Frist Says He's Not Interested in Deals

[wicket]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=3&u=/ap/20050426/ap_on_go_co/filibuster_fight&sid=84439559

Reacting to a Democratic offer in the fight over filibusters, Republican leader Bill Frist said Tuesday he isn't interested in any deal that fails to ensure Senate confirmation for all of President Bush's judicial nominees.

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid had been quietly talking with Frist about confirming at least two of Bush's blocked nominees from Michigan in exchange for withdrawing a third nominee. This would have been part of a compromise that would have the GOP back away from a showdown over changing Senate rules to prevent Democrats from using the filibuster to block Bush's nominees.

But Frist, in a rare news conference conducted on the Senate floor, said he would not accept any deal that keeps his Republican majority from confirming judicial nominees that have been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"Are we going to step back from that principle? The answer to that is no," Frist said.

[Pacifist Patriot]

1. Unwillingness to compromise.

That will actually probably work in our favor.

[Born Free]

97. democrats should not have given in...

whenever the democrats give in at all the right wingers will lie and cheat and take everything from them - the democrats should remain united and refuse to back down from doing what is best for America - show Americans, They need to show Americans they have some backbone if they expect Americans to ever trust them to stand up to perceived national threats.

[Pacifist Patriot]

118. I don't know.

Immovable posturing could backfire right now. I think the extremism of recent Republican moves is starting to bother mainstream Republicans. Besides, Americans like to think of themselves as civilized. Anything we can do that makes the Republicans look bad is probably a good thing. Willingness to compromise being met with obstinance reflects poorly on the stubborn. I think Reid probably knows exactly what he's doing.

[Catherine Vincent]

2. I hate to say this but Frist is a scary dude.

When I saw clips of him from last Sunday speaking, his demeanor was too preachy. I felt like I was at a funeral.

[wicket]

4. he's as cold as a fish

n/t

[asjr]

28. And as ugly as homemade sin. Inside and out.

[nolabels]

14. I hate to say it but Harry Reid is a sell out and a bad salesman

I am glad the brave cat torturer backed out, and if anybody thinks Harry Reid is some smart dude or something, better think again

[Gman]

23. If Reid offered a deal and Frist refused it in an "all or none" manner...

who looks unreasonable to the public? Who looks real extreme? It ain't Reid. This was carefully calculated to make Frist and all the others look like unreasonable radicals.

I don't have a problem with this. It's just political maneuvering.

[zbdent]

25. Didn't someone say that we're having all this "terror" because

his predecessor tried to "shoot for the moon"?

Hmmm . . .

[UCLA Dem]

36. yes, i agree. the dems have to make the repukes look like the fanatics

reid knows that frist can't back down because he's running for president and if he does he'll loose the support of the religious wing-nuts.

for once it seems that the dems are actually utilizing the extremism of the right to get the public on their side.

[renaissanceguy]

53. I hope this is how it plays out

and that Reid isn't going to cave in. Time will tell.

http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues/588704

[nolabels]

63. Said the homely step-sister about the family princess's next date

I kind of feel like angry about this but then I remember most people don't even follow politics much anymore. I realize that regardless if it's a show or for real it didn't matter they are all seem to be getting what they bargained for, these politicians or deal makers who are really just whores.

The only people who pay for it are the common Joe's like us. There is really no significant amount of people really watching or could interpret what's going on after the endless propaganda described as sound bites. The politicos can be ignored at will because there is little threat of retribution or payback unless corporate america okay's it. The term legalese(along with a lot of other words) has been launched into the stratosphere on purpose

That big stupid step by these whores will have to be made before the catalyst jells. Us common Joe's don't have the time or wherewithal to follow this stuff at infinitum or the inside scoop to filter out all the B.S. They have legalized thievery going on in DC and it will take another revolution to stop it

[lancdem]

94. Bingo

Reid knew Frist wouldn't compromise.

[LiberallyInclined]

19. why do you hate to say it?

I have no problem whatsoever in admitting that he gives me the creeps and the willies....

