Frist: NO deals or compromises

[wicket]

I already posted this in LBN but I figured y'all would be interested in this too.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=512&ncid=703&e=1&u=/ap/20050426/ap_on_go_co/filibuster_fight

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.

But Frist, in a rare news conference conducted on the Senate floor, said he would not accept any deal that keeps his Republican majority from confirming judicial nominees that have been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"Are we going to step back from that principle? The answer to that is no," Frist said.

[SteppingRazor]

1. Oh well.

Can't say the Dems didn't try... Hey, remember when the Congress' decisions was largely based on compromise?

[kentuck]

2. Yep, that settle it !

They don't want no compromise.. :)

[wicket]

4. I think this was a set up by Reid

He's now got Frist coming out and saying he's unwilling to compromise so Reid can say "Hey, at least we tried" and continue to paint Frist as the extremist he is. Frist doesn't have the votes otherwise he would have held the vote to ban the filibuster already, he doesn't have the support of the American people on this, and now he looks like an uncompromising ass. THat's my take on this any way :)

[LondonReign2]

23. IF Reid is that smart, my hat's off

I kinda doubt it, butwho knows. Either way, this is a win for us. Hearing Reid talk about compromise (and that ass Biden) made me nervous. The Dems again have the winning hand, and it sounded like Reid was going to split the pot instead of raising.

/end poker metaphors

[SaveElmer]

3. Good

Democrats shouldn't give an inch...we are winning the PR war on this. Any compromise would be spun as a Republican victory!

[Renew Deal]

7. I can't wait till we push those 10 bills.

That's what the people in this country really need.

[Dhalgren]

12. And now this refusal to compromise

can be spun as a Democratic victory, if they play it right. It is hard to believe that the Republican leadership is this stupid. Back when the Real Republicans were in control of their party, they would have compromised and taken credit for it, now they simply dig in their heels and fight for their Fuehrer. Tisk, tisk, tisk...stupid, stupid fundies...

[tridim]

5. Frist, you'll get nothing

and like it. They obviously think they have absolute power, and we all know where that leads.

[Renew Deal]

8. What repubs are definitely voting against it?

McCain
Graham (SC) I am almost positive.

Who else?

[wicket]

10. It's already corrupted them absolutely

Now's the time to clean house! :)

[Renew Deal]

6. Bring it on

This is about to get exciting.

[Sparkly]

9. "principle" my ass.

Don't back down, Harry!!!

[KansDem]

11. Reminiscent of Gingrich's "We will cooperate but will not compromise!"

...Newt's mantra after seizing control of Congress in 1994. In uttering this, Newt was really saying to the Democrats, "We will cooperate with your compromise..."

It was a harbinger of GOP-style politics...

[wicket]

13. and we all remember what happened to him!

:evilgrin:

[tridim]

14. Yea, I heard over the weekend he's planning to run for President

in 08. I got a good laugh out of that one. :D

[wicket]

15. that should be a riot

I'd love to see him go down in flames once more :)

[jean]

16. Frist digs yet a deeper hole after Harry Reid hands him the shovel!

I read yesterday that Harry Reid is "a creature of the Senate" and Bill Frist is a third year rookie Senate majority leader.

Harry Reid seems able to nearly always come up with outcomes advantageous to the Dems. During the process it might appear he's caving or offering too much in the way of compromise, but in the end, the other side looks bad as a result of dealing with Harry Reid.
:dem:

[carnie_sf]

17. I hope

he rides this thing right into an early retirement.

[Benson]

18. This means Frist has the votes. Will Democrats cave again?

ARE WE GOING TO STAND FIRM ON THIS ONE?

It would be interesting to see Democrats just leave Washington, stay at a hotel in Florida and watch the GOP try to operate without a quorum!

I'm just afraid the threat was never serious. Please prove me wrong.

[sellitman]

19. For Harry Reids sake...GOOD!!!

I don't one of those tainted Judges anywhere near the Okie Dokie button.

I was furious at Reid for even opening the door.

If War it is....then War it will be!!!

[liberalpragmatist]

24. It was a bluff

Reid was playing a game - he gambled that Frist wouldn't accept so that the GOP would look obstructionist.

He won the gamble.

[Zynx]

20. Good! Reid made Frist look like an ass.

[wicket]

21. kick

:kick:

[DearAbby]

22. Well this makes the GOP look like they are trying to railroad over

the Dems, the polls show that most of the country agrees that there should be checks and balances, that there should be no change in the senate rules...Now either they are completely drunk on power, or they know they have the ace in the hole...DIEBOLD...and they dont get a rat's ass what the public thinks.

Makes you wonder, what else can explain this behavior?

:shrug: