Republicans Ready to Nuke Senate Rules -- Duck and Cover

Unless Americans [Republicans] come to realize that they are not stronger in the world [senate] because they have the bomb but weaker because of their vulnerability to atomic attack, they are not likely to conduct their policy at Lake Success or in their relations with Russia [Democrats] in a spirit that furthers the arrival at an understanding..
Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955), physicist, from an open letter*

In the above quote, substitute a few word and you have a quote that is just as poignant today. Pressing their advantage the Republicans are about to exercise the much threaten and talked about nuclear option, which means the Republicans in the senate will vote out the long held filibuster option in order to get a majority vote on the conservative judges President George Bush wants to appoint.

This has been simmering for weeks and is scheduled to start today once Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn) puts forth two judicial nominees, Janice Rogers Brown of California and Priscilla Owen of Texas. Democrats have vowed to filibuster both to prevent their confirmation.


The Republican action has been dubbed the nuclear action because of its potential to disrupt the Senate and shatter what little comity remains between Republicans and Democrats, according to the Washington Post.

The Republicans can take such brazen action because they hold a majority of the seats currently. This is all about appointing conservative judges that Bush will not compromise on or allow debate about. Never mind that more judges were blocked during President Bill Clinton’s terms in office because the Republicans used their committee powers to stop the judges from getting a fair hearing.

What I find interesting is Majority Leader Bill Frist’s (R-Tenn.) double speak:

"Republicans believe in the regular order of fair up and down votes and letting the Senate decide yes or no on judicial confirmations free from procedural gimmicks like the filibuster," he said, "and I hope Senator Reid and others know our door is always open to reasonable proposals for fair up or down votes for judicial nominees."

When did the filibuster become a procedural gimmick? Frist’s open door policy means – when you are ready to agree to our terms we’ll talk.

In one way, I am looking forward to the Republicans pulling this stunt because the public opinion thus far is against the Republicans using this option. I fully expect the Democrats to gain a few more seats in the next election and eventually the presidency in 2008 and then watch the Republicans squeal like stuck pigs when they are shut out.



*(Following its establishment in 1945 the United Nations General Assembly met temporarily in Lake Success, New York State, pending the setting up of a permanent headquarters.)