[Catherine Vincent]

43. Well because sometimes I don't like criticizing people that I don't

know that much about. You see, my criticism was on a personal nature against Frist and not a political one.

[LiberallyInclined]

70. based on his very public political persona-

I can pretty much guarantee that i wouldn't find his private self any more palatable.

[billyoc]

75. OMG, please warn me

before you post that again. :scared:

Man, that guy is creepy.

[The_Casual_Observer]

71. Strange that you would say this, I have been calling the guy

"the undertaker" for months now. He looks and acts like a southern gentleman funeral director.

[gademocrat7]

101. definitely undertaker material

but not a southern gentleman.

[nashville_brook]

84. he's desperate

he's not a light weight, but he's no heavy weight either. he's been handed a chore that is not playing well in nashville. he's going to throw everything at this religious right strategy until it breaks him.

[Avalux]

3. Good

Keep it up - we aren't backing down either. You'll lose on this one Frist and so will the Republican party.

[Politicub]

5. He's a rigid puke

From Frist, "You will confirm our extremist judges OR ELSE!"

Here's a big FU Frist from GA!

[Pirate Smile]

6. Harry Reid is a smart man.

"And it's kind of smart for Democrats to offer a compromise that Republicans will have to reject, rather than the other way around, right?"

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/TheNote/story?id=156238

Plus, the whole point of this is for Bush to be able to appoint a Supreme Court nominee and get them through the Senate with only 51 votes. A deal won't accomplish that for the Republicans and that is their plan.

[demo dutch]

21. The danger is if they accept a compromise, and * proposes

proposes candidates worse than the current ones. We talking Life-time appts! The dems need to stay firm.

[Pirate Smile]

30. Frist rejected it which Reid knew he would.

[demo dutch]

50. In that case, I am amazed at the stupity of Frist... well maybe not!

[Pirate Smile]

65. The Republicans are doing an amazingly good job of getting themselves

into Lose/Lose situations.

Poor guys.
:evilgrin:

[Plaid Adder]

7. Good. He doesn't deserve a deal.

Have the Democrats learned nothing? NEVER give these people an inch! They will just take and take until you have nothing left!!

Grr,

The Plaid Adder

[wicket]

11. I think Reid has something up his sleeve

I hope anyway!

[renaissanceguy]

54. I hope so too.

http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues/588704

[Fridays Child]

8. Frist: And do you know why I'm not interested in any deals?

Because Mr. Rove told me so.

[GarySeven]

9. Frist fell neatly into a trap

Reid's offer of a compromise wasn't real - it was, instead, a classic political trap. He knew that if Frist had cut a deal with Democrats then the whole wing-nut nation would be screaming for his head. Reid knew Frist could never accept those consequences - and that refusal would simultaneously paint Frist as both intolerant towards compromise and totally captured by the religious right.

It was a neat little trap and Frist played right into it.

[missouri dem 2]

35. Bingo! frist is in the box.

[Vickers]

10. So, Frist refuses to work with other members of Congress?

Frist is uncooperative?

Why doesn't Frist want to get the work of the Senate done?

Is Frist trying to shut the work of the government down?

Why can't Frist get along with folks of differing opinions?

Is it time for Frist to look at other options?

etc.

etc.



Always, ALWAYS describe them as they would describe us.

[wildwww2]

41. Make the rich richer. And drive the middle class into poverty.

That has been the #1 job of congress since the supreme fascists made evil doer Bu$h our so called leader. So the work of the Senate is getting done. Frist does not want the government shut down. They might be slowed down in their attack against gays and their murderous war crime in Iraq. Frist would have to live in a democracy to care about differing opinions. The option I suggest for Frist is to gather up his worse than Nazi fellow GOPers and move to another country with their fascism they seem to love so much.
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[Vickers]

55. You missed my point.

That's OK, though.

My point is, the way you DESCRIBE what he is doing is important. Saying that he is being slowed in getting his way emphasizes the power the RW has.

Emphasizing his "I won't work with others" attitude emphasizes his petulance and anti-democracy ethos.

[Lerkfish]

12. absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I knew there was no good outcome to offering a compromise. They hold all the marbles, why should they compromise?

