Strengthening Constitutional Self-Government

No Left Turns

The Deal

I’ve been digesting the filibuster deal slower than a Philly cheesesteak, and much as I deplore the weakminded Republicans who caved, I think the deal in the end will work out worse for Democrats. First, it makes their hypocrisy more obvious; having found the filibuster sacred after trashing it a few years ago will make them look ridiculous when they try to get rid of the filibuster next time that have a small and frustrated majority; second, allowing votes on the three judges they deemed "too extreme" to be confirmed makes them look insincere and petty. This will become more obvious to voters who pay attention.

The Dems are hoping Bush will send a moderate up for the Supreme Court. He is more likely to send them Bolton. Above all, remember that bad as this compromise is, it came about because of GOP electoral progress. The co-called "nuclear option" was wholly implausible a year ago, and the GOP had no leverage at all to get Owen, Pryor, and Brown through. Now they are through, and the Dems ability to block future nominees, though not eliminated, is somewhat constricted. In other words, it was Republican political momentum that brought us to this point, not Democratic strength.

Discussions - 5 Comments

All in all, I really hope that the compromise results in a much smoother approval process for nominees. Nonetheless, I’ve got to say that I would have really liked to see the Democrats put on a real filibuster, just to see if they could actually sustain it.

As things were (and perhaps are now), all the Dems have to do is say "Filibuster!" and that seems to suffice. Really keeping folks on the Senate floor for days at a time, and really shutting down other Senate business is quite another thing. I think it would have been better for the entire process if they had actually been forced to undertake a real filibuster.

Just my $.02
DRK

"I think the deal in the end will work out worse for Democrats. First...having found the filibuster sacred after trashing it a few years ago will make them look ridiculous when they try to get rid of the filibuster next time they have a small and frustrated majority."

To any reasonable person your rationale would be solid. However, you’re talking about DEMACRAPS and the MSM were reason and judgement are foreign concepts.

I think the Bolton postponement today pretty clearly demonstrates bad faith on the part of the Democrats and the "centrists." Frist needs to exert some party discipline and get these things done, regardless of consequences. Is there no person of courage in the Senate these days?

What if Bush pulls a fast one and makes Bolton a "recess appointee," this weekend?

Would we see the Democrats go ballastic or what?

I hope Pres. Bush renominates Miguel Estrada when an opening occurs on the Supreme Court. Maybe even Chief Justice of the Calfornia Supreme Court(Justice Janice R. Brown). She was voted in with over 70% of the vote in Calfornia. I’d like to see if the Dems continue to filibuster quality justices. Then keep nominating other like minded justices. Let the American public see the Democrats for who they really are.
I hope the Republican senators will fight for Pres. Bush’s judicial nominees with more passion and tenacity.

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