Victory is in the eye of the beholder...

[kentuck]

My .02 cents

My initial thought was that if the Republicans offered a compromise, they did not have the votes. They were running a bluff. In that event, the Democrats should have stuck by their guns. However, that is only true if Frist was in on the negotiation. If this compromise was forged in spite of Frist's efforts, I would call it a Democratic victory of sorts. But, in the sense of who pulled the most chips off the table when the game was over, the Republicans won. They got judges they never should have gotten. That's called a bird in the hand. We got a promise of sorts to allow filibusters under "extraordinary" circumstances - that's called a bird in the bush.

However, since victory is in the eye of the beholder, I think it would behoove us to call this a "victory". Perception is reality. If the Repubs think they lost, for Gods sake, let's not dissuade them. :) Yes, we won! The American people won. The right-wing agenda lost! It's a good day for America!

[BurtWorm]

1. You're right, kentuck. They got something real, we got air.

:woohoo:

Can't live without air!




:crazy:

[WillyT]

13. That's Crackin Me Up, LOL !!!

:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:
:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:
:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

:rofl:

And I agree Kentuck!

If perception is reality...

WE WON BIG-TIME !!!

:woohoo:

[Bluebear]

2. You got that right brother. nt

[rwenos]

3. Brownshirts are Crying on Free Republic

One really has to wonder what kind of Amerika those pricks want.

[lonestarnot]

15. Teeeeeeehhhhhhheeeee heee

[eyepaddle]

4. You know what,

I think that is probably the best thing I've heard tonight. I am gonna blast my (few) right-wing friends with BS about how the Dems won big. That tactic works great for the pukes--they start with arguments MUCH weaker than calling this deal a Dem win and stick with it NO MATTER WHAT.

It's time we do the same.

In your face Frist!

[kentuck]

5. Frame it as a "victory for America"...

That will really get their goat. :)

[Cha]

6. Somebody wise said..

"time would tell on just who was the big winner today".

[caligirl]

7. We just saw the revolt of the moderat repugs, Frist might have

been told to agree with this, he refused based on what he said in his statement on the floor tonight. The mod repugs , with Warner working with Byrd behind the scenes, revolted and Frist was left chopped at the knees. His political aspirations are toast. He lost big time, the extremist righties are out of power.

[kentuck]

10. So Frist said he did not agree with the compromise??

That's interesting. However, I don't think this harms his political aspirations. The right-wing still chooses who will be the Repub candidate. He will still be their darling - perhaps even moreso, in my opinion.

[caligirl]

17. Frist lost control of his team. Repugs are agreeing with the dems.

Frist won't get a SC nom thru, or Scalias or Thomas appointed to the CJ spot without exposing the real motive of this fight. Since 80% of the American people supported keeping the filibuster, and Frist and Bush wanted to end it just to stick an extremist judge on the SC or get their bought and paid for judge in the CJ spot. 80% of America is going to exact a price for this sooner or later. The consent of the governed is the only way a gov't can govern in a democracy. Or does Frist and Bushco want to tell 80% of America they no longer are governed but rather dictated too.

[rwenos]

8. Effect on 2006

Frist may well have been dealt a deathblow in his presidential fantasy. This is a good thing.

On the other hand, are Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi (God bless 'em) merely "curators", or are they revolutionaries who can see us to a new majority in the House? (Taken from an article I just read in Atlantic.)

[johnaries]

9. I couldn't agree more. It was a bad deal - UNLESS

Frist really had the votes. In any event, as others have said if the far right Repukes think they lost I see no reason to disagree with them. If they have taught us anything, it's that if you say something enugh times the sheeple will believe it - no matter how crazy it is! Plus, we're already starting to see the implosion of the GOP with the cons v neo-cons. Hopefully, this will help that implosion happen a little quicker!

edit to add - recommended. Let's get one more recommendation - I think this belongs on the Greatest Page!

[kainah]

11. OTOH

Just last week, Reid offered an up or down vote on 4 of the nominees. They got three and while they are three terrible judges, 3 still beats 4.

[wisteria]

12. It was a compromise, we retain the right to filibuster

within reason. We give up and allow three judges, but we have opportunities still open when a vacancy comes up on the US Supreme Court and this could be very soon. We may also find we have moderate Republicans more willing to work with us and against President Bush.

IMO, we won and I agree that we should allow people to perceive it in this way. I was not at all sure if it came down to a vote that we would have won. I think that was why Harry Reid was taking our message to the public explaining our position. It may also not have been well received with the public if we had a senate slow-down caused by dems. The repubs could have used this against us big time.

[KharmaTrain]

14. The Wingnuts Were Balls To The Walls

Very true, perception is so important here...and maintaining that ability to shut down their nominee for the Supreme Court is a victory.

Frist/Dobson were sure they had the votes going into this morning...or so that's what he was saying to his coven. They expected a full showdown and Reid dispatched ala Daschele. They figured the power of the dollars (Frist/McConnell control the campaign dollars and/or can help fund a primary challenger) would crack the whip.

The fact there's any deal is a victory for the Democrats as the story had been framed in the corporate media that it was the Democrats who were "obstucting" this process. Now that there's a deal, that dog won't hunt anymore. And any change by Frist...or non-acceptance, destroys any credibility with moderates and independents.

Yep...I'm spoiling to tear these bastards apart as much as anyone here, but let's let them think they've lost and over-reach again...and you know they will.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

16. "A bird in the Bush."

:woohoo:

[proud patriot]

18. LOL ..Well Said

:D :thumbsup:

[alfredo]

19. James Dobson is going to punish the Republican seven

by heavily funding a theocrat to run against them in the primaries. You can put money on it.