I love our dem politicians, but sometimes you have to wonder if they are overestimating the repubs generosity or humanity. These guys are the definition of hubris. They aint' giving up nothing until you force them to.

[maxrandb]

13. I'm Impressed

Usually they wait until after the Dems make a deal before they break it.

The picture is crystal clear now, isn't it Harry and Joe? No Retreat Baby, No Surrender.

The American people are with you on this. Stick to your principles and Shut the Effing thing down!

All they've done is screw the middle class anyway. Nothing coming out of the Senate would be better than the shit that has come out recently.

That would be a good talking point, or bumper sticker.

"We Shut It Down, Because They Were Screwing America Anyway"

"Republicans complain that government can't work and is corrupt. Then they get elected to prove themselves right"

[Itchinjim]

15. "Bring It On!" Sez Billy Boy...

This is going to be entertaining.

[HereSince1628]

16. One more step into the corner for Frist.

He is leaving himself and the senate republicants little room.

The American people including 50% of Republicans don't want a rule change on filibustering.

The Democrats are floating through the press the message that they want compromise.

In short order going nuclear is going to be the only option that Frist is going to have. While that makes him dangerous it also makes him predictable.

[Toby109]

17. Reid called his bluff!

He is one clever bastard. Frist has now gone "all in" and he doesn't hold the winning hand. HAH!

[AnneD]

59. Reid....

the quintessential Senator from Nevada (home of Reno and Vegas). Guess the ability to play cards is absorbed by osmosis. Frist may have lost his shirt on this outing, or at least a chance at the presidency in 08. I hate even the thought of compromising with these thieves and liars. Little good will come of it.

[Windy]

18. Who are the contested judges from Michigan?

I'm in Michigan and a paralegal. We had a case in front of one judge who was up for appointment to the sixth circuit. I'm just curious if it was him.... David McKeague. He is a TERRIBLE judge...just an FYI

[indy_azcat]

29. OK here's a great point:

Why is ALL the focus on the senatorial procedure - instead of on the judges themselves? Shouldn't the emphasis be on WHY the judges are poor candidates? I feel like it's become a gross generalization - these judges are bad. Fine, but I'm going to assume that each one was reviewed individually and found faulty (at least under a liberal eyeglass) for one or more points on a case by case basis. This is as opposed to the growing feeling that they all share one characteristic that makes them poor choices (and thus must be rammed through en masse). It's tough to find even their individual names in news - they're just "Bush Appointees".

2 cents (why don't computer keyboards have a cents sign?)

[renaissanceguy]

56. Good point, but I think that by focusing on this

we are focusing on the larger issues...that Repugs want to silence the minority and take away our system of checks and balances.


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues/588704

[AnneD]

60. I have heard

the Dems point out the reasons why these judges were rejected when they speak of the nuclear option. Schumer (sp?) has been very precise on that.

[starroute]

40. Yes, McKeague is one of them

The other one that Reid proposed to compromise on was Richard A. Griffin. And Henry W. Saad is the third Michigan judge, the one Reid was not willing to accept under any circumstances.

If you have anything to report on McKeague that isn't in the usual writeups, please do spell it out. The more we know about these guys the better!

[Kolesar]

91. McKeague is one---see article excerpt

Officials said as part of an overall deal, Reid has indicated he is willing to allow the confirmation of Richard Griffin and David McKeague, both of whom Bush has twice nominated for the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. At the same time, the Democratic leader wants the nomination of Henry Saad scuttled. Democrats succeeded in blocking all three men from coming to a vote in 2004 in a struggle that turned on issues of senatorial prerogatives as well as ideology.

Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., has led the opposition to all three men. He said Republicans had refused even to hold hearings on two of former President Bill Clinton’s nominees to the 6th Circuit.
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050426/NEWS0102/50426013
http://news.google.com/news?q=%22carl%20levin%22%20judges&hl=en&lr=&sa=N&tab=wn
You are very welcome! :)

[jpgray]

20. Excellent! We have justification up the wazoo now if he dares go nuclear

We were willing to deal, they were not, they tried to shut us up, we refused to do so. That's a narrative people can relate to.

