The Nuclear Option in the Filibuster Battle:
Neither Side Confident of the Outcome
April 18, 2005
David Kogelman
As the
rhetoric continues to heat up on the filibuster issue, the one thing that is
clear is that neither the Republicans nor the Democrats feel assured of
success.
The
Republicans apparently realize that the idea of eliminating the 200 year old
filibuster rule is so extreme, and certainly not conservative, that it does
not enjoy wide popular support. If it did, even within their own
party, they would already have reported out of committee one of the
extremist judges that the Democrats have threatened to again filibuster.
But they know how to count votes, and know that they can’t be sure of the
results right now.
It is a sign
of the weakness of their belief in the blocked judicial nominees that the
Republicans cannot and do not try to discuss their qualifications.
Instead, they engage in inflammatory, outrageous distortions, such as
claiming the judges are opposed by the Democrats because they are against
religion.
The Democrats
also know how to count votes, and are not feeling secure that they will win
this battle. A well informed Senate source has confirmed that their
count indicates the Democrats may only have the support of enough
Republicans and Independents for a tie vote, which would be broken by the
Vice President. Although there are probably enough Republicans who do
not want to see the filibuster eliminated because of what it means for the
future, our source told us that it was not likely that they would have the
courage of their convictions and vote against their leadership’s attempt to
eliminate it.
The irony in
all of this is that while the Republicans whine about how the will of the
majority is being thwarted, it is the minority Democratic Senators who
represent the majority of the population.
- 30 -
|
