Reid to Frist: Let's vote

[democracyindanger]

via Kos

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/5/10/15536/2555

Two weeks ago, Bill Frist and I exchanged proposals in an attempt to avert a vote on the nuclear option.
One proposal allowed for up or down votes on all but four judges - which many of us on both sides of the aisle considered to be the goal of this hyped battle over judicial nominations.

It also took the "nuclear option" off the table, which even Ken Starr said yesterday was damaging to the Senate as an institution and "amounts to an assault on the judicial branch of government." This compromise would break the gridlock over these seven judges, and allow us to get back to doing the people's business.

Senator Frist's proposal does nothing to end the judicial impasse, as it would wipe away the very checks and balances that have prevented an abuse of power for more than 200 years.

That result is unacceptable.

The full statement is at the link--following DU rules, I can only unfortunately post 4 grafs. But Reid's gist is this: Enough of this pussyfooting around. Let's vote on the nuclear option.

ON EDIT: Link to decembrist post (offered by kos commenters) that talks about Reid and Frist knowing/not knowing where their votes are.

http://markschmitt.typepad.com/decembrist/2005/04/frists_blackber.html

[pie]

1. Do the pukes have the votes to push this through?

[AlGore-08.com]

3. Frist claims he does

eom

[Terre]

25. I don't think he does either

otherwise, why was the word going around, just yesterday, that this may not come to a head for another THREE WEEKS?!

Frist obviously needs more time to trowl for votes and strong-arming.

So glad Reid called his bluff. This, sitting on pins and needles stuff, is driving me NUTS!

[bunny planet]

35. I think the cat-killing little sh*t is bluffing.

[democracyindanger]

4. I don't think so, and that's why Reid made this statement

The comments include a link to a good piece on the Decembrist blog, which lays out how Frist is outmatched by Reid because Reid knows where his votes are, and Frist doesn't.

[november3rd]

7. Do the pukes have the votes

Call your bookie.

I've never bet on Bush winning anything, and I've always lost.

I'm betting against him again. My luck has to change, doesn't it?

[asjr]

10. At least they do not have rigged voting machines there.

Pasty-faced Frist is a shameful specimen of a man.

[bearfan454]

17. Aint that the truth !

They'll try that shit next.

[FredScuttle]

11. It is my sincere belief that

if the Cat-Killer had the votes, it would have been done already.

[havocmom]

14. He still has a few hold outs to threaten

Look for another anthrax in the Capital story any time now...

[caligirl]

2. His timing is good. Bush just screwed up in Russia. Blair

is having job loss issues himself, why not go for the vote now? 40% approval rating for idiot son, could be 30% after this.

[Don Claybrook]

6. What did dimwit do in Russia?

I've only been keeping half an eye on the news recently. What did he do this time?

[mitchtv]

9. well for one, he trashed FDR

for two he trashed reagan in the process

[gordianot]

13. When Bush passes away to the great beyond.

FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, Churchill and Marshal may assault him at the Pearly Gates.

As an exercise in frustration years ago I once read "None Dare Call it Treason". Bush really showed the world where he got his ideology. Wonder if it was KKKarl's idea for him to repeat that theme?

[AmBlue]

33. Damn!! Every time shit-for-brains leaves the country,

I cringe.

[Andromeda]

38. Lol...

:rofl:

[caligirl]

19. Here is what he did, iposted it in the editorials and articles section

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-he...

[ContraBass Black]

34. Link is dead.

Have you another?

[Inland]

5. I'm puttting faith in Reid's ability to count votes!

Put it on the floor, DOCTOR Frist, or STFU!

[chaumont58]

8. Seems to be Frist is hesitating

I read last week that Frist was going to explode the bomb today. I woke up and got up early, 4:30 am, PDT, expecting to see a glowing Senate end of the nation's capital.
Could Frist doubt his ability to get the votes necessary? Or does he dread the aftermath of a paralyzed Senate? Something is holding him back.