[nashville_brook]

86. like you read my mind

:)

[CO Liberal]

22. Frist Wants To Turn The Senate Into a Rubber-Stamp for Bush

That makes HIS actions unconstitutional, IMHO.

[0007]

24. Frist will be dealing next month, and I hope Reid does the right thing,

and informs the good doctor that its a "no go"

"Republicans can essentially eliminate judicial filibusters by majority vote, and Democrats concede Frist may be only one or two votes shy of the necessary total. At the same time, internal GOP polling shows lagging public support for such a move, and no showdown is expected until next month at the earliest."

I would hope that our Democratic leaders stand face to face with Frist on this issue.

[JPZenger]

26. Gridlock is Good

So it sounds like the Senate is headed towards complete gridlock. That is great - it will neutralize the huge advantage that the GOP has in Senate seats. It will prevent the GOP agenda from moving forward. (That is why the U.S. Chamber of Commerce opposed the nuclear option - because it would screw up their attempts to push through a set of laws, such as a permanent abolition of the inheritance tax.)

[nolabels]

66. Here, here, I second that notion

I hope gridlock does prevail, but then again as we have seen, most anything is possible and the theocratic fascists think they can put anything on the table they want.

Not being able compromise is where power hungry scumbags like Henry Kissinger's types step in to work their part. Them brokered deals will happen, it's just a question of when, who and how.

[kineneb]

27. Heil, Herr Frist! n/t

[still_one]

31. when will the idiot democrats learn

you do not negotiate with these scum, you fight them at every turn

The dems should be campaining NOW for 2006. Here are the issues:

1. Do you want seperation of church and state?
2. Do you want seperation of powers
3. Do you want social security and medicare not to be private?


We should NEVER compromise on these issues. If you believe the polls, the public is with us on this, but even if they are NOT when are we going to stand for something

[Teaser]

33. The negotiation was a tactic, and it succeeded.

It forced Frist to reject a reasonable compromise, which is what it was intended to do.

Do DUers understand how to play politics?

[wicket]

42. yup- now Frist looks uber extreme

He won't compromise and he doesn't have the votes- and changing the filibuster rule is very unpopular with the American public. Reid has got him just where he wants him. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! :)

[still_one]

45. I hope you are right

but 2006 will show just how much stuff the dems are really made from

[Strawman]

62. Yep - no way Frist can spin this as a win for him

he must figure he wins by losing and that it will pay off for him in those southern primaries in 2008. or he is just fucking stupid.

if the Republicans are smart they'll have one of their "moderates" step in and try to broker a compromise that is some kind of minor tweak of the Reid proposal so they can claim some credit and save some face. it's hard to imagine them reasonably expecting anything more generous than that.

but now I think there's no way Frist is going to get the votes for the nuclear option, and if he does all of the so called moderates on the Republican side of the aisle will be exposed as not very moderate at all. The message to them should be more than "we're going to tie the Senate in procedural knots," it should be if you vote for this we're going to target you in the next election and kick your red ass out of its blue state Senate seat.

[lancdem]

96. Some of us do

:)

[UCLA Dem]

32. Looks like he's going down with the "nuclear" ship as is his '08 prez camp

what a shame! :sarcasm:

[Justitia]

34. I would not want to play poker w/that Mormon Sen from Nevada...

Harry is either one incredibly cagey, clever dude - or a sellout.
I like to think the former and offer my hearty congrats!
The best at this game never really let you know one way or the other, so my esteem for the Minority Leader is growing.

If the tyrannical dictators had taken the deal, I would have crapped my pants!

[nashville_brook]

87. cagey, clever dudes are good at know

how to steer a sale. sellout? if this manuver results in lost yardage i will mourn the loss and root for the next play. but i have faith that this pass connected with this news piece.

frist can go home and pout, he's been psyched out

[Beetwasher]

37. BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Reid is One Helluva Cagey Mofo!! The Rats Are TRAPPED!!

They are fucked. They can't back down on the fillibuster, they can't compromise and they don't have the votes to win!!!! LOL!!!

