“Filibuster Fizzle” Reactions
Here are some reactions to the news that three judicial nominees will be given up or down votes and that the Democrats will reserve the filibuster for “extraordinary circumstances.”
No doubt that this is a win. Why? Because the filibuster is still a part of our political system. Checks and balances have been preserved. Yes, we will get some right-wing judges, but less of them.
Oliver Willis: For Dems
The GOP parade of pusillanimity marches on. With this pathetic cave-in, the Republicans have sealed their fate as a Majority in Name Only.
Michelle Malkin: Breaking: Filibuster Compromise
What a hideous deal! The Democrats have agreed to cloture on only three nominees, and they have made no commitment not to filibuster in the future, if there are “extraordinary circumstances.” Of course, the Dems think any nominee who is a Republican is “extraordinary.” The Dems have just wriggled off the hook on some of the nominees that, politically, some of them did not want to be seen voting against.
Someone explain to me why the Republicans haven’t been rolled once again. To me, it looks like a pathetic collapse on the part of the Republicans–not the leadership, but Senators like McCain who sold out their party.
John Hindraker: Disappointing, I’m Afraid
There’ll be more outrage from their side, since quite frankly, they lost. Obviously we didn’t get everything we wanted, but they lost the ability to have carte blanche on the next supreme court justice.
Marcos Zuniga: The other side isn’t happy
Am I the only one who sees this as a win for Republicans? The Democrats will have to justify their filibusters as “extraordinary circumstances.” If they abuse this, the Republicans will retain the right to vote to eliminate judicial filibusters. Democrats now have the burden of justifying their filibusters, and Republicans can back out if they don’t agree that they are justified. So basically, the whole issue of judicial filibusters was postponed. It will be resurrected the next time Democrats filibuster a nominee. The Republicans will say it is not justified, the Democrats will say that it is, and we’ll have the showdown all over again. In the meantime, three nominees will get votes! How the heck is this not a Republican win? People seem to be operating under a philosophy of “nothing less than elimination of the filibuster is a victory for the Republicans.” I ask them this: what is the goal for the Republicans. Simple: the goal is to get up or down votes on all nominees. Getting votes for three of them is progress towards that goal. Forcing Democrats to justify future filibusters while Republicans retain the right to change the rules if the Democrats dig in their heels is progress towards that goal.
The Republicans gave up nothing. The Democrats gave up three judges they wanted to block. If you have an empty glass, and then it is filled halfway with water, is it half-full or half-empty? It’s half-full… you started with an empty glass! It may not be the “yee-haw, eat my shorts Lefties!” victory that many on the Right wanted, but it is still a win.
