Nuclear Option


It amazes me when I hear Frist, Delay, McClellan, and others in the administration declare that never before has a judge been filibustered by the senate, as if the Democrats were somehow undertaking something utterly new and unconstitutional. Apparently, they've forgotten Abe Fortis, filibustered by the Republicans in 1968. Frist himself took part in a filibuster against Richard Paez from the 9th Circuit during the Clinton era. So this false indignation against Democrats is mere hypocrisy intended to fool us into supporting the ‘detonation’ of the filibuster. (Everything You Wanted To Know About the Nuclear Option, Salon; click on free day pass at the bottom of the introduction to read the whole article.)

The truth is, the filibuster is part of a 200 year old American tradition of checks and balances that exists to avert the tyranny of a slim majority.

If you're like me, you'll tell your representatives that you're against the 'nuclear option.' Don't let the administration appoint judges who will roll back decades of progress protecting worker's rights, the environment, and privacy, as they seem hell-bent on accomplishing.


Posted: Thu - May 12, 2005 at 04:34 PM          

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