[indigo32]

69. He is

They are looking like the A$$holes they are.

[0007]

73. Do you hear the wolves howling in the background Beetwasher?

'Tis sweet music to my ears I tell you!!!!

[Roland99]

38. What an asshole

[rocktivity]

39. Thank goodness!

I've been hoping that maybe the compromise story was some kind of plant or diversion, especially since public polls disapprove 2-1. I never thought I'd be happy about something Frist said. Let the show go on!

:popcorn:
rocknation

[primavera]

46. Amen!

I was terrified this would be another Repuke success story where heavyhandedness won yet another round at the expense of Vichy Dems like Biden ready to cave at the first available opportunity. Braindead DINOs have got to learn that you can't compromise with opponents who are not willing to compromise; compromise on your part only introduces the scent of blood into the water and sends your opponents into a feeding frenzy. If the Repukes really want their fascists appointed to the bench, fine, they can use their nuclear option and face the political fallout from that decision. Giving them 80% of what they want as a total freebie gift with zero political price is nothing less than insane.

Dems have got to catch on to the fact that Repukes aren't playing by the same rules. Consider the Real ID Act. Sennsenbrenner intentionally drafted a proposal with all kinds of rabidly unconstitutional bullshit in it that had never been part of his original agenda. But its inclusion gives him a worthless token which would be shot down by the courts anyway, which he can then "graciously" offer to drop as evidence of his willingness to be "reasonable" and compromise, while still holding onto all of the stuff he really wanted. In other words, he "gives up" stuff he never had to begin with, so has not compromised at all and walks away with 100% of what he really wanted in the first place.

Offering one-sided deals is only going to encourage Repukes to be even bolder than they already are. It's that willingness to trade everything for nothing in exchange that is killing Democrats.

[alcibiades_mystery]

44. LOL! Advantage: Reid

Reid leaked the compromise stuff to force Frist's hand. Just lovely.

"Hey! We're trying to work something out with these guys so that the rules will remain the same, but they keep wanting it all. They really are power hungry, see?"

Reid should now come out with the hardline and really send the nuclear option packing.

On ne passe pas!!!!

[Roland99]

47. "Are we going to step back from that principle?"

Nope...you're going to continue to stand mired in your own damned hypocrisy.

Esp. considering the FRC *supported* filibusters in 1998, Sen. Isakson (R-Ga) is on video as supporting filibusters in Iraq's new "government" and Frist, himself, was involved in trying to prevent Clinton nominees from coming to a vote.

[Terre]

48. I just posted a duplicate thread

Can anyone tell me how to delete it, if I can?

[unblock]

57. alert your own post and ask a moderator to delete the dup.

and thank your friendly moderator for all their hard work :)

[Terre]

89. Thanks!

Sorry I missed your reply earlier, but I certainly do appreciate it. The post is miles down into the pages by now, so it's effectively "gone", but it's nice to know what I can do in case I blunder again.

[Toucano]

49. Good. Now he can be blamed when the Senate shuts down.

I like this more than the compromise anyway.

[Terre]

51. Frist Says He's NOT Interested in Deals

The WAR moves forward!

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=512&ncid=703&e=1&u=/ap/20050426/ap_on_go_co/filibuster_fight

By JESSE J. HOLLAND, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Reacting to a Democratic offer in the fight over filibusters, Republican leader Bill Frist said Tuesday he isn't interested in any deal that fails to ensure Senate confirmation for all of President Bush's judicial nominees.

edit: Already posted - How do I delete this thread - anybody?

[renaissanceguy]

52. Bring it on.

The backlash will soon follow.


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues/588704

[Az_lefty]

58. He kissing up to his "Fristian" base...

but this filibuster re-work doesn't seem to be going anywhere. I can't believe the thinking of this joker. That the little emperor should get every judicial appointment he want. Does that mean that a future Dem President should get every appointment he wants too?

[dArKeR]

61. What is the name of the lying whore preacher Frist sent his video to?

I heard this lying whore preacher say, "we (Christians) must be heard". I caught a radio bit.

