The "Not-So-Great" Compromise
This is a sad day for the Republicans in the Senate. They have officially abdicated their power as the majority to the Democrats. By taking a wait-and-see approach and not pushing for the Constitutional Option earlier, Majority Leader Bill Frist's authority has been greatly weakened. The Senator McCain and the other moderate Republicans worked out their own compromise also shows us that the Majority Whip is more like a licorice whip than a bull whip. The Majority Whip needs to take a lesson from Francis Urquhart (the character from "House of Cards," who has the Whip in the House of Commons). Mr. Urquhart could keep his party members in line. That is the job of the whip. As Mr. Urquhart used to say, "its time to put a little stick about." Now, unfortunately, its going to take a pretty big stick to keep the party members in line (if they can be kept in line at all).The Republicans, by their lack of getting legislation and issues pushed through the Senate since they regained their majority, have failed to act like the majority party. With this compromise, they have not only proven their inability to be the majority party, they have basically handed the reins of power over to the Democrats.
I fear for what the future holds in that chamber. The battle for future Supreme Court justices will be much more difficult and the Republican Senators have no one to blame but themselves.
posted by Squirrel @ 12:17 PM
2 Comments:
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The whole debacle was a sell out. Additionally, it seems to me that the republican caucus got their behinds handed to them, in-so-much as they failed to make a strong case in the public forum for why regulating the filibuster actually serves the interest of the Constitution. Of course, Hugh made this case boldy & often, but I still give the republican effort a C- at best.
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