Both Sides Predict Win in Filibuster Fight

WASHINGTON - Amid talk of a possible compromise, the Senate's second-most powerful Republican and Democrat each claimed on Sunday to have enough support for their side's position as the chamber neared a showdown over the minority party's right to block a president's judicial nominees.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., intends this week to call up for a vote the first of the blocked nominees — Texas judge Priscilla Owen and California judge Janice Rogers Brown. Bush nominated both for federal judgeships during his first term, but they and five others were blocked by Democrats.

Should Democrats move this week to block either Brown or Owen, and Republicans fail to break the filibuster, Frist then would call for the Senate to vote on whether to ban use of filibusters against judicial nominees.

Both sides said Sunday they had the votes to prevail, even as they acknowledged that several middle-of-the-road Republicans had yet to say publicly how they would vote.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/filibuster_fight

the best side is (Democrats), and good guys seem to always finish last under this Neo-Theocratic Dictatorship.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7863277/

Showdown nears in Senate over judicial nomination votes
The Associated Press MSNBC
Updated: 1:31 p.m. ET May 15, 2005

WASHINGTON - Amid talk of a possible compromise, the Senate’s second-most powerful Republican and Democrat each claimed on Sunday to have enough support for their side’s position as the chamber neared a showdown over the minority party’s right to block a president’s judicial nominees.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., intends this week to call up for a vote the first of the blocked nominees — Texas judge Priscilla Owen and California judge Janice Rogers Brown. Bush nominated both for federal judgeships during his first term, but they and five others were blocked by Democrats.

Should Democrats move this week to block either Brown or Owen, and Republicans fail to break the filibuster, Frist then would call for the Senate to vote on whether to ban use of filibusters against judicial nominees.

(more)

DU this poll: Should Fillibusters be banned? http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7844829/
Currently, 74% No.

I have a feeling the Pubs will loose this one, but it's going to be very close and anything can happen!

and then cave right in.

8^P

Just bring it on!

THE NUCLEAR OPTION
"As the world’s greatest deliberative body, we respect the power of persuasion, whether it is Senators persuading other Senators, or Senators persuading the House, or the President. We have never allowed a bare Senate majority to silence the minority" - Senator Edward Kennedy

“In the early years of Congress, representatives as well as senators could filibuster. As the House of Representatives grew in numbers, however, revisions to the House rules limited debate. In the smaller Senate, unlimited debate continued on the grounds that any senator should have the right to speak as long as necessary on any issue.”

See it for yourself while it’s still there:
http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Filibuster_Cloture.htm

Any party in a democratic majority has an obligation to respect the voice of the minority parties. This is a blatant attempt to impose mob rule by stifling that last remaining recourse of the (alleged) minority.

Of course, the reality is, this is all about Roe v. Wade. But having failed to build a convincing enough case to get their way legally, they will now go for the putsch.

Good luck. May the force be with us.

Dem Senators fax numbers:

Akaka, Daniel (D - HI) (202) 224-2126
Baucus, Max (D - MT) (202) 224-0515
Bayh, Evan (D - IN) (202)-228-1377
Biden, Joseph (D - DE) Fax: (202)-224-0139
Bingaman, Jeff (D - NM) (202) 224-2852
Boxer, Barbara (D - CA) (202)-228-3972
Byrd, Robert (D - WV) (304)-343-7144
Cantwell, Maria (D - WA) (202)-228-0514
Carper, Thomas- (D - DE) (202)-228-2190
Clinton, Hillary- (D - NY) (202) 228-0282
Conrad, Kent- (D - ND) (202) 224-7776
Corzine, Jon- (D - NJ) (202) 228-2197
Dayton, Mark- (D - MN) (202)-228-2186
Dodd, Christopher- (D - CT) (202) 228-1683
Dorgan, Byron- (D - ND) (202)-224-1193
Durbin, Richard- (D - IL) (202) 228-0400
Feingold, Russell- (D - WI) (202)-224-2725
Feinstein, Dianne- (D - CA) (202) 228-3954
Harkin, Tom- (D - IA) (202) 224-9369
Inouye, Daniel- (D - HI) (202)-224-6747
Jeffords, James- (I - VT) (202)-228-0776
Johnson, Tim- (D - SD) (202) 228-5765
Kennedy, Edward- (D - MA) (202) 224-2417
Kerry, John- (D - MA) (202) 224-8525
Kohl, Herb- (D - WI) (202) 224-9787
Landrieu, Mary- (D - LA) (202) 224-9735
Lautenberg, Frank- (D - NJ) (202) 228-4054
Leahy, Patrick- (D - VT) (202)-224-3479
Levin, Carl- (D - MI) (202) 224-1388
Lieberman, Joseph- (D - CT) (202) 224-9750
Lincoln, Blanche- (D - AR) (202) 228-1371
Murkowski, Lisa- (R - AK) (202)-224-5301
Murray, Patty- (D - WA) (202) 224-0238
Nelson, Bill- (D - FL) (202)-228-2183
Nelson, Ben- (D - NE) (202) 228-0012
Obama, Barack- (D - IL) (202) 228-4260
Pryor, Mark- (D - AR) (202) 228-0908
Reed, Jack- (D - RI) (202) 224-4680
Reid, Harry- (D - NV) (202)-224-7327
Rockefeller, John- (D - WV) (202) 224-7665(?)
Salazar, Ken- (D - CO) (202)-228-5036
Sarbanes, Paul- (D - MD) (202) 224-1651
Schumer, Charles- (D - NY) (202)-228-3027
Stabenow, Debbie- (D - MI) (202)-228-0325
Wyden, Ron- (D - OR) (202)-228-2717