Compromise
posted in General |COMPROMISE
They called it a compromise, but as I see it the Democrats won. When an adversary is in a defensive position, the best sucecess short of capitulation by the other side is to buy time. And buying time is exactly what the Dems did. At the small price of coughing up 3 judicial nominees, they kept the filibuster — which amounts to a veto right over proposals and nominations from the President. The three Circuit Court Judges don't amount to a hill of beans, but the coming battle over the next Supreme Court Justice is the real ball game. All you had to see was the smirk on the face to NY Senator Schumer to know how the game turned out.
Majority Leader Bill Frist was clearly sandbagged by a half dozen spineless Republican colleagues. Assuredly, he was abandoned at the last hour and simply didn't have the votes. That is a sad commentary on a “majority” party (55 Rs) that simply doesn't know how to use its political muscle. When the battle lines are drawn next time, it will be the Republicans who are on defense — and the attack dog Democrats won't budge an inch. Justice Rhenquist will step down soon due to ill health, and the razor thin 5-4 balance on the Supreme Court will then hang in the balance. After the 5/24 surrender, where is the backbone to face down the Dems and confirm a conservative nominee?
The Democrats are celebrating tonite, and well they might. The Republicans picked their issue at their time on their home court, and lost. Disgusting.