Nor is the worst aspect of the compromise the embarrassment the GOP brought upon itself with its inept rhetoric. Ever since they moronically coined and popularized the phrase “nuclear option,” the Republicans were destined to look bad. Implicit in the phrase is the notion that the Republicans were the ones determined to do something radical and dangerous, even though it was the Democrats who were actually promising to “blow up” the Senate.
First, there’s the abiding faith — eternally celebrated by the press — that compromise is always and everywhere a good thing. If I say two plus two equals four, and you say two plus two equals one billion, is it really such a great advance to split the difference and agree that it’s somewhere near 500 million?
The Senate Democrats hung tough and the Republicans wimped out. The Republicans had the votes but they didn't have the guts.
Unity often beats disunity, even when the side that is unified is smaller.
Every time we lose when we should win it is more difficult to even pretend that anything can ever get done.
3 comments:
Possibly all is not lost. My knowledge so far is from the MM, so feel free to correct if I'm missing something. First, we got three judges through. Second, the dems agreed not to filibuster unless it's really important. That second point means nothing of course, but it does give us leverage. Now if dems start filibustering more judicial nominations, we can say that they're going back on their word and return to the rule change option with even more rightousness. Since they know that, we should be able to get most nominations through until it's supreme court time. Then, who knows.
I just can't believe that there is any hope. I believe that all of the judicial nominees should be brought up for an up or down vote. The 'compromise' leaves the nominations up for filibuster if the dems deem 'extraordinary' circumstances, i.e. they feel the nominee is 'extreme', which is exactly how the issue got to this point in the first place. The unprecedented nature of these filibusters and the extreme rhetoric of the dems make this 'compromise' a victory for them and it just leaves me quite uneasy because they will continue being unreasonable and will become even more so.
My initial reaction to this news is "this sucks". It really cut the cojones out from Frist. Also, I'm pretty angry that a few of the better judges were sacrificial lambs, when they should have been brought before the Senate. However, one silver lining is that Janice Rogers Brown is probably set up for the next appointment to the Supreme Court, and the Dems will have a hard time filibustering her after she's been confirmed after this fight.
But Vetes is right, the nebulous language of "extraordinary circumstances" will no doubt be used against anybody the President nominates for SCOTUS. Really, this "compromise" is just a delaying of an inevitable knock-down dragout Borking attempt.
Hopefully, this "compromise" destroys any chance that McCain has of running for President. I really, really am starting to loathe him.
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