The Filibuster
Yes, this is what everyone else is writing and talking about, and I’m jumping on the bandwagon. Seven Republicans of the Non-Wingnut persuasion have listened to their consciences and stood their ground. Common sense has prevailed and the rules won’t be changed in the bottom of the ninth inning. Will these senators have their careers derailed by Karl Rove? Will James Dobson still be their friend?
Bill “Video Doctor” Frist is no longer the fair-haired boy of the Religious Right. His mission was to invoke the Nuclear Option (eliminate the filibuster) and pave the way for multinational corporations and Focus on the Family to hand pick the next few Supreme Court justices.
The Far Right has spent the last several weeks spewing out propaganda about “people of faith” being attacked by activist judges and godless liberals; God wants a conservative on the Supreme Court, etc. This was supposed to lay the groundwork for Frist to step in and wipe out the filibuster. And he failed. He’ll never be president now. He’s probably gonna make a beeline for the nearest animal shelter and “adopt” a few more cats that he can vent his frustrations on.
Priscilla Owen, Janice Rogers Brown and William Pryor were all nominated for federal judgeships during Bush’s first term. All were filibustered, and Bush, being Bush, nominated them again for his second term. (What’s that expression about neurotics doing the same thing over and over…) This agreement means they will be named to Appeals Court vacancies. In return, future judicial nominees should “only be filibustered under extraordinary circumstances.”
This is open to interpretation, but if Bush tries to nominate Pat Robertson or Kenneth Lay to the Supreme Court, this will qualify as “extraordinary circumstances.” Count on it.
The agreement was signed by 14 senators — seven from each party (including Joe Lieberman and John McCain). Frist was disappointed in the deal and made sure everyone knew he hadn’t been a party to it. “It has some good news, and it has some disappointing news and it will require careful monitoring,” he said.
Harry Reid’s reaction was: “Checks and balances have been protected. The integrity of the Supreme Court has been protected from the undue influence of the vocal, radical right wing.”
posted by Tom Harper @ 8:33 PM
21 Comments:
Poor Bill Frist. After he went to all that trouble to appear at the anniversary of the march on the Edmund Pettis Bridge on Martin Luther Kings Day. Now he wont be president?
Talking about wasting a moment
Erik
Erik: Oh yeah, poor Bill. All that ass-kissing with the Christian Right, diagnosing Terri Schiavo by watching a video of her -- all for nothing.
OK Democrat: Be happy but watch your back; yeah, that's about it. But the Righties caved for a reason -- public opinion, self-preservation; I'm not sure what exactly. I think we've got reason to be encouraged -- while watching our backs of course.
Honest Abe, just watch what the Godly do to those moderate Senators. There Will Be Vengeance! Count on it.
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What do you mean, "God's country"? EVERY country is "God's country."
Abraham Lincoln: Hi. I'm not sure what your comment means, but this really is God's country. We moved here last September and this is the greatest place I've ever lived. I'm never moving. (And of course every place is God's country, as other commenters have pointed out.)
On your blog you mention a town in Ohio where most of the downtown businesses have closed or moved to the outskirts. I know this is happening everywhere, but it hasn't happened here yet (knock wood). I'm in a town of about 20,000 with a vibrant, thriving downtown. There's a Wal-Mart 2 miles away and a few malls, but they haven't caused any downtown businesses to close.
I'm from Pittsburgh originally; I don't know if Brookville is near the Pennsylvania line or not.
Jolly Roger: Oh yeah, fire and brimstone for those treasonous moderate Republicans. John McCain's wife will be a pillar of salt before you know it.
Erinberry: True, every country is God's Country. What's that a picture of? Is that Scotland?
Frist is the Grand Marshall at Nascar this weekend and will be trying to recoup some of his lost base. Will they boo him? I heard on the radio this morning?
Tom: yeah, that's about it. But the Righties caved for a reason -- public opinion, self-preservation; I'm not sure what exactly.
^^This describes those seven Senators too. I am not for this compromise. It really didn't accomplish anything unless it changed since Monday night. I have not had time to check out the blogs or the news since Monday Night.
Hey Tom Harper, Small world indeed. I am outside of Pittsburgh.
Why are Republicans so drawn to Nascar? Do they enjoy overpriced Miller Lite Beer, Car Crashes, the Velvet Dice, and fat guys with sweaty armpits?
I'm kinda happy...but...I also feel like we've made a deal with the devil. A sanctimonious, science hatin', scripture quotin', holier-than-thou devil.
And that's the worst kind, right?
WhatBias?: That figures. Typical phony politician, going from the country club to NASCAR so he can say "see, I'm just like you folks." At least that isn't quite as blatant as Trent Lott going to all those NAACP events a few years ago, after he made his racial slur and it got reported.
Samantha: The compromise isn't great, but I'm glad they didn't pull the nuclear option, or have the Senate go on strike. That would've sucked for everybody. Just so the Democrats keep watching their backs.
Pittsburgh -- yeah! I haven't been back there in quite awhile, but I loved it there. My sister still lives near there -- Sewickley.
I.M. Dedd: Yeah, it was a deal with the devil. But I think it was the best they could've hoped for to avoid the "nukular" option and senate strike. And I think Frist's career will suffer because of this, and that's a good thing. He isn't as obnoxious as DeLay, but he's just as slippery and meanspirited.
Yup! Just south of Edinburgh, at Borthwick Castle.
LOL. I love how Frist is so "disappointed" that he doesn't get 100% his-way.
That's what compromise is, Gilligan.
Not that a lot of politicians are great about compromise, regardless of their party..... otherwise they'd have very little to complain about.
I literally laughed out loud when I heard Frist's comments on NPR the other morning though. Disappointed, my ass.
I'm disappointed by a lot of things.... like how many people listen to and obey James Dobson... but I digress.
is it wrong to be happy that at least some of Fristy's thunder's been bottled up and packed away, at least til Rehnquist retires?
(you just KNOW he's going to drag it back out for that happy occasion-- vintage 2005 insanity, drink up.)
~jay: They're all such spoiled little Trust Fund brats, all they can do is kick and scream like a 4-year-old whenever something doesn't go exactly how they wanted. It's funny to watch.
I hope this derails Frist's chances for the White House. Of course then we still have Cheney and little Jeb to watch out for.
That's a really frightening thought. I can't imagine anyone would be stupid enough to fall for either of them though.
Granted, I can't imagine falling for a lot of things that we have fallen for in the past 5 years, but..... famous last words. :-D
~j
~jay: Yeah, there are some scary prospects out there for the White House. At this point I wouldn't even mind if a moderate Republican got nominated; anything to get the wingnuts out of the White House.
I'd almost be content with John McCain.
Almost.
and that's largely due to the efforts he makes to appear less chained by political contributions than most of those wackos.
~jay: Yeah, McCain would work. He wouldn't be my first choice (I'd rather have a Democrat), but I'd rather have McCain run and actually get elected than have another wooden Democrat get nominated and get defeated.
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