Filibuster
 

So who won?

Don't think the "Showdown" is until tomorrow !!

They made a deal tonight

The Broadcast Media here hasn't broken in or said squat about it !!!

HAW,WAS!!! :munchin

Martin

I think GOP, but haven't read it all yet. TR?

The GOP won this in a big way IMHO. They traded definite confirmation on 2 Judges who were marginal on both sides of the aisle... and who can still get confirmed. In exchange they get the top picks confirmed and voted on; and they will win along more than partisan lines.

At the same time, the filibuster stops getting used as a default tool.

Who won?
 

The Dem's won. It's all about the SCOUS. The Dems will hold up this agreement and beat the Republicans over the head with it on every one of Bush's supreme court nominations. That will work for the next 3 years until Bush is gone.

2008 is going to be real interesting. I wonder how many Democrats will ride into office on H R-C's skirt-tails.

It's a short term compromise that pushes off the nuclear option for today (Tuesday - Frist's deadline). It's important for the White House that they (the WH) did not participate in the deal as they haven't compromised their choices or judicial goals in any way. Dems get to retain the filibuster threat and they get more time to fight in the popular press, hoping to sway public opinion. The Republicans have been handed the same time frame and need to press thru in the media with more determination than they've EVER had. They'll need every poll point they can muster next time a Dem feels the circumstances are "extraordinary".

I don't see this lasting very long at all.

This agreement will fall apart on the first mildly contentious candidate for an Appeals Court seat, much less a SCOTUS nominee.

TR

Who won? We did. The people of the United States, because civility, consensus and compromise overcame the heated passions of the moment to assure that a Senate tradition that protects the rights of the minority was preserved.

It's easy to look at this through the filter of the issue of the moment, the confirmation of these judges, and feel that based on one's own partisanship that this was a win or a lose for one group or agenda, but that is shortsighted. This is a victory for our system of government and coming at this time is particularly important as it shows how adhering to democratic ideals and the rule of law works.

Well said, I like that.
:lifter

I disagree. When have Harry Reid or Robert Byrd ever been civil? Shrill is more like it and using a tool of the minority to hold up the machinations of the Senate is repugnant and in no way a victory for the country. The Republicans caved on this one and will take it on the chin in the press (ad nauseum) once the debate over a Supreme Court justice begins. IMNSHO all that was gained by the country is more delay in the future by a minority party with no plan other than to obstruct until the next national election. If adhering to the rule of law was in play here then explain why the Constitution's version of "advise" has now been altered to "consult lest ye be fillibustered"?

The constitution lost...Article 2 Section 2 spells out exactly which items require more than a majority vote...McCain(the media whore) and the 6 other Republican dwarfs, sold the POTUS down the river, so they could appear concilliatory.