If Frist had failed I thought future historians would write about the "High Water Mark of the Theocons." The day that America came to its senses and pulled back from the brink. If he had succeeded it would be point where historians said "this marks the start of the transformation of the United States of America to the Christian States of America" with Bill Frist as Nehemiah Scudder.
While we didn't see either of those, we still may have seen something significant: the formation of a new (as yet informal) political party. Pundits have long spoke of the McCain-Lieberman Party -- I think we saw the first dozen new members today. If these fourteen Senators stick together they will have the balance of power in the Senate. Their power will initially be negative (the ability to stall legislation and appointments) but if they are able to stick together I wouldn't be surprised if a similar block emerges in the House. With DeLay's power on the wane it is much more likely than, say, a year ago. They will all still run as D's and R's and still be partisan players, but will come together to stop excesses from either fringe. The success of the Castle-DeGette Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act might just be the catalyst in the House
Posted by TheMadBrewer at May 24, 2005 01:06 AMThis process has shown us that it is critically important that when Byrd, Warner, and the older guard senators are no longer in the Senate that they are replaced with Dems or at the very least, moderate Republicans. Who can doubt that the radica, nutjob wing of the GOP, though licking their wounds now, are plotting strategy for how they will ultimately get their way. Diligence!
Posted by VA6thDem at May 24, 2005 04:18 AMMadBrewer is right on! Sorry state of affairs. Of course, on corporate TV, none of this is put on the table. It's all the Dems fault.
Posted by Mal Feasance at May 24, 2005 04:20 AMI liked Feingold's statement. Sounds like he understands and sees the big picture. This is the strong language Americans need to hear.
I am mad as H***, too. Steve's post helped to calm me down, somewhat, and I sure hope he's right. It sickens me to think Owen/Brown/Pryor will get appointed.
Apart from Dobson delivering Frist to the WH if he pulled this off, I wonder what Bush and Cheney promised him?
Posted by ggb at May 24, 2005 05:36 AMThis wasn't a fight, it was a farce.
When will democrats and moderate republicans ever learn that there can be no "compromise" with extremists for whom the concept, to say nothing of honor & ethics, means nothing?
This "nuclear option" will rear it's ugly head again in the very near future. Bet on it!
Sad day for America, she has started down the slippery slope of tyranny.
Posted by bobski at May 24, 2005 06:20 AMSome great comments about this. Steve Soto's analysis was spot-on.
I think this deal only postpones the inevitable power grab. The White House now has every incentive to continue to try and break the 'center' (I quibble with that tag - this McCain/Lieberman party is definitely center-right)with a slew of right-wing appointments.The Dems will have no choice but to filibuster. This coalition will be very hard to hold together.
On the other hand, we know there is a battle going on for the soul of the GOP. The Religious Right is a necessary component of any Republican majority, but the moderate Rs have finally said that the RR is a minority and should be treated as such. After all, where is Dobson et al going to go? The Democrats? I don't think so.
Next couple of months should be very interesting.
Just something to remind me why I no longer call NC home:
http://www.thedigitalcourier.com/articles/2005/05/24/news/news01.txt
Posted by ann at May 24, 2005 10:01 AMCould we have a vote? How many of you think that every one of the GI's wounded in Iraq and flown out to Base hospitals in Europe and the US survives his/her wounds? Every one of them? If not, when will the GOP Controlled Media start asking exactly how many TOTAL GI's have died as a result of Bush's War? Isn't that a question we need answered asap?
Posted by T2 at May 24, 2005 10:06 AM