Where are the American Media Whores to respond? They have had their entire way. A born again christian in the WH. Control the Senate and House and Supreme Court. The military leadership is full of born again christians...

[SoCalDem]

64. What a bucket of slop he is.. He goes on TV baiting and baiting

about how "democrats won't compromise", and then the Briar Patch effect takes hold, Reid:puke: says//"We'll let two slimy guys in if you play nice"..and NOW Cat-Killer says no deal?? :grr:

[indypaul]

67. Simply following the Rove philosophy

"What's mine is mine and what is YOURS is
negotiable." Something we should never forget.

[tridim]

68. Gridlock!

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

72. Jeepers, isn't Mr. Frist "presidential?"

It's our own little jihad, right in the middle of Washington DC.

[Orsino]

74. Translation: "I'm interested in deals."

I mean, I *assume* that everything he says is a lie, so he must be trying to drive a harder bargain--or he just doesn't want to be perceived as having compromised at all.

[jefferson_dem]

76. Frist Says He's Not Interested in Deals

Frist Says He's Not Interested in Deals

WASHINGTON (AP) - Reacting to a Democratic offer in the fight over filibusters, Republican leader Bill Frist said Tuesday he isn't interested in any deal that fails to ensure that the Senate votes on confirmation for all of President Bush's judicial nominees.

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid had been quietly talking with Frist about confirming at least two of Bush's blocked nominees from Michigan in exchange for withdrawing a third nominee. This would have been part of a compromise that would have the GOP back away from a showdown over changing Senate rules to prevent Democrats from using the filibuster to block Bush's nominees.

But Frist, in a rare news conference conducted on the Senate floor, said he would not accept any deal that keeps his Republican majority from confirming judicial nominees that have been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

``My goal is to have fair up and down votes. Are we going to shift from that principle? The answer to that is no,'' Frist said.

<SNIP>

http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/ns/news/story.jsp?id=2005042614290001622993&dt=20050426142900&w=APO&coview=

[fertilizeonarbusto]

77. Great!

Cat-killer is making this easy.

[truthisfreedom]

78. frist is treating the congress like bush is treating the white house, as a

total lame duck. the American public has already sounded off on this... frist is an idiot.

[LynneSin]

79. Frist to the rest of the republican party:

"I really don't care if the republican party goes up into smoke because I will not cross the Fristian Fundamentalists that follow me"

This man is scary!

[UCLA Dem]

80. fine. looks like he's going down with the ship!!

[caligirl]

81. Harry Reid is a genius, played Frist for the inexperienced unskilled

opportunist he is. Frist the obstructor,

[NYC Liberal]

82. HEY FRIST!

204 - 10

That's how many the Dems have passed vs. blocked.

We need to trump this as much as possible.

I bet most people, listening to the Repukes, believe Dems have blocked *hundreds*. That's what they make it seem like.

[DebinTx]

83. Then let repubs pound sand.

Stand up to them Reid!!

[moondust]

85. Frist: "We don't need no stinkin' checks and balances."

We get the drift, Bill.

[Triana]

88. SO - is THIS how you UNITE people and get the "work of the...

...American people" done?

HA!

A**hole.

[MisterP]

90. Senate Leader David Koresh?

[Demeter]

92. When He's In The Dock--He'll Be Willing to Deal

and so will all his rabid fellow-travelers. Guess what, boys? I'm willing to bet there will not be any deals offered.

[Bleacher Creature]

93. Alternate Translation -- The crazies won't let him compromise.

Daily Kos has a good piece on this.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/4/26/133311/075

[joanski01]

95. Harry Reid said from the Floor

of the Senate about an hour ago that Carl Rove came up on the Hill and said "No compromise. We want all of our judges and Bolton, too".

[struggle4progress]

98. "... He was going down the grade making 90 miles an hour ...

when his whistle began to scream;
he was found in that wreck with his hand on the throttle;
he was scalded to death by the steam ..."

[Zenlitened]

99. The perfect answer! He just gave our Dem leaders the go-ahead...

... to shut 'em down completely. :grr:

[FlyByNight]

100. "Principle"?

