"Gang Of Six" Grows To Seven?
I could have sworn that after last November's election, the Senate Republican caucus had fifty-five members. Now that number may have sunk, in practical terms, to forty-eight.
Hugh Hewitt brings to our attention this morning the inexplicable possibility, reported in today's Wall Street Journal, that New Hampshire's John Sununu may be about to "go RINO" and join Senators Chafee, Collins, Hagel, McCain, Snowe, and Warner in stiffing the White House and Majority Leader Frist by joining the DisLoyal Opposition in refusing to smash the Democrat filibuster against Bush appellate court (and SCOTUS, eventually) appointments.
Senator Warner's laconic comment on the subject makes it sound like he almost craves a return to minority party status:
What would it take to persuade you, Senator? You don't think it's serious that the minority is effectively amending Article II, Section II to require an arbitrary supermajority for judicial confirmation solely at partisan whim, without actually pursuing such a fundamental change via the legislative Amendment process? You don't think it's serious that the minority is abusing rules the majority has every right to change to overturn the results of the past two presidential elections, which were heavily contested on precisely this issue? And is your thinking reflected in your examination of FDR's attempt to pack the SCOTUS, which is about as relevant to the current dispute as condom vending machines are to Vatican lavatories?
Your minority party colleagues are thwarting the unequivocally expressed will of the American majority, Senator. It is your duty, and that of your majority colleagues, to take whatever measures are available to thwart that thwarting.
Otherwise...well, let's let Double-H deliver the punchline:
UPDATE: Now we're down to forty-six, if Jonathan Rothenberg's information is correct, as Thad Cochrane of Mississippi and Ohio's George Voinovich are now contemplating going RINO.
This metastasizing collapse of partisan will is becoming astounding, even for the Stupid Party. It always stood to reason that Chaffee, Collins, and Snowe would defect, and McCain and his li'l buddy Hagel are grade-A media ass-kissers, but the other four? Warner and Voinovich aren't conservatives, strictly speaking, but not given to "maverick" grandstanding, either. And Sununu and Cochrane? They are conservatives, or at least they were.
Rothenberg, who isn't given to rhetorical excess like his GOP Blogger colleague Mark Noonan tends to be, throws down this gauntlet:
And, jointly and severally speaking, political suicide.
Hugh Hewitt brings to our attention this morning the inexplicable possibility, reported in today's Wall Street Journal, that New Hampshire's John Sununu may be about to "go RINO" and join Senators Chafee, Collins, Hagel, McCain, Snowe, and Warner in stiffing the White House and Majority Leader Frist by joining the DisLoyal Opposition in refusing to smash the Democrat filibuster against Bush appellate court (and SCOTUS, eventually) appointments.
Senator Warner's laconic comment on the subject makes it sound like he almost craves a return to minority party status:
"'I tend to be a traditionalist, and the right of unlimited debate has been a hallmark of the Senate since its inception,'" said Virginia Senator John Warner, a 27-year veteran who has been researching previous political showdowns over court appointments including President Franklin D. Roosevelt's attempt to stack the Supreme Court. Mr. Warner says he hasn't made up his mind on the issue, but said that he isn't 'persuaded that the seriousness of the problem merits such an extraordinary solution.'"
What would it take to persuade you, Senator? You don't think it's serious that the minority is effectively amending Article II, Section II to require an arbitrary supermajority for judicial confirmation solely at partisan whim, without actually pursuing such a fundamental change via the legislative Amendment process? You don't think it's serious that the minority is abusing rules the majority has every right to change to overturn the results of the past two presidential elections, which were heavily contested on precisely this issue? And is your thinking reflected in your examination of FDR's attempt to pack the SCOTUS, which is about as relevant to the current dispute as condom vending machines are to Vatican lavatories?
Your minority party colleagues are thwarting the unequivocally expressed will of the American majority, Senator. It is your duty, and that of your majority colleagues, to take whatever measures are available to thwart that thwarting.
Otherwise...well, let's let Double-H deliver the punchline:
If the GOP loses this battle, a great deal of justified bitterness will infect its base with dire consequences for 2006 and beyond.
UPDATE: Now we're down to forty-six, if Jonathan Rothenberg's information is correct, as Thad Cochrane of Mississippi and Ohio's George Voinovich are now contemplating going RINO.
This metastasizing collapse of partisan will is becoming astounding, even for the Stupid Party. It always stood to reason that Chaffee, Collins, and Snowe would defect, and McCain and his li'l buddy Hagel are grade-A media ass-kissers, but the other four? Warner and Voinovich aren't conservatives, strictly speaking, but not given to "maverick" grandstanding, either. And Sununu and Cochrane? They are conservatives, or at least they were.
Rothenberg, who isn't given to rhetorical excess like his GOP Blogger colleague Mark Noonan tends to be, throws down this gauntlet:
If there was ever an issue on which to hold the party line, this is it. Breaking ranks on this issue is political treason.
And, jointly and severally speaking, political suicide.
posted by JASmius at 9:49 AM
<<< Home