Republicans Back Off Judicial Filibuster Plan (for 'health' reasons)

[Nambe]

Politics - U.S. Newswire Press Releases

Senate Republicans have dropped plans to force Democrats into a genuine all-out filibuster on judicial nominations, and have fallen into tactical confusion following Miguel Estrada's withdrawal from consideration for a seat on U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia last week.

The plan to force round-the-clock debate on President Bush (news - web sites)'s controversial nominations was abandoned because GOP leaders decided some of their own senior caucus members could suffer health problems while the Democrats might escape with minimal political damage.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) told The Hill that a filibuster "would have no impact on the Democratic caucus," adding: "To get 51 votes for a quorum. You need 50 people healthy at any one time."

Chronic health problems plague Sens. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and other lawmakers. Their ailments fueled uncertainty about Republican's ability to hold a majority in the chamber if Democrats called for a quorum. ---

Banish bush From Texas Too

[Hokie]

1. What is wrong with Mitch McConnell?

Please let it be just serious enough that Mr. Special Interest Money Whore Poster Boy will be forced to retire (I hope he lives a long life but I would prefer that he draw a pension instead of a salary)

[NewJerseyDem]

5. I don't wish that

Even though I'm not particularly fond of him and would rather have him retire but I don't wish him any serious ailment.

He had heart surgery back in February. I think that it was a bypass.

[Bake]

9. Didn't know McConnell was sick but it doesn't break my heart

After what the Pukes did to Max Cleland, I have no sympathy for any of them. Not one. No sympathy whatsoever. I don't wish him dead, just severely disabled and forced into retirement. He was a twit when he was the County Judge Executive in Jefferson County (Louisville), Kentucky, and he's an even more evil twit today.

Bake

[toopers]

17. What did the repugs do to Cleland?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

18. Oh, they just accused him of being unpatriotic

depsite the fact he lost 3 limbs in Vietnam. Meanwhile Sax Chambliss, the draft dodger who beat him, avoided serving his country by getting a medical deferrment for some lame ass problem.

[Evanstondem]

12. McConnell Heart Bypass

He just had the heart bypass this year? I thought a heart bypass was a prerequisite to being a Republican Congressman.

[Mechatanketra]

13. Not exactly.

You're thinking of a soul bypass.

[Beetwasher]

2. COWARDS!

If they truly beleived in their convictions they'd find some way to do it.

[dusty64]

4. I'm glad they're not.

I suspect as the election nears they realize their extreme rightwing judges are a liability. At least it seems we may have a brief respite from this BS for awhile.

[LeftCoast]

3. I would LOVE for the Dems to fillibuster the Senate

Can you imagine, the Dems would have the podium UNINTERUPTED to say everything that needs to be said. If they had the guts to do it, you could have every Dem lining up to go down the litany of misdeeds. Sen Clinton on the EPA lie, Sen Feinstein on the Enron debacle and all the nasty little Bush Adin connections, etc, etc... This would be fab!

[Cocoa]

6. Orrin Hatch's head is in danger of exploding

the filibusters are kind of rough on Orrin. :-)

[ameriphile]

7. If Bill Frist is this hot-shot doctor...

...why can't he keep 'em going?

[The Zanti Regent]

14. You forget that "Faith based Republicans" don't like Doctors

Remember, good Republicans pay lots of $$$$ so Pat Robertson will pray for them to get well...

[Gman]

8. They are already starting to back off their agenda

they do their dirty work in the years after an election and the next election is now right around the corner. Things that are on the table now like health care gutting and overtime gutting will be dead until after the election if they don't get them through now.

They'll act nice and sweet and above all victimized by the Democrats all next year leading up to the election.

[w4rma]

10. What liars. They are backing off because of the upcoming election, IMHO.

And they don't want to *appear* weak to their Darwinistic base.

[kainah]

15. you've got that right, w4rma

I do wonder, however, what their alternative is. Will they continue to bring up cloture votes for Owen & Pryor & presumably also Carolyn Kuehl? How long will they hold out?

[msmcghee]

16. Maybe I'm a little too relaxed this evening . .

. . but I don't understand why you describe the RW base as Darwinistic?

For that matter, what the hell is Darwinistic? :hippie:

[gratuitous]

11. Wimps

So, whatever it is you believe in for America isn't worth a little physical discomfort?

But I think other DUers have correctly "diagnosed" Dr. Frist's problem: A reluctance to put their twisted agenda on too public a display. These vermin do their best work in the dark, away from the prying eyes of the public. Look at Chimpy and his Executive Orders designed to countermand the law of the land.