If You Have Nothing Partisan To Say, Shut Up

Senator Frist has just released a statement on the Democrats' obstruction of Bush's judicial nominees [via Blogs for Bush]:

For Immediate Release:April 19, 2004

Statement from Majority Leader Bill Frist

WASHINGTON, DC- Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-TN, today released the following statement:

“As more and more attention has focused in recent weeks on a partisan minority unfairly blocking simple up or down votes on judicial nominees in the Senate, some have claimed that any effort to restore precedent for up or down votes on judicial nominees would affect the rights of Senators when it comes to legislation.

“If I must act to bring fairness back to the judicial nomination process, I will not act in any way to impact the rights of colleagues when it comes to legislation. Senate rules and practices now provide many tools for members, and leaders, to see legislative ideas brought to an up or down vote on the Senate floor and there is no need for change in relation to legislative matters.

“It is unfortunate that Democrats continue to block up or down votes on President Bush’s judicial nominees, thereby keeping the Senate from doing its constitutional duty. I urge the minority to put aside its partisan blockade, which interferes with our constitutional responsibilities, and join with me to bring fairness back to the process of voting for or against judicial nominees.”

Of course, nobody has ever suggested that the legislative filibuster would be removed. I frankly wish Senator Frist wouldn't dignify such lies with this kind of pious denial.

As to the rest...

“It is unfortunate that Democrats continue to block up or down votes on President Bush’s judicial nominees..."

"Unfortunate"? It's a bloody outrage. It's extremism to the nth degree.

I don't expect Frist to publicly blow his stack, but why does he persist with this rhetorical pussy-footing?

"I urge the minority to put aside its partisan blockade, which interferes with our constitutional responsibilities, and join with me to bring fairness back to the process of voting for or against judicial nominees.”

*sigh* I'm sorry, but this is verbal masturbation. Whatever else Bill Frist may be, he's not stupid. He knows the other side will never heed his words. And I frankly don't buy that he needs to issue pointless press releases to hold on to a few RINOs. If he has enough votes and is uncertain about holding onto theirs, that argues for scheduling the vote ASAP so as to not run the risk of having Collins or Sununu or Warner waver again. If he doesn't have their votes, then such embarrassing prostrations are unlikely to win them back.

This is a matter on which artifice serves no useful purpose. There is no legislative process involved here, no committee hearings, no log-rolling. It's purely a matter of partisan discipline and majority rule.

Quit fiddling with the "gun," Senator, and pull the trigger, before you blow holes in your feet.