4/25/2005

3 Responses to “Republicans Have the Votes for the Nuclear Option”

1. Question: How can a judge who gets a majority of Senate votes be considered “outside the mainstream”?

   The Democrats beat Bork in a straight vote, why are they afraid they can’t stop a more threatening candidate now? It seems more likely that their definintion of the mainstream isn’t mainstream anymore.

   Kevin Murphy (6a7945) — 4/25/2005 @ 8:13 am

   
   

2. While I wish this were true, if Frist had the votes, why would he be trying to work out a deal with Reid to allow a vote on just ‘some’ of Bush’s nominees? If Frist had the votes, why wouldn’t he force the rule change and get votes on all of the nominees… because he’s a nice guy? Because he doesn’t want to disrupt the collegial atmosphere of the Senate? Nah.

   I’m guessing that neither Frist nor Reid know for sure if the votes are there. Accordingly, they’re both prepared to accept half a loaf in order to not have to find out if they’re on the short end of the roll call. Better, in Frist’s view, to get some judges confirmed than to discover he doesn’t have the votes, in which case none of the nominees would get through. And the same logic holds for Reid – better to let a couple through, especially if the two are among the group of the ‘less-offensive’ nominees, than run the risk of them all getting through.

   steve sturm (d3e296) — 4/25/2005 @ 8:38 pm

   
   

3. You may be right, Steve. My take: Frist is a wuss.

   Xrlq (c51d0d) — 4/25/2005 @ 10:21 pm