Reuters
Senators reach compromise on filibusters - Omaha World-Herald
In a dramatic reach across party lines, Senate centrists agreed Monday night on a compromise that clears the way for confirmation of many of President Bush’s stalled judicial nominees, leaves others in limbo and preserves venerable filibuster rules.
“In a Senate that is increasingly polarized, the bipartisan center held,” said Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., one of 14 senators - seven from each party - to sign the agreement that pledged lawmakers to “mutual trust and confidence.”
Senator Ben Nelson was one of those “centrists” Senators that played a significant role in the compromise. It’s not clear what this compromise will mean for the country and the Senate. But what a great day for Senator Ben Nelson and his re-election campaign. I can see the commercial now… “When the Senate was in a bitter feud, Senator Nelson stepped up and worked with Republicans and Democrats to prevent a crisis. Our founding fathers would be proud. Senator Nelson is not only great for Nebraska, but he’s great for America.”
On the flip side, it’s not surprising that Senator Chuck Hagel was absent from this group. Hagel claims to be a “maverick” but he’s really just a rubber stamp for the Republican Party.
Plus, Sen. Ben Nelson was quoted on the Drudge Report.
Who do you think were the winners and losers in this compromise?
It’s nice that no huge “nuclear war” took place, but seeing it take place would have been interesting, and possibly cool.
Nelson probably did ensure his re-election, but was that really in doubt? He knows he has to stay right down the middle to get elected in one of the reddest states.
I guess y ou can’t really complain about a compromise, however it’s one thing to have to compromise your vlaues and beliefs, it’s a totally different thing to have to compromise your own way of government that has worked fine for the last 200 years. Sad day for the the republicans, ok day for the democrats, and a good day for the few undecideds left.
This is a bad deal. Democrats should have just let them bring the nuclear option up for a vote. If the nuclear option got more than 50 votes, then republicans look terribly politically. If the nuclear option had failed, then this is a big win for the democrats.
This deal still allows Bush to get these extreme judges through congress.
I thought it a bad deal at first also, however might be reconsidering. The republicans will eventually balk at a fillibuster, which is innevitable with Bush’s selections, and a likely supreme court opening on the horizon. That will be much more in the lime-light. Meanwhile, the senior republicans are bristling that their juniors have seen fit to act independently, even though they are, of course, the all-inclusive party. This will certainly cause problems within for the repubs, and already has the seniors threatening the juniors with a stick. That along with Delay’s problems, and we could soon be witnessing the critical mass that the Dems can detonate with a well-timed prod.
Don’t get me wrong, I still believe the Dems can FIAU by missing yet another chance.
Outside of the mutual embarassment from a “nuclear war” what did the Dems actually gain from the compromise? Most of the nominees, including hte two highest profile will finally get their jobs. I’m interested to find a left side upside to this deal.
the upside is that the lou dobsons and the extremist republicans of this world lost a battle within their own party. Does that help democrats? Actually no. Does it help America? Yes.
So I wouldn’t say “democrats” should be celibrating, but Americans in general should be able to agree compromise is better than letting the extremist wingnuts win.