May 23, 2005

Compromise on Filibuster Announced

Live now on all the cable new networks. Byrd just finished speaking. Warner on now. Both very self-congratulatory. I assume that both party's leaderships will go along. "Senators will not filibuster except in extraordinary circumstances."

3 nominees (Brown, Pryor, Owen) will be confirmed; these have been considered the "most extreme, most activist." 2 others will not be confirmed.

REACTION UPDATE: I agree with Beth and Stephen Bainbridge. Why do all the other Righties have their whitie-tighties in a bunch?

Short-term, three of the "most extreme" nominees will get votes and presumably will be confirmed. It all comes down to "extraordinary circumstances," doesn't it? Let's also admit that this is largely about the likely Supreme Court nominations. If Bush nominates anyone more responsible than Judge Roy Bean, the Dems will be hard-pressed to call it an "extraordinary circumstance." And if they do it once, can they immediately do it again to a replacement nominee?

Of course, it IS a compromise, but that noted, it should work out fairly well.

Footnote: The Dem commenters at Kevin Drum's blog are pissed. So are the Kossacks.

I don't mean to get all Rodney King-ish, but why must ALL commentary, from both politcal parties consist of "We won and they lost. Yay!" or "We lost and they won. Boo!" ??? Is that it? Has there been a new civil war? Do we now have the Red States of America locked in a twisted, hateful, unfortunate geographically-required embrace with the rival Blue States of America? Is that how it works? Is there no possibility that (whatever your views, or whoever might have gotten a 51% advantage), perhaps a compromise is a good idea, you know, strictly from a 'civil war avoidance' perspective?

All the ranting and raving bloggers can go impale themselves on the anticipated spikes in their Sitemeters they hope to get from all their over-the-top rhetoric. Take a pill, guys.


Posted by Stephen at May 23, 2005 07:47 PM | TraktorBack (8)
protein wisdom linked with Some additional thoughts on the deal struck by "maverick" Republicans to take us on a gentle ass ride atop the Donkey stiffy on May 24
INDC Journal linked with Apparently on May 24
Blogcritics linked with Bloggers React to Filibuster Compromise on May 24
Blogcritics linked with Bloggers React to Filibuster Compromise on May 24
Myopic Zeal linked with Bloggers React to Filibuster ‘Compromise’ on May 24
The Moderate Voice linked with Senate Moderates Avert Polarizing Filibuster Showdown on May 24
The Moderate Voice linked with Senate Moderates Avert Polarizing Filibuster Showdown on May 24
Unpartisan.com Political News and Blog Aggregator linked with Compromise In Filibuster Showdown on May 23
Confessions

Thank God someone around here agrees with me...as soon as I saw a trackback show up on that post I expected it to be a "you dumbass" post, until I saw it was you. hehehe
Thanks for speaking up. ;-)

Extracted from: Beth at May 23, 2005 10:50 PM

I also agreed: The righties are getting a bit too, well, righteous about this.

P.S. I miss the old decor. It was so Evil Empire. But I suppose, as they say: all good things...

Extracted from: TallDave at May 23, 2005 11:44 PM

I like the fact that everyone wins - for a change. Or at least, no body loses.

http://www.rightviews.com/article.php?id=309

Extracted from: OJ at May 23, 2005 11:50 PM

No kidding with the rhetoric; it makes me want to quit blogging. Clearly the blogosphere is no place for political bloggers who think strategically--or rationally.

Extracted from: Beth at May 24, 2005 12:06 AM

Exactly right on. The Republicans probably didn't have the votes to allow a "nuclear option", so they got a pretty darn good compromise. Can anyone tell me what is SO wrong with that? Why must everything lead to mass outbreaks of pissing and moaning?

Extracted from: SlimPickins at May 24, 2005 12:50 AM

Why must everything lead to mass outbreaks of pissing and moaning?

Because pissing and moaning are for selfish idealists? Definitely not for people who understand political reality.

Extracted from: Beth at May 24, 2005 01:30 AM

No kidding with the rhetoric; it makes me want to quit blogging. Clearly the blogosphere is no place for political bloggers who think strategically--or rationally.

Well-put.

Extracted from: Bill from INDC at May 24, 2005 10:56 AM

I agree. I think the Republicans pulled the wool over the Democrats and the media's eyes. Visit some of the more liberal blogs and you can see that they don't like the deal one bit; rightfully so. The Republicans get three of their judges in, negate bad publicity from the "Nuclear Option" and still retain the right to squash the filibuster at a later date.

Extracted from: Art Powell at May 24, 2005 01:09 PM

I think McCain did well and I sent him an e-mail saying so. I'd really like to see someone like him as the '08 candidate. he could pulls a lot of people together who are currently at odds with one another and this nation needs more division like Osama needs a nuke.

McCain and the mods are the big winners. Frist/Dobson and the more extremist religious opportunists have had a shot fired across their bow.

Extracted from: ~DS~ at May 24, 2005 01:47 PM

This is so French. The Dems act like the NKVD and the GOP suddenly realizes that its better to live in the gulag than remind the donks who controls the senate. Worse we have seen the Constitution thrashed again. I'm surprised to hear the comments here because after the McCain Feingold debacle I wonder if anyone could believe anything the RINOs have to say.

I guess this proves to be yet another triumph of hope over experience. As for me it demonstrates neither party has any principles. If these three judges are sooooo extreme how could the Democrats in good faith allow them to be passed?

The GOP in the mean time demonstrates anyone is expendible if it offers temporary and momentary advantage. Wait till the first GOP supreme court nominee is offered up. Any bets as to whether the Donks cast him as Darth Vader or Satan?

Extracted from: TJ Jackson at May 24, 2005 10:44 PM

Stephen, I agree with you on this one. I actually like the idea of a 60-vote requirement for life-time judicial appointments, and wish it had been codified into our constitution from the start. Some of the right wing have gotten so turned on with the prospect of "dropping the bomb" on the filibuster rule, that they have ceased to ask whether it was a very good idea at this time, or what the global fallout to their actions would be.

On thing that the Captain got completely right: The only really loser from this compromise is Bill Frist, who once again has been exposed as a very poor choice for majority leader. Frankly, I believe it is Frist who forced the hand of the Republican Seven. Frist has demonstrated himself to neither be a coalition builder between parties, nor even capable of rallying his own troops.

As to my reading on "who won," well I actually think the Republicans came out better. See Art Powell's commentary above for a very good explanation of why.

Extracted from: Carrick Talmadge at May 25, 2005 12:12 AM