Posted on 12/12/2005 5:33:27 AM PST by RWR8189
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) threatened yesterday to strip Democrats of the power to filibuster if they block the vote on Supreme Court nominee Samuel A. Alito Jr.
"It would be against the intent of the Founding Fathers and our Constitution to deny Sam Alito an up-or-down vote on the floor of the United States Senate," he said on "Fox News Sunday."
His willingness to consider a procedural maneuver called the "nuclear option" seemed somewhat premature. Last week, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) said that although he anticipates intense questioning of Alito during next month's hearings, he does not detect strong sentiment for using the filibuster to stall a vote.
A spokesman for the leading Senate Democrat agreed.
"As far as I can tell, the only person talking about a filibuster is Senator Frist and some of the far-right fringe groups," said Jim Manley, spokesman for Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (Nev.). "This kind of talk is silly and unhelpful."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
So what does a "threat" from Dr. Frist really mean? Has he ever carried out action on one of his many "threats"? Apparently, he is an outstanding heart surgeon, and I think he should resume that occupation come January 2007 and forget about politics.
But, but...
The views that Samuel Alito expressed on reapportionment in a 20-year-old document could jeopardize his Supreme Court nomination and provoke a filibuster, a leading Democratic senator said Sunday. " From Biden on 20 Nov...
Sure, it's only those irresponsible Republicans trying to be unhelpful by mentioning a filibuster...HYPOCRITES
Frist has accomplished quite a bit, despite the bleatings around here to the contrary.
Nothing.
Has he ever carried out action on one of his many "threats"?
Umm, no. And that's what's so depressing about the leadership in the Senate. They need to grow a set and start calling these scumbags on their anti-American comments and tactics.
The best threats are ones that don't need to be carried out.
Soooo, dingy Harry now has a SPOKES man! All he needs Farrrrakaaan's body guards and he will be some body. RATs are getting series!
They are worng!
At any time during the past 5 years, any Republican Senator cold have launched a judicial filibuster against a judge who was up for floor vote.That would have allowed Frist to end the farce and the threat of its use. It also would have protected them somewhat from criticism by eliminating the use of filibuster against a non-controversial nominee.
Democrats would have been caught unaware and unprepared and their allies in the Stone-age press would not have been able to gin up contorversy. It would have been clean, and quick and short-lived.
I did read a column more than a year ago by Paul Weyrich, who says that Frist is vastly underrated by conservatives. Funny thing is, I do not recall the details of that article. I'm like the guy who said that the best threats are the ones that need not be verbalized. Still, I wonder if Frist's eventual successor will be any more effective.
I'll believe it when I see it. The nuclear option only works when you use it.
You mean like this? (Gee, let me guess what your answer will be...)
FROM THE DESK OF MARK STEPHENS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, REPORT FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 5TH, 2005
This week has not been good for the Democrat Party. Republicans are on the offensive, and Democrats have been scurrying in every direction-away from their ties to indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, away from Howard Dean, and away from Senate recruiting problems in New Jersey.
The week started out with revelations that Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) had been less than forthright about his connections to indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. According to Monday's Washington Post, Senator Dorgan actually held a fundraiser in Mr. Abramoff's skybox at the MCI Center, and numerous sources reported that he received thousands in contributions from Abramoff and his Native American clients. What is particularly troubling about Senator Dorgan's memory lapse is that Mr. Dorgan, himself, has been one of the most vocal voices on the Indian Affairs committee which is investigating the Abramoff affair. But Senator Dorgan isn't alone in his hypocrisy. Indeed no less than 39 of his fellow Democrats have taken money from Abramoff associates or his clients, yet the Democrat Party is somehow under the illusion that this is a winning issue for them. I trust that in the future, Democrats will look to their own ledgers before casting aspersions on others.
As if their newly-discovered ties to Jack Abramoff weren't enough to give Democrats in leadership a bad hair week, Tuesday brought fresh comments from DNC Chairman Howard Dean that sent his party running for cover. During an interview on WOAI Radio in San Antonio, he said: "the idea that we're going to win the War in Iraq is an idea which is just plain wrong." Like passengers on a sinking vessel, his fellow Democrats had to choose between jumping overboard and going down with the ship. Senate candidates Claire McCaskill (MO) and Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. (TN) chose to jump ship, and Senator Debbie Stabenow (MI) looked like a deer in headlights after being asked four different ways about her thoughts on the Iraq War. Rumors abound that leaders in the Democrat Party are desperately trying to find a closet with strong enough locks to keep Chairman Dean put away for the duration of the campaign season. Unfortunately for them, they still have Senator Kerry who is now in the double digits on his Iraq positions.
And finally, the DSCC and Senator Jon Corzine (D-NJ) finished the Democrats' week of nightmares by at long last settling on a second-choice candidate to serve the rest of Corzine's Senate term. After being rejected by their first choice-acting New Jersey Governor Richard Codey-the DSCC and Corzine picked Rep. Bob Menendez amid the ensuing chaos. No stranger to scandal, Menendez's Senate presence will make it tough for Democrats to portray anything close to a squeaky clean image. In an editorial today, even the liberal New York Times said the choice of Menendez was "disappointing." They also remarked: "there have been 75 corruption indictments in New Jersey over the last four years. The public has a right to yearn for a break from the past, and Mr. Menendez does not represent clean slate."
NRSC Chair Elizabeth Dole was in New Jersey this week and had a much different experience from the Democrats' Garden State woes. Senator Dole was there to headline a $150,000 fundraising reception, and let me tell you something: I don't think New Jersey Republicans have been this united in years. But the optimism isn't limited to New Jersey. In fact, this week saw a tremendous momentum swing in our favor across the nation. The NRSC is on offense in blue states across America, and President Bush was active raising funds for Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele on Monday and Congressman Mark Kennedy in Minnesota today. Both Kennedy and Steele are well on their way to building powerful Senate campaigns.
It was also good to see the President touting our growing economy and outlining his strategy for victory in Iraq. We all want our troops to come home as soon as possible, and are proud of the incredible work our women and men in the military do each and every day. With the important December 15th elections approaching, it appears that the people of Iraq are taking another major step towards a democratic future.
As we approach the New Year, I'm happy to report that Republicans are gaining momentum while Democrats are-not unexpectedly-tripping over their words and each other.
Sincerely,
Mark Stephens
Executive Director
National Republican Senatorial Committee
Headline should read: Barney Fife draws line in sand!
Dr Frist is the reason that the gang of 7 republicans compromised constitutional principles to prevent Frist from implementing the nuclear option.
They made it clear to the good doctor that they were Rino's more interested in the status quo than in following the constitution.
Don't blame Frist for the failure to use the nuke option. Blame CFR McCain and crew.
Do you a serious GOP presidential candidate in 2008 other than McCain or Guiliani? Unless one has a "big name," it seems to me, he has little chance of winning early primaries.
Did you know that Don Knotts is a native of WV? I don't know why I knew that.
Also things are looking better here in WV than in the last 70 years for the GOP which is so far mostly conservative, since we have been getting more and more state senators and legislators elected from our low point of 1 senator (out of 34) ten years ago. Never give up!
No, I did not know about a Don Knotts Boulevard. I understand that there is a "Red Skelton Bridge" over the Wabash in Vincennes, IN. Does Mr. Knotts come back to Morgantown that often?
Don Knotts was unable to return for some ceremony last month because he is getting on in years and his health did not permit, but people remember him affectionately. Actually, I think WV overall kind of likes the idea of being underestimated by the elite, which is why his acting resonated so well.
I have no doubt that our very best candidate would be the vice president....hands down.
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