with the agreement in place, it becomes more unlikely that the nuclear option has the votes.
if a senator would break his/her word and use the nuclear option after agreeing not to - it is almost certain he/she would have voted for it in the first place. so all of the nominees would be on the bench either way.
with the agreement in place - if they use the nuclear option, the democrats can campaign on reforming the overt crookedness of the republicans for many elections to come.
Posted by lazio at May 24, 2005 06:56 PMSorry to go off topic but just gotta share some good news.
On Thursday, May 19th my wife graced me with the honor of being the father of a second lovely little girl.
Just had to share.
Now back to diaper changing.
Posted by muckcat at May 24, 2005 07:16 PMTRUST: 1 a : assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something b : one in which confidence is placed.
Yeah, I could have told you so too.
Posted by Judith at May 24, 2005 07:52 PMGratz Muckcat!!
Stay at home dad here to 15 month old twin boys :)
Never saw myself as having kids let alone staying at home to raise them....what a wonderous ride it is.
Posted by Simp the Biodiesel Pimp at May 24, 2005 08:04 PMWait, this deal depends on the *word* of a handful of GOP senators? We couldn't trust them to *uphold the rules of the Senate*, and now we're reduced to *hoping* they've got the balls to defend their *word*?!? That's a mighty peculiar definition of honor they have there.
I worry that the moderates will be congratulating each other and having David Broder fawn over their statesmanship, when we *SHOULD* be figuring out how to ensure that they pay for screwing us like this.
Posted by Chris at May 24, 2005 08:09 PMWhat difference does it make? Other than making the "moderate" group look stupid, the results would be the same. Those 7 judges on the court and the filibuster dead. That puts us exactly where we would have been today had their been no deal.
Posted by Double B at May 24, 2005 08:27 PMHey, pessimist -- look on the bright side! (is that an oxymoron?)
Maybe this deal will help Reid pick up one more GOP Senator, willing to put his country above his party. Once the rules of the Senate are broken, they are broken forever.
As a counter strategy, I'm thinking of calling Ken Salazar's office, suggesting he introduce a Constitutional Amendment, requiring 60 votes to confirm any justice to the Appellate or Supreme Court.
Posted by ck at May 24, 2005 08:34 PMFrist was and is a tool. He's just the warm up act for the cult until headliner Jeb leaves Florida. Frist is not the point.
The point is what the GOP moderates such as Graham (whom I e-mailed today) do. I don't believe Graham is an automaton nor the other moderates. If you like me, have a senator who has shown a willingness to put country ahead of party, let him or her know that most of the citizens from their state are NOT nutjobs. Their going to get plenty of machine generated (literally and figureativily) dark mail, be a good citizen and light a candle.
Posted by rlprather at May 24, 2005 08:45 PMActually, I hope that Frist does break his word and try to bust the deal. The likely outcome would be that Reid would get 51 votes to defeat the nuclear option, and it is then dead, and it would kill off the dreams of the Lieberman types to become the power brokers of the Senate.
Let Frist try to break the agreement, I don't think he will win now and it could be the final nail in his coffin. I really have to wonder if that's what McCain had in mind.
Posted by Ron In Portland at May 24, 2005 09:23 PMWake me up when democrats get some balls or 25 years whichever comes first.
Posted by sleepy at May 24, 2005 09:28 PMCongratulations, muckcat. You are blessed.
Posted by Toby Petzold at May 24, 2005 09:53 PMMuckcat, congratulations. Another liberal is born.
Posted by Judith at May 25, 2005 03:51 AMA brand new human! One who will grow up loved and be well cared for! A blessing to the world. Congratulations.
Posted by Alexandra at May 25, 2005 04:30 AMA new muck-kitten! I'm happy for you.
Posted by Sharon at May 25, 2005 04:38 AMFrom the Washington Post: The new ruling will "obligate its Democratic signatories to allow for votes on all but two of the currently stalled nominees -- William G. Myers III and Henry W. Saad -- and refrain from future filibusters except in "extraordinary circumstances." This will rightly reject the filibuster as a day-to-day weapon in judicial confirmation battles. And it will obligate its Republican signatories to oppose the nuclear option as long as Democrats are in "good faith" concerning any future filibusters."
The words "extraordinary circumstances" needs to be defined. I can assure you that the first time Democrats use the filibuster, the Republicans will threaten the nuclear option and we will be back where we started. I cannot imagine in my wildest dreams the Republicans allowing Democrats to filibuster anyone or anything from this day forward. The next battle will be defining the term extraordinary circumstances when the first filibuster is threatened. What have we really gained?
Thanks all for the kind words.
The new little one doesn't leave much time, or desire, for blogging at present.
Just popped into the office this morning to put out some fires before the holiday weekend.
Thanks again!
Posted by muckcat at May 25, 2005 05:59 AMPessimist, why don't you wait until this actually happens, and see what the GOP 7 do until you start wanking in public over how smart you are?
Posted by Optimist at May 25, 2005 07:12 AMcongrats, muckcat!
Posted by benjoya at May 25, 2005 08:08 AMThe real test will be to see if the Republican seven vote for or against cloture, won't it? I mean, three nominees would/will be approved and not filibustered. The other four will be withdrawn or filibustered. Frist will call for cloture on any who are filibustered.
IF ANY OF THE SEVEN VOTE FOR CLOTURE, they have broken their word.
If the Democrats try to filibuster any of the three "approved" nominees, they will have broken their word as well.
Let's see how it plays out. Frist can't back down till voted down -- he has a base to toss red meat to, you know -- so he has to test the resolve of the seven. If they fail in their resolve, so be it. Remember, the crybaby option requires 50 votes by Republicans, so if any of the seven who would have otherwise voted for the illegal rules change changes his/her mind, Reid wins. If not, we're no worse off than we were before, since the crybaby option means the Democrats get nothing anyway.
I don't like it, but that's the truth. Democrats are essentially helpless, but we will not go gentle into that long night.
Ed
Ed, I just love your crybaby option. We should use that term from this day forward.
Posted by Judith at May 25, 2005 08:39 PMmuckcat - I almost missed your announcement. Congratulations and enjoy your new daughter.
Posted by Mary at May 25, 2005 10:12 PM