BOMBS WILL DROP, SMOKE WILL BLOW

UPDATE 2PM EST MAY 25, 2005:
OWEN CONFIRMED
On Near Straight Party Line Vote 56-43
Chaffee Votes with Dems Against; Byrd, Landrieu Vote with Republicans.
VOTE TALLY HERE

FRIST CONGRATULATES OWENS AND HIMSELF
Then Threatens Using the Option
Owen is in, Brown is next up for the thumbs up.  Democrats continue to fool themselves.  They have a thumb up as well.  It is not up in the air.

FRIST STATEMENT: Today’s vote marks a triumph of principle over politics and results over rhetoric.  Justice Owen is a distinguished, mainstream jurist who has exhibited extraordinary patience and courage in the face of vicious and continuous criticism.  This vote should mark a new beginning here in the Senate – a step forward for principle, fairness and the Constitution.  However, we cannot stop with this single step.  Though it remains my hope that the Constitutional option does not become necessary, we must give fair up or down votes to other previously blocked nominees.  It is the only way to close this miserable and unprecedented chapter in Senate history.

8:20 PM FRIST IS NOW SPEAKING BEFORE  GOPAC DINNER LIVE ON C SPAN
I AM GLAD I AM NOT EATING
He blasts Democrats and says Supreme Court Justice, two or three new ones will be named and will have impact for thirty or forty years.  No leader of principle can let such obstruction stand.  I will stand on principle  Simple principle.  Every judicial nominee deserves SURPRISE an up or down vote.

We exposed the filibuster  for what it is.  Tyranny by the minority.  Seven Republicans who compromised?  Falls short of the great principle.  Up or down vote.  Up or down vote.  Owen waited for years for SURPISE up or down vote. Victim of assassination.  She is home in Texas, a federal judge. Extraordinary circumstances. Will Reid, Durbin, Schumer look in Eight Ball?  He has an Eight ball in his hands.  Making jokes.  Getting laughs.  Most unbelievable.  We will not hesitate to use constitutional option.

 

BUSH APPLAUDS HIMSELF AND OWEN

I applaud the Senate for voting to confirm Justice Priscilla Owen.  She has served with distinction on the Supreme Court of Texas, has demonstrated that she strictly interprets the law, and brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.  I urge the Senate to build on this progress and provide my judicial nominees the up or down votes they deserve. >>> FROM WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING

REID YESTERDAY DECLARED VICTORY
Today These Words Ring Hollow

REID: We are here today not to declare victory for Democrats but to declare victory for our Constitution and our country.      

This week threatened to be one that would undermine our democratic traditions. But instead of demonstrating how fragile our basic rules are, it ended up showing the depth of Americans' commitment to liberty and limited government.

Our Republic stands strong. Our Constitution is solid. Our flag flies over a nation that has reaffirmed its faith in freedom.

When blind justice – whose statue guards our Supreme Court – weighs our efforts today, she can know that the defenders of the Constitution have won out over those who would corrupt our American values to advance their own extreme ends. >>> MORE

Somebody needs to tell Reid that with Owen on the bench for life, the Republicans have advanced their extreme ends.  But the Republicans did not do it alone.  They had help from the compromising Democrats.  They had yet more help from Democrats who talked tough talk for months and when times got tough walked away. And walked away with what?  Victory?  If this is victory, I shudder to think what defeat will look like.

MORE BOMBS WILL DROP
More smoke will blow.  It doesn't seem likely that Bush will honor the last clause of the infamous compromise. The White House will seek no advice, only demand consent when a Supreme Court nominee goes before the Senate for confirmation.

WASHINGTON POST: With the Senate filibuster dispute behind it, the White House is bracing for a high-stakes battle to fill a seat on the Supreme Court that many expect to come open next month and that could help shape the remainder of President Bush's second term.

For all the appeals for bipartisan harmony, Bush is unlikely to nominate a consensus justice, and Democrats are unlikely to find his choice acceptable, current and former White House officials said. If Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, who is ailing, retires at the end of the term as much of Washington expects, the officials said Bush is prepared to name a committed conservative regardless of Democratic opposition.

EARLIER TODAY:

BOMBS START DROPPING TODAY
And So Does Reality for Democrats and Republicans
Priscilla Owen gets her up or down vote today.  Big Up for Republicans. Low Down Sign of What’s Ahead for Democrats. Frist still warns he may use the nuclear option if he gets a filibuster on Myers.  The Democrats are still declaring victory.  Owen and even worse Brown will be a continuing disaster if they get confirmed.

The Democrats need to pull their heads out of their um sand.  Oh, but the Senate has been saved.  Save me from such saviors who talked so tough so long and now give up on Brown and Owen and Pryor.  Janice Brown would bomb the Constitution back into the Stone Age. 

The Democrats are looking to win a big battle down the road, while the insurgent Republicans are getting what they want.  This is a guerrilla war with only one side seeing rules to be respected.

I see smoke not just on the horizon.  It will be considerably closer than that.

MAY 25, 2005

THE ACTUAL DOCUMENT: THE COMPROMISING POSITION FOR ALL

JOHN PODESTA: A VICTORY OF SORTS
This victory comes at a heavy price: the near-certain confirmation of at least three nominees whose contempt for constitutional liberties and disregard of precedent make them manifestly unworthy of judicial office.

NO RED RETREAT, NO SURRENDER
WAPO:  "This is a truce, not a treaty," said Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah). He criticized the agreement and predicted the GOP majority soon will be back on the verge of voting to bar filibusters of judicial nominees.

WHAT DOES W THINK?
LA TIMES: The fate of the agreement defusing the Capitol Hill confrontation over judicial nominations now rests as much in the hands of President Bush as the senators who crafted it.

THE ROAD TO NOWHERE?
WAPO: Compromise means the Senate is not following the White House script. And where that leads is anyone's guess.

ONE THING IS CERTAIN IN ALL THIS.  If the Democrats allow Brown, Owen, and Pryor through without a fight, we will know what they have been smoking all along: the losing peace pipe of appeasement.  If they let these judges through, they will have inhaled deeply.  Nobody should then be surprised when they blow so much smoke up our butts.

Comments

[NeoCon Crusher]

Owens is in...

Great Comprimise...

[pissed off patricia]

Hit the mattresses! This is gonna be a long battle

[Eli]

BYRD????

[LJ/Aquaria]

This is a surprise? The other side has the votes! This is why it was important not to compromise on the filibuster issue.

I did read a take from one lawyer who said that we might as well give up on the court to which Owens was nominated. The 5th has been a disaster zone ever since my homeboy, William Wayne Justice (we're from the same town), retired. Anyway, this lawyer recommended giving them Owens, since the 5th was beyond redemption, but keeping Brown and Pryor out. Why wasn't THAT part of the compromise?

[kelley b.]

The bombs keep dropping but the DINOcrats and most of the progressive blogsphere keeps chanting don't worry, be happy.

Keep up the good work, Heretik.

[wanda]

Are we certain there will be a position open on the SC? Old Wills has held on this long, who's to say he can't drag it out a few more years. All we need is 2 maybe three. If Dems can get off their collective butts and take back a couple of those seats they lost in the Senate they will have at least a slim majority. First thing they need to do is find somebody to run against the likes of Lieberman. Then they need to get focused on the elections coming up in 06. We don't need the White House if we can control congress. Or at least lessen the repugs majority.

[Night Bird]

Kelly B. - huh??

Patricia - Are we going to the mattresses??