GOP grabs the ankles
Yep, you guessed it...in a stunning display of Republicans-in-the-majority "business as usual" the GOP has managed to grasp defeat from the jaws of victory. Led by the usual suspects in the "moderate" crowd, a deal was struck between 7 Dems and 7 Republicans to allow full senate votes on 3 out of 5 of the current crop of circuit court nominees. The lucky three appear to be Owen, Brown and Pryor.
Note these are the same the Dems have been tagging as "the most radical" that Bush had submitted. The problem here is that we have another deal where we get less than we would have/could have gotten, simply by voting like a majority and in the process have to rely on Dem goodwill when it comes to future nominees...especially a Supreme Court nominee. Does anyone really think that, should Bush nominate someone like a Clarence Thomas or Scalia to the high court that this same group of Dems wouldn't be part of another filibuster effort?? Give me a break. The best case scenario is that we will be right back where we started.
As for blame, I think the first stones should be cast in Frist's direction...he should have made the rules change at the outset of the Senate session in January, (like everyone suggested that he do), and gotten it over with. I think this has dealt a serious blow to any presidential aspirations on his part. As for the Republicans who signed onto the deal and, in effect, frustrated the majority of their fellow Republicans, I wouldn't look to see to much excitement for them by the grassroots crowd in the next election.
One other key thing to point out is that just about every conservative (and liberal) policy group out there was preparing to "score" the vote on ending the judicial filibuster. Meaning it would show up as a "plus" or "minus" on their annual report cards issued by these groups and mailed out to their constituents. This deal, for the meantime, keeps such a vote from occurring, and thus there is not vote to "score". How convenient.
Finally, this is bad for the GOP in general. I'm not talking about PR here...I'm talking about the conservative grassroots crowd that is the backbone of the party. The people who lick the stamps, make the phone calls, knock on the doors, etc. when election time rolls around.
They worked their tails off for George Bush in 2000 and 2004 precicely so he WOULD be able to nominate and get confirmed pro-life, pro-family conservative judges to our nation's courts. For them, THIS was the prize...and now the Republicans in the Senate are giving them reason to feel, again, that their hard work doesn't pay off. Bad mistake....
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