Frist Bows to Graven Image, Sells Out Deal?
The screams of "betrayal!" are already wafting through the blogosphere as Bill Frist announced that he will file for cloture on William Myers later this week. As late as Monday night, Frist said he would abide by the agreement reached by the seven Republican moderates and brokered by John McCain and Lindsey Graham, whereby Myers and Henry Saad would either be "filibustered or withdrawn."
I don't know what everyone is upset about. Frist is abiding by the deal.
The deal was reached with the seven moderates, not Frist, whereby they would not support the cat killer in his motion to kill the filibuster. Got it? As to Myers and Saad, the Democrats have an option -- they will be allowed to filibuster -- and the Republicans have an option. They can withdraw Myers and Saad, or not. Frist chose not.
Anyone surprised? Don't be. As was noted in an earlier post, I'm sure both Frist and Fearless Leader spent the day getting cornholed by Mullah Dobson for their failure Monday to kill the filibuster, which meant the path was not cleared for Dobson to appoint whatever foaming loonie he chooses to the Supreme Court this summer. Dobson's statement:
"We are grateful to Majority Leader Frist for courageously fighting to defend the vital principle of basic fairness. That principle has now gone down to defeat. We share the disappointment, outrage and sense of abandonment felt by millions of conservative Americans who helped put Republicans in power last November."Translation: Bill you is my bitch -- I made you, and I can break you. You will now dance to my unholy tune.
Anyone who doesn't get that can't read plain English.
So now the dutiful Frist, his political career being circled by sharks from both sides, has chosen what he believes will be the lesser of two evils -- he'll test the resolution of the moderates. Good luck to him. McCain and Graham emerged as the new power brokers of the Senate with this deal, and polls showed popular opinion championing them as heroes. I don't see them sabotaging that to make Frist look good to Dobson.
Far more worrisome is the rumor that this new moderate coalition sees themselves fashioning some deal on Social Security. If that happens, we may just wind up having to string up Lieberman after all.
Jeebus. Will these guys just give off for a while so I can answer some overdue email and write my post on the Right to Privacy?
posted by Jane Hamsher @ 5/25/2005 12:10:00 AM
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