The dangers of apppeasement
Gulp. I'm pleased to say that I still had my eyebrow raised after the "compromise" over the nuclear option. Cynics fretted that the Democrats had caved in for no reason (again!), while right-leaning Democrats (e.g., the New Republic) were delighted at the perceived victory. My primary concern was the pivotal question of whether or not we had the votes to maintain a filibuster, and I didn't see proof either way. At the same time, we gave a pass to some totally whacked-out judges, while the GOP didn't even agree to axe the filibuster.
Looks like the cynics win again. According to the right-wing Weekly Standard, the GOP got all the right-wing activist judges they wanted, and the Democrats are once again taken to the cleaners after playing nice. At least TNR is coming clean...
Since the agreement, the three prime targets of Democrats--Priscilla Owen, Janice Rogers Brown, William Pryor--have all been confirmed, plus two other less controversial nominees. And more conservatives are in the confirmation pipeline. ...
Considerable credit goes to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. Without his pressure to enact the so-called nuclear option barring filibusters of judicial nominees, the deal leading to the string of confirmations would not have occurred. ... Another result was to declare, as the Gang of 14 senators did, that the filibuster may be used to block a judicial nominee only in "extraordinary circumstances." Who decides when these circumstances occur? The answer is Republicans. Reid said the nuclear option is "off the table." But it's not. ...
The fight over judges showed again the fecklessness of Reid. He mischaracterized the upshot of the Gang of 14 deal because he actually believed it was a triumph for Democrats.
Jeez, here I am agreeing with the Weeky Standard. That isn't a pleasant feeling.
Looks like the cynics win again. According to the right-wing Weekly Standard, the GOP got all the right-wing activist judges they wanted, and the Democrats are once again taken to the cleaners after playing nice. At least TNR is coming clean...
Since the agreement, the three prime targets of Democrats--Priscilla Owen, Janice Rogers Brown, William Pryor--have all been confirmed, plus two other less controversial nominees. And more conservatives are in the confirmation pipeline. ...
Considerable credit goes to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. Without his pressure to enact the so-called nuclear option barring filibusters of judicial nominees, the deal leading to the string of confirmations would not have occurred. ... Another result was to declare, as the Gang of 14 senators did, that the filibuster may be used to block a judicial nominee only in "extraordinary circumstances." Who decides when these circumstances occur? The answer is Republicans. Reid said the nuclear option is "off the table." But it's not. ...
The fight over judges showed again the fecklessness of Reid. He mischaracterized the upshot of the Gang of 14 deal because he actually believed it was a triumph for Democrats.
Jeez, here I am agreeing with the Weeky Standard. That isn't a pleasant feeling.
posted by Matt Sandwich | 12:57 PM
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