[jrieth50]

12. Reid must know

Frist doesn't have the votes to pull it off. Republicans are chomping at the bit for the right to pass through any supreme court justice they want. If Frist had em, he would've used em, consequences be damned.

[Az_lefty]

15. I don't think Frist actually has the votes...

there are too many moderate Repubs that know better than to even pass this. The next time the Senate is controlled by Dems they will have no voice at all.

[Strawman]

16. Way to call his punk ass out Harry!

[ewagner]

20. You know....

Harry just might turn out to be okay after all......

I wasn't enthusiastic about him at first but I'm really beginning to like him.....he's got guts.........

[Strawman]

24. I certainly don't agree with him on every issue

and I might disagree with some tactics, but on balance, I think he is pretty good. He is a good fit for the job and seems to at least have some core convictions and a certain grit and tenacity to him that is appealing. I didn't get that feeling from Daschle. I was always waiting for a cave in from him.

[Teaser]

18. Whether or not Frist has the votes

This kind of tough stance is a win for us.

[LuminousX]

21. Yep

Doesn't appear wishy-washy and it uses their rhetoric against them.

"C'mon Frist, let's stop all this jawin' and threatenin' and put it to a vote and see where the chips fall."

[Terre]

23. Absolutely CORRECT!

The end is my favorite part:

I also suggest two reasonable ways to avert this constitutional crisis.

First, allow up or down votes on additional nominees, as I addressed in my proposal to Frist two weeks ago. If this is about getting judges on the courts, let's get them on the courts.

Second, allow the Senate to consider changing the rules without breaking the rules. Every one of us knows that there is a right way and a wrong way to change the rules of the Senate; the nuclear option is the wrong way. Senator Dodd will go to the floor this afternoon to expand on the way the Senate changes its rules.

I suggest that Senator Frist introduce his proposal as a resolution. If he does, we commit to moving it through the Rules Committee expeditiously and allow for a vote on the floor. It takes 67 votes to change the rules. If Senator Frist can't achieve 67 votes, then clearly the nuclear option is not in the best interest of the Senate or the nation.

Either of these options offers a path away from the precipice of the nuclear option. But if neither of these options is acceptable to you, let's vote.

This is a win-win situation.

:yourock: Senator Reid - What a guy!

[sniffa]

22. i just got aroused!

i Love this guy, and i Love his baLLs.

[MichiganVote]

26. Put up or shut up Frist

[lancdem]

27. Love the quote of Ken Starr

LOL!

[DanCa]

28. Lets vote

I like it the Repukes have let's roll. Now we got "Let's Vote." Got to hand it to this former boxer he faked me out with his tactics. Go Reid go.

[woosh]

29. Frist can't get this out of committee

That's my guess, and Reid knows it.

Either that or Reid is playing a very dangerous game.

[toddaa]

30. Frist's trump card

Frist isn't going to play the nuclear option card until Rehnquist retires. He may or may not have the votes now, but that's not what Frist cares about. Reid's been playing with a very bad hand and is doing remarkably well, but he knows that Frist is holding an Ace. The Republicans could care less whether any of the current batch of nominees ever make it to the bunch. What they really want is a Scalia or Thomas run Supreme Court.

[BadNews]

31. They could delay and nominate Priscilla Owens to the SCOTUS....

as chief justice when Rehnquist goes out. When Dems scream foul they remove the nomination and Thomas will go unopposed. Something like that would not surprise me at all.:grr:

[IndianaGreen]

32. If Reid is telling Frist to vote on the nuclear option it means one thing

Frist doesn't have the votes!

I am glad that we have Reid as Minority Leader and not some loser like Tom Daschle.

[struggle4progress]

36. " ... Now Billy looks ahead and he see what he is seen:

Round the bend's coming the old eight eighteen.
Looked back at the cars an saw all his crew a-jumpin:
They ain't wanna be aboard when the locomotives bumpin ... "

[ohtransplant]

37. Game on!

Frist has been huffing and puffing about this for so long, it looks like the dealer is at the table and shuffling the cards. Very soon it will be time for the game to start.