Who first wanted the compromise??---could be real important politically

[DemocracyInaction]

Inquiring minds want to know. I doubt if the Dems were the first to raise the issue in that the repubs would have smelled defeat, spit in their face and stomped us in the ground. It undoubtedly was the repubs and probably McCain specifically. Ron Browstein of the LA Times had a good insight on it today.

He said that Bush's methods have been to energize the "base", ignore the Dems and put pressure on the moderate republicans. He said the moderate republicans have just pushed back and sent a message that they are sick of being in this position and want him to start sending reasonable things to the Congress that aren't such black and white polarizing and instantly causing fist fights. He said they are also telling him he better start working WITH the Senate instead of the crap he's been pulling.

That's why I raise the question. In other words, the moderate repubs are doing much more with this action than just saving a filibuster or addressing judicial nominees. This could be the foundation for stem cell issues, SS issues, etc.

I think our Dems were also sending a message but not such a strong one. I don't think we have anything in our party to match the brigade of asshole nutcases like the repubs have running the show. It's going to be a lot easier for Dems to sit down and work out reasonable answers to problems while keeping our base together, while the republicans are going to be in fist fights with each other trying to keep the animals fed and contained.

[davepc]

1. I've been saying this since last night

Moderate Republicans told the White House and Frist that they no longer are going to be taken for granted and ignored when it comes time to create policy.

They crossed the isle to GO AROUND THEIR LEADERSHIP to work out a deal that THE LEADERSHIP DID NOT WANT.

Too many people here at DU are unable, or unwilling to see the Republican party as anything more then a monolithic entity, and not the lose coalition of different interests that it actually is.

They're not all Bible Thumpers or whatever broad brush we want to paint them as, and the moderate wing of their party STOOD UP FOR ITSELF.

They came to us to work out a deal to do it, made Frist look like an ass, and saved the Filibuster for SCOTUS nominations.

All for the price of 3 judges who WERE GOING TO GET NOMINATED NO MATER WHAT!

how again, did we LOSE?!

[Fovea]

2. we lost because those moderates

would have crossed the aisle to kill Frist's plot.
We would have won far more with Frist/Rove/Delay taking a huge hit below the waterline. All we did was embolden and annoy their base.

And expose a small group of moderate republicans to defeat in the next election they face.

We lost twice yesterday. But we have peace in our time.