Sunday, May 08, 2005
Armies Massing for Fillibuster Battle - Filibuster Fight Nears Showdown
Senate Democrats, including, from left, Harry Reid, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Charles E. Schumer and Barbara Boxer, urged Republicans last month to protect checks and balances by maintaining the filibuster.
Beginning Monday, when both Republicans and Democrats will mark the four-year anniversary of President Bush's initial round of nominations, the parties and their allies will follow a day-by-day schedule of demonstrations, legislative maneuvers and other public events in anticipation of an imminent floor showdown.
Seizing on Democratic threats to slow the majority agenda in the Senate, Republicans intend to paint Democrats as uncompromising obstacles to popular legislation. The message is simple, they say - no highway money, no energy bill, no tax relief. I guess this is a good example of Rove's strategy. Rove's strategy is to create a three-tier attack on the old order, and on anyone who would prevent his new order. His plan can be stated in three words: Bash, Break and Borrow. Democrats, however, believe they have the upper political hand as demonstrated in consistent public opinion polls that find strong public support for the filibuster. They say the public gets the idea that Republicans are threatening to destroy the unique nature of the Senate. "They understand that Republicans are changing the rules in the middle of the game," said Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate. "
They understand that Republicans are diminishing the power of the Senate and the constitutional system of checks and balances." I was talking to this Japanese lady over the weekend and she agrees with what Durbin said, people are not happy with the Republicans and this is reflected in the polls. Her thoughts are this - somehow the Republicans have gotten too much control and it is proving very difficult for them to be stopped. I guess we will all see what will happen in the interim elections.
posted by Cynthia
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