news for every American in this agreement. The so-called 'nuclear option' is off the table. This is a significant victory for our country, for democracy, and for all Americans. Checks and balances in our government have been preserved.
“The integrity of future Supreme Courts has been protected from the undue influences of a vocal, radical faction of the right that is completely out of step with mainstream America. That was the intent of the Republican 'nuclear option' from the beginning. Tonight, the Senate has worked its will on behalf of reason, responsibility and the greater good.
“Abuse of power will not be tolerated, and attempts to trample the Constitution and grab absolute control are over. We are a separate and equal branch of government. That is our Founding Fathers’ vision, and one we hold dear.
“I offered Senator Frist several options similar to this compromise, and while he was not able to agree, I am pleased that some responsible Republicans and my colleagues were able to put aside their differences and work from the center. I do not support several of the judges that have been agreed to because their views and records display judicial activism that jeopardize individual rights and freedoms. But other troublesome nominees have been turned down. And, most importantly, the U.S. Senate retains the checks and balances to ensure all voices are heard in our democracy.
“I am grateful to my colleagues who worked so hard to achieve this agreement. I am hopeful that we can quickly turn to work on the people’s business. We need to ensure our troops have the resources they need to fight in Iraq and that Americans are free from terrorism. We need to protect retiree’s pensions and long-term retirement security. We need to expand health care opportunities for all families. We need to address rising gasoline prices and energy independence. And we need to restore fiscal responsibility and rebuild our economy so that it lifts up all American workers. That is our reform agenda, the people’s reform agenda. Together, we can get the job done.”
Well I hate say it but he's right for the 109th Congress. Unless two of the seven republicans break their word. What a sad state of affairs.
Could somebody signal Capt. Hyperbole please.
“I offered Senator Frist several options similar to this compromise, and while he was not able to agree, I am pleased that some responsible Republicans and my colleagues were able to put aside their differences and work from the center. I do not support several of the judges that have been agreed to because their views and records display judicial activism that jeopardize individual rights and freedoms. But other troublesome nominees have been turned down. And, most importantly, the U.S. Senate retains the checks and balances to ensure all voices are heard in our democracy.
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Even those voices that are shrill and anti-Constitution and seek to dismantle this great experiment in the guise of protecting it.
Hypocrisy knows no bounds when it comes to some folks.
The 'searchlight' is on you and the moderates.
Keep it coming , Dusty, and folks will eventually vote you and your ilk into oblivion.
I contacted my state republican party headquarters today and had them remove me from their mailing and donor list. I was told several had beat me to the punch.
"I'd like to thank Senator McCain and the other sleeper cells that were so instrumental on establishing the workers party control over the legislature and the judiciary."
See the tag line? I've had it for quite a while. On Sunday May 22 2005 the DNC Chairman Howard Dean confirmed it.
The "constitutional" option is NOT off the table. I heard Sen. Frist state this on Sean Hannity's radio program. It the Dems continue to filibuster well-qualified candidates, Sen. Frist will bring this option back. I hope so!
What a fool. The actions of the Senate and House together are consider a check or balance against the actions of the Executive or Judicial branches of the Federal Government.
The notion that there needs to be some sort of checks WITHIN a popularly elected legislative body is ignorant, and frankly juvenile.
And I proudly proclaim: Reid is off his rocker.
um, dingy . . . still on the table and willing to be used.
I have no doubt that he will. Frist has been very good. But the agreement signed by the 7 republicans would preclude an honorable man or woman from voting to change the rules. I know, I know, they haven't acted honorably by agreeing to the agreement. But still andd all I don't like being associated with flks whose word is not their bond. I'm funny about that.
The sooner the better
Won't do any good. Reid now knows Frist does not have the votes.
Politicians can explain away anything, but when the text lets the Dems vote their conscience, for the Pubbies to say they are not, but just being hacks, puts them behind the eight ball. That is of course exactly what the Dems are claiming. The twin Brutuses claim otherwise. Just a few more words in the right places would have done the job, some claim was done. They were not there. Either the Pubbie negotiators were dumb, or they were not there for a reason. You be the judge.
We will rue the day our renegades signed this abomination. They have probably surrendered control of the Supreme Court for the next 20 years to the left and have seriously strained the belief of about half of their base that the Republicans represent their interests. Just seven bad eggs have created what may soon become fatal cracks in the Republican coalition. The Senate leadership and the Administration have a very narrow window to make this right.
I really see very few ways for this to come out OK.
Honor is everything, for some of us.
Graham and DeWine are not dumb. I won't vouch for the others though.
Let this scumbag Reid bleat. Who cares?
After all, his base has just been thoroughly Roved.
The nuke is still sitting right there in the middle of the table and Frist has his finger hovering over the button. But now, thanks to "the compromise", the "moderate" Republicans have got exactly the cover they needed so they could vote for the rules change.
The moment the Democrats filibuster a qualified nominee, "moderate" Republicans can cry "foul" and proclaim that since the Democrats have broken their end of the bargain, they "now have no choice but to support the rules change". It's a beautiful thing.
Personally, I can hardly believe that the Democrats were so stupid as to walk right into this trap. And remember, we only need TWO of these Republicans to join the rest and the mushroom cloud happens. Both DeWine and Graham have stated that they will have little tolerance for bad faith from the Democrats.
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