Flushing two centuries worth of parliamentary procedure simply to get a few right-wing kooks appointed to the bench is now called 'principle'? Wow.

Well, Sen. Reid, are you still willing to compromise with Sen. Frist and the rest of these religious Borg?

:grr:

[Joey Liberal]

102. Frist is a wannabe Dictator

The republicans seem to think they can do ANYTHING they want. They think they have God on their side. The Nazis thought the the same way too.

[wicket]

103. kick

:kick:

[Pirate Smile]

104. WP: Republicans Reject Offer On Judges

Republicans Reject Offer On Judges
Democratic Plan Sought Withdrawal of Some

By Charles Babington
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 27, 2005; Page A21

Senate Republicans rejected a Democratic offer to resolve an impasse over judicial nominees yesterday, as members of both parties said they are under strong pressure from interest groups to hold their ground.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) said the Democratic proposal was unacceptable because it would force President Bush to withdraw some of his seven long-contested appellate court nominees and give Democrats the right to filibuster future nominees -- possibly including some for the Supreme Court.

"My goal is to have fair up-and-down votes" on all nominees sent to the Senate floor, Frist told reporters. "Are we going to shift from that principle? The answer to that is no."

Frist's comments, and the limited scope of the Democrats' offer, underscore the difficulties that both parties face in trying to resolve a standoff that goes to the heart of conservative and liberal groups' battle to influence the federal judiciary. Democrats say they can accept no deal that eliminates the right to filibuster judges; Republicans say continued filibusters are intolerable.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/04/26/AR2005042600331.html

[wellst0nev0ter]

105. I Hope This Is A Sign To Dems Not To Demean Themselves

or are they already going to their warrooms thinking up other tantric positions to offer the Repukes? :eyes:

[xray s]

109. Reid just punk'd Frist

check this out

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/4/26/133311/075

[Liberal_Andy]

106. Good on the dems, now stick to yer guns!

Dammit!:nuke:

[ixion]

107. if continued filibusters are intolerable

then get new nominees. geez! :eyes:

[CO Liberal]

108. FRIST is Talking About PRINCIPLES?????

HE HAS NONE!!!!!!!!!!!

[electricray]

110. I have higher hopes for Harry Reid every passing day.

I really think this is excellent use of an opportunity. We could have just kicked back and whined about how terrible the big old meany republicans are for cancelling our filibusters, but we actually beat them to the punch. I smell victory no matter what here.

[Beetwasher]

111. Wow, REID FUCKING PLAYED THOSE MUTHAFUCKAS!!!!!

This headline says it all...No way the Repubs can call the Dems obstructionist now...Repubs REJECT OFFER!!! Read and weep Frist, you looze you halfwit sucka!

[grytpype]

112. " possibly including some for the Supreme Court!" That is what this is

about people!

When Rehnquist dies/retires, there is going to be a big vacancy to fill!

And do you think the Bushists want to deal with some fillibustering Dems in that instance? Fuck no.

This is about the Supreme Court.

[merwin]

113. If they go nuclear, I hope our guys have enough balls to stop the

senate dead in it's tracks. It's easily doable, but will most likely draw negative attention. However, if dems hold strong and every one of them voices their real opinions and not what they think the public wants to hear, it will turn out well.

[MessiahRp]

115. Agreed

We're in the minority but we have them by the balls. Don't give them an inch on filibusters and Social Security and the public will continue to bail on them and 2006 is ours. I wouldn't offer them a damn thing... they're overreaching and hanging themselves. We should continue to feed them rope instead of trying to talk them out of this.

Rp

[merwin]

116. I think that is exactly what they're doing.

[Ilsa]

114. I heard Reid today. He sounded like a reasonable, sane senator.

I know most DU'ers don't want any compromise, but the Dems sound like the voice of reason, like they are willing to have a working government. This episode could easily work to our advantage with the majority of Americans. Now, if only they'd look at the issues instead of the behavior.

[merwin]

117. I would say that Reid is offering these things knowing that they'll never

accept it. It makes them look like the irrational bastards they are.

[wicket]

119. kick

:kick: