Reid Calls Frist's GOP Politics 'Radical'

[jefferson_dem]

Damn, Harry. Rock on, brother! Keep on bitchslapping that punk-ass Fristy! :spank:

By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent

WASHINGTON - The Senate's top Democrat accused Majority Leader Bill Frist of engaging in "radical Republican" politics on Friday and urged him to cancel a videotaped speech to a group that claims President Bush's conservative court nominees face opposition on religious grounds.

"It is really beyond the pale. He should rise above this," Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada said of Frist, R-Tenn. "God does not take part in partisan politics."

<SNIP>

At his news conference, Reid predicted Republicans won't stop there.

"Judges today. We'll have Cabinet officers tomorrow. Then we'll just have simple legislation" that is placed beyond the reach of a unified minority, he said. "What is going on ... is not Republican mainstream politics. It is radical Republican politics."

<SNIP>

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=512&u=/ap/20050415/ap_on_go_co/senate_judges&printer=1

[efhmc]

1. nanny, naany, poo, poo. Like he and his like CARE!

[bearfan454]

Hi efhmc !

:hi:

[Warpy]

2. I sincerely hope our old maid Dem senators

manage to develop enough backbone to stand up and walk out if Frist succeeds in changing the filibuster rule. That rule has been in place forever and has stopped a lot of extremism, which is probably why crybaby Frist hates it so much. It's also been used destructively, most notably by southern racists, so it does represent a double edged weapon. Eliminating it would cripple any opposition party, and the GOP aint gonna be on top of the shit pile much longer.

Oh, I suppose that old coot from Georgia will still be sitting there with a puzzled look on his senile old face, but hey, that's the breaks. They still can't do business if enough Dems simply walk out.

[Joe Power]

3. It's about time!

The word "Republican" should never, ever be used without "radical" attached to it. The POS Pugs have defined their opponents (us) with language for too long. The media will parrot it if it is said enough.

[montanacowboy]

4. All Democrats need to start referring

to the wingers as "radical republicans" - every single time they mention their name it should be prefaced with radical republican Frist.... or radical republican Delay....

just like they love to call Al Sadr "radical cleric"

let's hit them with the label because they are NO friggin different!

and people have got to get that through their thick skulls!

[jefferson_dem]

6. Indeed! I've noticed that way apropos label being adopted more and more

Schumer nailed it about a half dozen times on FauxNews the other day. On message, friends.

Language matters...

http://news.google.com/news?q=radical%20republican&hl=en&lr=&rls=DVXA,DVXA:2005-05,DVXA:en&sa=N&tab=wn

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&lr=&rls=DVXA%2CDVXA%3A2005-05%2CDVXA%3Aen&tab=wn&ie=UTF-8&q=radical+republicans

[BadNews]

16. That is a good start

I think the repukes are doing quite a job framing the debate. They will throw the religion/race card often. If they succeed in making it look like we oppose the nominees because of their religious beliefs or their ethnicity, we are going to lose. There are too many people who are casual christians but show up to vote. If it looks like nominees were stopped because simply they are practicing christians, mormons, or catholics we will lose many average joe voters.

Likewise, if it looks like someone was not allowed to the bench because they are african-american or latino it will not bode well for us. We have to be able to show why each nominee is radical, but that is not conducive to a sound bite.

The nut jobs have an advantage as they can sum things up in the tidy package of discrimination.

[amb123]

52. Christian Fascist (formerly Republican) Party

AFAIC the Republican Party of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon & Ronald Reagan is dead. It died the moment George Walker Bush was first sworn in. I then stopped calling them the Republican Party and started calling the the Christian Fascist Party. It should now be obvious to everyone now that their agenda is nothing less than the overthrow of American Democracy, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, to replace a government of, by, and for all the people with a government of, by, and for the White, Anglo-Saxon, Christian, Rich, Heterosexual Male. Their goal is the total subjugation of the people to the will of Big-Father Government, Big-Father Corporations and Big-Father Religion, hence the term Christian Fascist. We should start calling them the Christian Fascist Party in every Letter to the Editor, every talk-radio show and every Internet blog. The Christian Fascist Party threatens the very existence of the United States of America and we should all base our future actions on that very fact. It's about time the Democratic Leadership in the Congress is finally recognizing the Christian Fascist threat. The only way to save our country is to defend and extend the separation of church and state. I personally am willing to sacrifice my life, my fortune and my sacred honor to do so as the Declaration of Independence says I can. THERE IS NO FREEDOM WITHOUT CHURCH/STATE SEPARATION.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Ah how refreshing ON MESSAGE

[Gothmog]

7. Harry Reid is doing a very good job

I am impressed with the job Reid has been doing. Frist has been kept off his game by Reid.

[bearfan454]

9. Yes I like Reid.

He doesn't cave in like.............. did.

[Just Me]

8. Frist is a power-monger who "uses" the vulnerabilities of others to,...

,...advance his own political interests. He's a political HO, period. His pursuit of power is radical and extreme. He has no business having power to wield when he HATES laws, HATES the Constitution, HATES people who get in his way of usurping power.

He's an evil ass who deserves to fall so hard his butt creates a publicly visible cloud.

Mr. "video-tape diagnosis" malpractice DR!!!!

Yet another revolting example of how the Republican leadership FAILS to advance the best interests of "the people" because they serve their own greedy self-interests. They use their positions to have "the people" serve them,...rather than serve ALL "the people".

They should all be RELOCATED to a small island in the middle of nowhere to consume themselves rather than us!!!!

[realFedUp]

10. conservatives have lost their minds

of course we knew this a long time
ago, but they are so arrogant and
so public now with their crimes and lies
that even someone who doesn't read newspapers
is getting the picture finally.

Pass the popcorn.

[Straight Shooter]

11. Thank you, Senator Reid.

Radical Republicans. "God does not take part in partisan politics."

Reminds me of the bumper sticker: GOP does not spell GOD

[Itsthetruth]

18. And Thanks For The Bankruptcy Bill.

And a special thanks for making sure Bush's bankruptcy bill was passed by Congress. Big business and the credit card companies luv ya!

All is forgiven if you just say some nasty things about a few Republicans every once in awhile. Your words are far more important than your deeds.

[depakid]

22. and thanks for all those extremist nominees

That you can't find the political fortitude to oppose.

[Beetwasher]

12. It Took Them Fucking Long Enough To Start Branding These Assholes Radicals

Finally, thank you!

[mopinko]

32. long? nah.

just about 25 years is all.

[Joey Liberal]

13. Frist has gone crazy

But then again, aren't most republicans in Congress crazy?

[Mark E. Smith]

14. Frist Presumes To Speak For God

Little does he know that God is really a cat.

[proud patriot]

15. YAY !

:woohoo:

[ninkasi]

17. Ok, so I'm not a lawyer

I like to think of myself as just a fairly average citizen, female, 62, married, children, grandchildren, one great-grandchild...but even I know this attempt by the Radical Republicans is wrong.

This is from Article VI of the Constitution...

Clause 3: The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

Now, I know there must be lawyers, and other highly quualified people on DU to see if that clause means what I think it does, namely that religion isn't supposed to play a part in our political process. Maybe I'm wrong. I'm just saying that from the way I interpret this, the Radicals are going against the Constitution. What do you say, fellow DU'ers?

[Terre]

20. I'm not an attorney

But I read:

but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

it to mean that any of the aforementioned people, are bound or required to be of a particular religious persuasion in order to qualify to any Office or public Trust.

I don't construe it to mean that religion per se has to be excluded from anything relating to the Constitution.

Then again - I could be wrong.

[meganmonkey]

19. It's about time we start calling them names!

Well, we sure as hell do here, but I mean out in public :P

It really is, though. They (the repubs) are out of control, and this is a great fricking headline! It is absurd that calling names is what grabs attention and becomes news, but that seems to be the way it is. So I say Go For It! I was a little worried about Reid as leader - didn't know much about him, admittedly - but I am starting to like him!

Next time Reid should call them lying, corrupt, America-hating motherf*cking assholes! ;)

[nolabels]

21. There are a couple phases that happen after the name calling

They are (well at least the way I have observed things through the years anyway)

The last is knowing things as fact, but the one before that is action or violence for the matter at hand.

I suggest that is possible to go to the last phase while skipping the one in middle (if done with do diligence of forethought that is)

We are starting to see some of the fruits of patience, the ah-ha comes later after you see how it happened full view.

[meganmonkey]

29. I like the way you think, nolabels!

I hope you are right about skipping the middle phase.:)

[nolabels]

48. I claim none of that as an original idea

That's just my interpreted short hand version of ZEN with a sprinkling of a biblical proverb sprinkled in (which I found both of which mostly works). Our tight grip to them is the only thing keeping them upright.

If we all relax (like they teach you to do in Judo) to the point where the middle can no longer hold it self up then it will all change in a fall that happens more smoothly and even. Just figuring out where to move to while we let their own weight carry them down is the only thing I am watching for ;-)

The Heisenberg uncertainty principle

People are familiar with measuring things in the macroscopic world around them. Someone pulls out a tape measure and determines the length of a table. A state trooper aims his radar gun at a car and knows what direction the car is traveling, as well as how fast. They get the information they want and don't worry whether the measurement itself has changed what they were measuring. After all, what would be the sense in determining that a table is 80 cm long if the very act of measuring it changed its length!

At the atomic scale of quantum mechanics, however, measurement becomes a very delicate process. Let's say you want to find out where an electron is and where it is going (that trooper has a feeling that any electron he catches will be going faster than the local speed limit). How would you do it? Get a super high powered magnifier and look for it? The very act of looking depends upon light, which is made of photons, and these photons could have enough momentum that once they hit the electron they would change its course! It's like rolling the cue ball across a billiard table and trying to discover where it is going by bouncing the 8-ball off of it; by making the measurement with the 8-ball you have certainly altered the course of the cue ball. You may have discovered where the cue ball was, but now have no idea of where it is going (because you were measuring with the 8-ball instead of actually looking at the table).

Werner Heisenberg was the first to realize that certain pairs of measurements have an intrinsic uncertainty associated with them. For instance, if you have a very good idea of where something is located, then, to a certain degree, you must have a poor idea of how fast it is moving or in what direction. We don't notice this in everyday life because any inherent uncertainty from Heisenberg's principle is well within the acceptable accuracy we desire. For example, you may see a parked car and think you know exactly where it is and exactly how fast it is moving. But would you really know those things exactly? If you were to measure the position of the car to an accuracy of a billionth of a billionth of a centimeter, you would be trying to measure the positions of the individual atoms which make up the car, and those atoms would be jiggling around just because the temperature of the car was above absolute zero!

Heisenberg's uncertainty principle completely flies in the face of classical physics. After all, the very foundation of science is the ability to measure things accurately, and now quantum mechanics is saying that it's impossible to get those measurements exact! But the Heisenberg uncertainty principle is a fact of nature, and it would be impossible to build a measuring device which could get around it.
(snip)
http://www-theory.chem.washington.edu/~trstedl/quantum/quantum.html#Heisenberg

Jonathan L. Feng's page 795 article in this Science issue, titled, 'Searching for Gravity's Hidden Strength,' is an incredible approbation of Quantonics' views of gravity as quantum-heterogeneous.

Problem is, Feng's description of gravitational heterogeneity is classical: spatial and dimensionally propertyesque. Too, Feng offers no notions of what we call "gravity as quantum flux," a la Irving Stein's one dimensional random walk "fluxing" models in his The Concept of Object as the Foundation of Physics. To Feng gravity is a classical objective property of two masses separated by spatial distance.
(snip)
Readers may recall how, in Quantonics, we view mass, space, time, and gravity (and countless other measurables based on those four too, e.g., temperature) as quantum flux phenomena. Given that view, we also perceive all those measurables and their relevant brethren as quantum heterogeneous too. To us, time is heterogeneous, space is heterogeneous, mass is heterogeneous, and gravity is heterogeneous. Latter ~fits what Feng is saying. But Feng, et al., can garner much more for their quantum stagings when they commence viewing other quantum aspects of gravity too. As examples see our cohera and entropa. Then view quantum gravity in light of all those other affine nexi plus their quantum-gradients and -interrelationships.

Once quantum physicists commence viewing gravity as (anihmatæly, EIMA) sharing heterogeneous interrelationships vis-à-vis (state-ically, EEMD) 'possessing' classical objective properties, they may learn that a n¤vel quantum perspective is more potent than Feng's fast-fading classical view.

There is some Quantum Lighting here though! Feng's article admits (quantum) gravity's intrinsic heterogeneity.
(snip)
http://www.quantonics.com/Flash_2003.html

[ProudToBeLiberal]

23. Reid calls Frist's GOP politics 'radical'

Reid calls Frist's GOP politics 'radical'

DAVID ESPO

Associated Press


WASHINGTON - The Senate's top Democrat accused Majority Leader Bill Frist of engaging in "radical Republican" politics on Friday and urged him to cancel a videotaped speech to a group that claims President Bush's conservative court nominees face opposition on religious grounds.

"It is really beyond the pale. He should rise above this," Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada said of Frist, R-Tenn. "God does not take part in partisan politics."

In response, Frist spokesman Bob Stevenson accused Democrats of a "clear double standard." He said they failed to speak out last fall when their presidential candidate, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., campaigned against President Bush at a Baptist church.

"Now, as they prepare to continue their unprecedented filibuster against the president's judicial nominations, they criticize the leader for agreeing to deliver a similar address pressing for fair treatment of the president's judicial nominees," Stevenson said.

more at...http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/11406197.htm

[democrat in Tallahassee]

24. Kerry campaigned against Bush at a Baptist church? How are these

2 things similar? Sometimes I feel like I'm in the twilight zone.

[bettyellen]

25. fair treatment = handing over a rubber stamp to Repugs?

what fucking planet is this guy on?

[BadNews]

26. This article has already been posted.

You will find the same thread further down the page.

[Randi_Listener]

27. Dupe. I want this thread locked.

[ProudToBeLiberal]

28. pretty confrontational tone there eh? nt

[ProudToBeLiberal]

31. I want my lollypop too waaaahhhhhhh nt

[JerseygirlCT]

30. Yes! Repeat as needed: Radical. Dangerous.

[BeFree]

33. It's where we were two years ago

DU was calling them Radical Republicans since way back when.

The leadership is catching up with us! That's good!

You watch, next thing you know they won't be able to spell the president's name right! "_*"

[wabranty]

34. Well it's a start . . .

but just trading insults back and forth isn't going to convince voters. Where is the Dem message in all of this? Just pointing out Republicans are going to far is good but we then have to prove we are the positive and sane alternative.

[SillyGoose]

35. Senate Leader Urged to Withdraw from Telecast

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top Democrats urged U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist on Friday to withdraw from an upcoming telecast organized by Christian conservatives that portrays Democrats as "against people of faith" for blocking President Bush's judicial nominees.


Democrats complained that Frist, a Tennessee Republican and potential 2008 presidential contender, was improperly injecting religion into a high-stakes political fight.


"God does not take part in partisan politics," said Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada. "I would hope Senator Frist ... would not participate in this.."


Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy (news, bio, voting record) added, "I hope Senator Frist will decide not to participate in this blatant assault on the fundamental principle of separation of church and state."


(more)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=584&e=1&u=/nm/20050415/pl_nm/congress_judges_dc

[havocmom]

36. We have got to start pounding home the actual numbers of how many

judicial appointments the DEMS have allowed (what, 205 or something isn't it?) and how few have not been confirmed 4? 5?

Time to get those LTTE flying every-fuckin-where. There IS NO CRISIS confirming judicial appointments. All the whoop-la would indicate they want to get some real bozos nominated and are trying to get the base pumped.

WE need to get the voice of reason out there in the national discussion. Tired of DEMS being charged with all the shit tactics the GOP was guilty of in the Clinton years. They can take their mental health problem with projection and shove it up their collective arses!

Time to be aggressively logical and honest about what is going on. No more of this sitting quietly while they brazenly lie about us. Asking Frist not to attend is a bit mealy mouthed. Time to let him go make an ass of himself and beat him over the head LOUDLY with the facts.

[UCLA Dem]

37. agreed. dems need to start framing this debate.

[UCLA Dem]

38. go harry. take it to 'em!!!

[MrTriumph]

40. I wish Harry & Senate Dems would fight as hard for American workers

Isn't is amazing how hard the Democrats in the Senate can fight for measures that directly affect them, but when it comes to stopping illegal immigration to help American workers, giving those taking bankruptcy a clean start, or sending American kids off to war, they capitulate or even act as RNC cheerleaders.

[jefferson_dem]

39. Complete transcript of Reid's "Truth To Power" statement here -

Reid Statement


I am disappointed that in an attempt to hide what the debate is really about, Senator Frist would exploit religion like this. Religion to me is a very personal thing. I have been a religious man all my adult life. My wife and I have lived our lives and raised our children according to the morals and values taught by the faith to which we prescribe. No one has the right to judge mine or anyone else’s personal commitment to faith and religion.

God isn’t partisan.

As His children, he does ask us to do our very best and treat each other with kindness. Republicans have crossed a line today. America is better than this and Republicans need to remember that. This is a democracy, not a theocracy. We are people of faith, and in many ways are doing God’s work. But we represent all Americans, regardless of religion. Our founding fathers had the superior vision to separate Church and State in our democracy. It is a fundamental principle that has allowed our great, diverse nation to grow and flourish peacefully. Blurring the line between Church and State erodes our Constitution, and our democracy. It is a blatant abuse of power. Participating in something designed to incite divisiveness and encourage contention is unacceptable. I would hope that Sen. Frist will rise above something so beyond the pale.

[ngGale]

41. Keep giving 'em hell, Harry!......

I love Harry Reid, he has guts.

[DeepModem Mom]

42. NYT: Frist Accused of Exploiting Religion Issue

Frist Accused of Exploiting Religion Issue
By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK and CARL HULSE

Published: April 16, 2005


Democratic senators accused Senator Bill Frist, the Republican majority leader, of exploiting religion for partisan ends by taking part in a telecast portraying them as "against people of faith" for blocking President Bush's judicial nominations.

"Our debate over the rules of the Senate and the use of the filibuster has nothing to do with whether one is religious or not," Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, said at a news conference with Senator Harry Reid, the minority leader from Nevada. "I cannot imagine that God - with everything he has or she has to worry about - is going to take the time to debate the filibuster in heaven."

The Family Research Council, a Christian conservative advocacy group, has organized an April 24 telecast, "Justice Sunday," which includes prominent conservative Christians speaking by simulcast to churches, Web sites and Christian broadcast networks. Under the heading "The filibuster against people of faith," a flier for the telecast reads, "The filibuster was once abused to protect racial bias, and it is now being used against people of faith."...

***

Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, said in a statement that he was "deeply troubled" by Dr. Frist's participation. "Whatever one's views may be on this or any other issue," Mr. Foxman said, "playing the religious card is as unacceptable as playing the race card."...

***

Democrats seized on Dr. Frist's participation in an effort to portray Republicans as intolerant extremists. "In America, we are in a democracy, not a theocracy," Mr. Reid said, urging Dr. Frist to back out of the event. "God does not take part in partisan politics."...


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/16/politics/16judges.html

[freedom_to_read]

43. "playing the religious card is as unacceptable as playing the race card."

"playing the religious card is as unacceptable as playing the race card."

[MisterP]

44. does this mean we can play the kitten-butcher card?

howzabout when he runs as the Piglet's running mate

[Bleacher Creature]

45. Accused of?????

Bill Frist IS Exploiting the Religion Issue. It's not up for debate.

[Up2Late]

46. Senate Leader Urged to Withdraw from Telecast (Reuters)

(I have to say, I never thought Reed would have these kind of balls)

Senate Leader Urged to Withdraw from Telecast

Fri Apr 15, 2005 09:50 PM ET

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top Democrats urged U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist on Friday to withdraw from an upcoming telecast organized by Christian conservatives that portrays Democrats as "against people of faith" for blocking President Bush's judicial nominees.

Democrats complained that Frist, a Tennessee Republican and potential 2008 presidential contender, was improperly injecting religion into a high-stakes political fight. "God does not take part in partisan politics," said Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada. "I would hope Senator Frist ... would not participate in this.."

Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy added, "I hope Senator Frist will decide not to participate in this blatant assault on the fundamental principle of separation of church and state." Frist aides said he had no plans to withdraw from the event, scheduled for April 24 and billed as "Justice Sunday."

The telecast may come just days before a Senate showdown over Republican threats to change the chamber's rules to ban procedural hurdles known as filibusters that Democrats have used to block 10 of Bush's judicial nominees while helping confirm 205 others.

(more at link above)

[jazzjunkysue]

47. Let's have religous law. The law of worshipping me! All Hail!

I like this faith-based law. Let's make it the Jazz religion, where jazz musicians don't have to pay taxes and all worship them and buy their CD's. By law, no pop music can ever be played again on the radio. Disco and Rap is illegal, and the national anthem is replaced by miles davis. We'll teach jazz for one hour a week in all public schools and build jazz centers in every major city, with free lessons for everyone.

The Ten Commandments of Jazz! Amen!

[Itsthetruth]

49. Reid Is Just Acting On Behalf Of Mormons

Senator Reid is simply defending the ultra right-wing Mormon church from other Christian groups that Mormon's oppose. While Mormon church and political leaders are in agreement with the political views of most right-wing Christian leaders and groups, they are in competition with their religious ideology.

Reid is the most influential Mormon political leader in the nation. He defends their reactionary values and views. He's their man in Washington!

[Nevernose]

50. The Mormons HATE Reid

They're in constant discussion to excommunicate him. Reid is pro-life (though not radically so) and neutral on the gun issue, plus any senator from Nevada must be pro-mining. These are issues they'll tolerate.

He's stood up for things like stem-cell research, environmental issues like Yuuca, ANWR, Kyoto, and global warming, supports medicare and education expansion, opposes privitization of social security, is very pro-union, supports a variety of women's issues (there are more than the right to have an abortion). Reid doesn't want religious whackos from any faith in power, not even the whackos from his own church. Most LDS members would love to lynch him for these things -- when compared to a "real" Mormon like Orrin Hatch, reid looks like freaking Noam Chomsky.

One can be Catholic without being a member of Opus Dei; one can be a Southern Babtist without worshipping Jerry Falwell; and one can be a muslim without having Osama Bin Laden's face tatooed on their ass. To hate a man or accuse him based upon his erligion is simply bigotry.

Reid's an old-school, moderate Democrat, soft-key and appealing, and (as Tank pointed out the other day), an incumbant with a lot of popular support at home. Occasionally he's even a sell out, but mostly he's okay.

Frankly, I would love to elect Howard Zinn as our next senator and replace that god-awful Ensign, but that ain't gonna happen anytime soon. And while I'm not a Mormon, I happen to know quite a few radically left-wing members of the church who spend their days working towards goals like social & economic justice, and vote Democratic in every damned election.

[LanternWaste]

51. All hymns done in minor keys with dropped sevenths

Stan Kenton as High Priest and all hymns done in minor keys with dropped sevenths! I like it.

As the bumper sticker says, "When Disco is outlawed, only outlaws will do The Hustle".

Jazzed-Based Initiatives, et. al.

That's great, Sue! :)