About that Senate compromise

So the Constitutional option to stop the filibuster of judicial nominations has been avoided, for now. My first reaction was outrage and I was prepared to just rant against the RINOs and MSM boot licker once again. However, I decided to take my time to think about it and look at a range of views. I am not as positive as others but I will keep my mind open to some degree.

There actually is some good:

3 justices will be voted on, Priscilla Owen, Janice Rogers Brown, and William Pryor

Democrats agree to only filibuster in "extraordinary circumstances"

The filibuster is maintained should the Republicans have the need in the future

Republicans avoid, for now, the MSM spinning the Constitutional option as a horrible event in the history of our country

Perhaps a precedent has been set, that conservative justices are not to extreme to allow a full Senate vote

Frist says the Constitutional option is still on the table as well as all the candidates

But now the bad:

It appears 2 nominations will be thrown under the truck, Myers and Saad

Moderates are puffed up with the power they think they possess

Seeing McCain in full peacock mode as well stated by Ace

Having to trust Democraps on what "extraordinary circumstances" will mean

Rumors that an under the table oral agreement exists to toss out 2 other candidates, Kavanaugh and Haynes

Do any of us really believe the Senate Republicans have the stones to ever use the filibuster themselves?

No commitment from Democraps to not filibuster Supreme Court nominations

Seven Republicans have committed themselves to betray the administration on this issue for the remainder of this session of Congress

Possibly the worst part of this compromise is having to trust the Democraps to not expand "extraordinary circumstances" into so encompassing a term as to mean everything and therefore nothing. A common sense view of the term would be if the individual nominated had some serious indiscretion in the past or marked deficiency in qualifications. But there is reason to worry that it will have nothing to do with the candidate's qualifications. Already a Supreme Court nomination is being defined as extraordinary circumstances by some. From the Washington Times:

Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said her group was "heartened that the crisis has been averted and the right to filibuster preserved for upcoming Supreme Court nominations. We are confident that a Supreme Court nominee who won't even state a position on Roe v. Wade is the kind of 'extraordinary circumstance' this deal envisions."

So, we can expect another showdown. It would be foolish to not prepare for that. Of course, it may come even sooner as there are indications that Bill Frist is not going to back down and that every candidate and even the Constitutional option are still on the table. Good for him. Hopefully there are more Senators with the courage to stand up for qualified candidates that deserve a vote on the Senate floor. It would be good to force the Democraps to show what they really mean.

As it is we are getting spin from all sides. Republicans are trying to make the best of this not so great deal. While Democraps are attacking the Bush administration and religious conservatives. The most irritating for me was hearing little Dick Durbin of Illinois bloviating about "...the most treasured and cherished traditions of the United States Senate will be preserved, will not be attacked and will not be destroyed." Yeah ok little Dick, it was a tradition of the Senate that a filibuster was not used on Judicial nominations. Orwell's book was meant as a warning you twat, not as something to use as an instruction book on manipulating language.

As for the Republicans that participated in this farce, I hope the administration and GOP will work against them in their re-election bids. I would suggest that if you have the means, contribute to just about any Republican challenger that they may face. Here is the list so we don't forget.

Mike DeWine of Ohio

Susan Collins of Maine

Lindsey Graham of South Carolina

Lincoln Chaffee of Rhode Island

John McCain of Arizona

John W. Warner of Virginia

Olympia J. Snowe of Maine

McCain has shown that he loves the MSM and could care less about conservatives or people of religious faith. That he could just stand there and let some Senator go on and attack the religious right, should not be forgotten. It would suit me fine if he left the GOP. He serves the MSM party as it is anyway.

Again From the Washington Times article:

Moments earlier as the deal was about to be announced, several Republicans offered the lectern to Mr. Byrd, who demurred, waiting instead for "his turn."

"Your turn is whenever you want it to be," said Mr. McCain, a chief architect of the deal who had to leave the press conference before it ended to make an early screening of a movie about himself.

Aside from the narcissistic McCain leaving to screen a movie of himself, isn't it special how he is being all lovely dovey with Senator Byrd, former Klu Klux Klan member and who recently had the gall to refer to the Constitutional option as a Nazi tactic?

But witness how men with motives and a majority can manipulate law to cruel and unjust ends. ...Hitler's dictatorship rested on the constitutional foundation of a single law, the Enabling Law. Hitler needed a two-thirds vote to pass that law, and he cajoled his opposition in the Reichstag to support it.

[...]

That is what the nuclear option seeks to do to rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

McCain seems to have forgotten the adage that you will be known by the friends you keep. Some have suggested he is getting back at the administration for North Carolina. I don't know if that is true but if he can forgive his Vietcong tormentors, certainly he can get over a political fight. If not, it shows his priorities are horribly twisted.

Other bloggers weigh in:

The Anchoress and her initial reaction

It’s gonna be a long cold day before the GNP sees a dime of my money. A long. Cold. Day.

Though she is willing to consider other views.

Ace of Spades considering other analyses.

Michelle Malkin with a round up of links.

Professor Bainbridge is postive and has responded to his critics:
Filibuster Deal
More on The Filibuster Deal
More on the Filibuster: Responding to My Critics
Adler on the Deal

Hugh Hewitt has this to say:

It is impossible to say whether this is a "terrible" deal, a "bad" deal, or a very, very marginally "ok" deal, but it surely is not a good deal. Not one dime more for the NRSC from me unless and until the Supreme Court nominee gets confirmed, and no other filibusters develop. I won't spend money on a caucus supporting organization when the caucus can't deliver a majority. Mark Kennedy and other Senate candidates with spines, but not for the NRSC.

Previous posts about GOP Senators and their spineless character:

GOP Senators - wusses!
GOP Senators - Still wusses!!
McCain for President - NOT!

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