How do the bloody and soapy-yet-unclean lackeys in the room sound off on the current Democrat/Republican tussling in Washington?
Is the "nuclear option" an appropriate step? Will it be attempted? If so, will it succeed? Do the Democrats have any countermeasures on deck that involve any teeth? What will the reprecussions be if Frist makes a serious attempt at eliminating the filibuster from judicial confirmations?
And what of the debate to begin with? Are Frist and his colleagues overreacting, given the high perecentage of Bush's nominees already confirmed? Does Frist's involvement in the church-broadcast Justice Sunday event, which portrayed Democratic judicial blocking as an attack on Christianity, suggest he's leading the party along a dogma-fueled mission rather than a measured political agenda?
Discuss.
Is the "nuclear option" an appropriate step? Will it be attempted? If so, will it succeed? Do the Democrats have any countermeasures on deck that involve any teeth? What will the reprecussions be if Frist makes a serious attempt at eliminating the filibuster from judicial confirmations?
And what of the debate to begin with? Are Frist and his colleagues overreacting, given the high perecentage of Bush's nominees already confirmed? Does Frist's involvement in the church-broadcast Justice Sunday event, which portrayed Democratic judicial blocking as an attack on Christianity, suggest he's leading the party along a dogma-fueled mission rather than a measured political agenda?
Discuss.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Reacting to a Democratic offer in the fight over filibusters, Republican leader Bill Frist said Tuesday he isn't interested in any deal that fails to ensure Senate confirmation for all of President Bush's judicial nominees.
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid had been quietly talking with Frist about confirming at least two of Bush's blocked nominees from Michigan in exchange for withdrawing a third nominee. This would have been part of a compromise that would have the GOP back away from a showdown over changing Senate rules to prevent Democrats from using the filibuster to block Bush's nominees.
"As part of any resolution, the nuclear option must be off the table," said Reid, referring to the GOP threat to change the filibuster rules.
White House press secretary Scott McClellan, traveling in Texas with Bush, said "our view is that Senate Democrats need to stop playing politics and give all judicial nominees an up or down vote."