Gotta Love 'em

Republican moderates are like women, you can't live with 'em, you can't live without 'em. When in San Francisco I asked Christine Todd Whitman about the Democrats judicial filibusters. She said all the nominees should get up or down votes....but...ie butt monkey...Christy wouldn't vote to change the Senate rules....too radical for her!

Well the mod's in the Senate have done the deed, made a deal with the devil. Harry Reid is celebrating since the "venerable" filibuster has been secured for all time, or so he thinks. Democrats have long venerated the filibuster, having used it for many years to thwart civil rights laws. Now they have compromised by promising to use the filibuster only in "extraordinary circumstances." Happy days! And what constitutes an "extraordinary circumstance" you ask? First response from the Dem's: any Supreme Court nominee.

The seven moderate Republican dealers were Senators Mike DeWine of Ohio, Susan Collins of Maine, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Lincoln Chaffee of Rhode Island, John McCain of Arizona, John Warner of Virginia and Olympia Snowe of Maine. The Republican signers pledged "mutual trust and confidence." Trust and confidence in Ted Kennedy, Barbara Boxer, Harry Reid,... makes you wonder what world these folks are living in. The Democratic signers don't matter.

The agreement specifically admonished President Bush: "We encourage the Executive branch of government to consult with members of the Senate, both Democratic and Republican, prior to submitting a judicial nomination to the Senate for consideration." Now the minority can decide when a presidential nominee is an "extraordinary circumstance" and the president is supposed to vet his nominees with the Senate Democrats before he nominates them. What absurdity!!

And what of the magnificent (moderate) seven? Hugh Hewitt had this to say about John McCain -- "a great American, a lousy senator, and a terrible Republican-- took himself out of serious contention in the GOP primaries of 2008. The McCain Caucus showed itself last night, and is united not by 'moderation' but by enormous, towering ego."

As for the others, Hugh noted that "it will be much easier to persuade GOP voters to abandon Lincoln Chafee and Olympia Snowe in 2006. Worse than useless, defeating one or both of these incumbents will send a much needed message on how the party regards deals based on scissoring the Constitution."

Lindsey Graham was so emotional he nearly cried on the Sean Hannity show but then gave a speech about "we are at war, and kids are dying," that he compared to his heroic action in signing the compromise. What a moron.

John Warner is a lame duck, old fool. Mike Dewine and Susan Collins had better wake up. Bill Frist should caucus the 48 real Republicans in the Senate and boot the moderate seven out of any chairmanships they hold.