What if the 14 moderates formed a voting block?

[Pushed To The Left]

We might not even need to use the filibuster if this happened! There could be an agreement that if ANY of the 14 felt that a nominee warranted an extraordinary circumstance, that they would band together and vote against that nominee! This would eliminate the need for a filibuster and ruin Frist's plans entirely. Extreme nominees would lose, even with Frist's "up or down" vote! This could appeal to the moderate Republicans because it would make it easier to defeat nominees that they felt were too far to the left (not likely to happen during the Bush years). Plus, I don't think true moderates of either party want extremists on the bench.

[paineinthearse]

1. no - that is a concentration of power that has no check nor balance

But you may be onto something. What if there were a viable 3rd party that held 14 seats, accountable to the electorate???

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. They signed on to a very low threshold. They're allowing Brown in.

Who, with Owen and Pryor, are "extraordinary circumstances". Thus any as uber rightwing as those 3 will get a free ride.

All thanks to our Chamberlain "moderates" who have effectively made the filibuster useless.

[onehandle]

3. We instantly got an extreme judge out of that deal.

Probably three.

This would work in Europe. Not here.

[gumby]

4. Reminds me of Dixiecrat Rule.

That's the famous 40 years the right claims "Liberals" ruled this country, that they have been fighting against, and now have overcome...... praise!

This has been the basis of Limbaugh's program for the last 15 years, and he IS the Main Meme Meister for right-wing mythology.

[Telly Savalas]

5. Can we please quit calling them "moderates"?

The GOP is extremist and even its more moderate elements are very conservative. Call 'em "moderates" with scare quotes or the compromisers or whatever, but calling them moderates only validates conservatism.

[Stinky The Clown]

6. Thank you n/t

[Zan_of_Texas]

7. Okay. Let's call them names. Here ya go.

Trad cons -- guys like McCain

Neo cons -- guys like Cheney, Perle

Theo cons -- guys like DeLay

And, yeah, there should be durn few of any of them having even an ounce of power. But, there they are. Given that they're there, the trad cons at least represent a slice of Americans, who believe in small government and business interests. The neocons believe in absolute power, a US empire, and lying or whatever it takes. The theocons want to ditch the Constitution and make the US into a theocracy. Some of them are itching for an Apocalypse.

I don't hanker to be in their damn movie. But at least the trad cons don't want to run us all off a cliff.

[dweller]

8. please explain the 14 or 12 number rule

i thought it was as long as 6 members from each party agreed to compromise (and in this case 2 extra signed on) that they could stop/hold up/table an issue until further debate/study/etc was held.

in other words, 14 Dems, or 12 Repugs couldn't do the same. Nor would it matter if 6 cons and 6 Greens (if they existed in office) agreed, they could effectively do the same.

dp