Redstate

Senator Frist let me down when he endorsed embryonic stem cells--a DOCTOR should know better!

But he has decided to retire from the Senate, although a freshman Senator from TN would never be elected Majority Leader. Come to think of it, maybe Trent Lott wasn't so bad after all, and maybe by 2006 people will have forgiven his faux pas with Strom Thurmond. Then again, what about Jon Kyl of AZ?

the Closed Session, especially since the Republican Majority has shut the Democratic Minority out of all say in any legislation.  Talk about hijacking the government, there is a thing called minority rights and they should be respected whether it is a republican or democratic minority.  

I am finally pleased to see someone in my party stand up and fight, Senator Frist needs to stop being such a baby when not everything goes his way.    

when you are repudiated by the voters. You get marginalized. BTW, can you steer me to that part of the Constitution that says a minority party has a right to be involved in legislation? My copy seems to have those pages missing.

just vote to end closed session?

especially since the Republican Majority has shut the Democratic Minority out of all say in any legislation

An interesting idea, to be sure. What amazes me is that somehow Bob Byrd's projects still get funded.

Anything to back up that talking point, or are you here just to channel the barely tapped power of wild exaggeration?

I'm a GOP town committee chairman and just sent this to all of my fellow committee members.  I threw it together quickly (fury tends to do that to one) so it may not read as well as I would normally like, but I think it gets the message across...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051101/ap_on_go_co/senate_iraq

Folks, the time has come to accept the fact that we have an incompetent running the Majority of the United States Senate.  I'm certain that Dr. Frist is a wonderful human being and perhaps even a fine Senator, but he has to be, bar none, the most ineffective, lamest, most ill-prepared Senate Majority Leader in my lifetime - and we should no longer tolerate it.

Sure, he's Dubya's guy - should have been our first cause for concern.  Whether it's being outflanked by the "Gang of 14" (which resulted in 3 wonderful appellate court nominees getting thrown under the bus), or the constant outflanking of Half-Wit Harry Reid, Dr. Frist has shown that he is no longer up to the task of leading the Senate MAJORITY.

Bad enough to be outflanked by such an incompetent, idea-less, brainless opposition - but to then whine about it in front of the cameras?  Dr. Frist, leaders to not whine.

This is the final straw.

I urge each and every one of you to contact the RNC, the White House, and any Senator you feel comfortable so doing, and urge a new leadership election - immediately.

Regards,

Fearless Leader (name redacted to protect, well, me)

I'm so glad to read your response.  I admit, mine was a knee jerk reaction too. Fine, if he was shaken by the unexpected move.  Wait until you've got yourself and your plan together before you get in front of the cameras.  He looked and sounded foolish.

Would you like to see as Senate Majority Leader?

Senate Majority Leader Rick Santorum has a nice ring to it.

You Republicans are fascists. Blind to the truth even when it is staring you in the face. Thanks to you, (sane) Americans now know what it was like for (sane) Germans round about 1939. We know we are in danger, but powerless to do anything to stop the lunatics who are in power.

as the part that says Bill Frist needs to give permission for a closed session to be invoked.

You might check with Sen. Frist since he appears to have a more complete copy than either of us.

And the death squads are headed your way. Don't run; don't fight; it'll only be more painful on you as a result.

Move in, men. No prisoners.

Thomas - how did his post, telling truth to power AND The Man, slip past the filters?

Is Clayton at the Krispy Kreme drive thru or something?

But tell him to hit the drive thru on the way back. Never waste an opportunity to pick up some Hot Donuts now.

Maybe Frist was - let's say - emotional, but the brief cable coverage I saw seemed to regard it as an appropriate attribute rather than incompetence or petulance. He also has plenty of chances to slip back into the background and let the left continue to look foolish as they try to both continue this ploy (Reid) and stay in front of the nearest microphone or camera (Sen. Obvious - NY).

Meanwhile - Frist and Graham seem to be on the same page as far as the gang is concerned for Alito, and need to prop up Arlen as he announces the hearing schedule to be completed by mid-Dec. - floor vote before Xmas.

If that schedule holds, then this episode goes into the tickler file for next summer when the Stevens replacement is announced (Say Bork as a recess appointment since the Rogers Brown hearings are delayed for the '06 elections)

This was a nice little ploy by the democratic leadership, but I cannot recall the last time a nice little ploy carried an election.

There's definitely a lot more on my "no way" list than there are candidates.  Hmmm.  Maybe I've gotten a little cynical?

If I were to throw out a name, what about Kay Bailey Hutchinson?

...we are powerful enough to keep lunatics like you from power.

get behind that choice as well. I do agree, as I look down the list, there's a whole lot of "not on your life" candidates and some "hell no" candidates as well.

I would start with Kyl (AZ), Mitch (KY), Cronyn (scratch that - no more Texans), and maybe even Norm (MN).

Santorum is actually my first choice but I believe has to be considered a real long-shot at this point (no sense tying him down when he has his political life to fight for).  Perhaps we could go with one of the Mountain Time Zone Senators - then there's always Coburn!  (mostly kidding on that last one - though it would certainly make C-SPAN 2 more fun to watch)

He is currently the Majority Whip and has the votes pretty much locked down to be the next Majority Leader.

Campaiging for the race for the next Majority Whip is being held in abeyance until Santorum is re-elected (or unfortunately defeated) since he is the likely winner for the #2 spot in leadership.

Then Kyl and Hutchison will run for Conference Chair (Santorum's current leadership role).

If Santorum loses his re-election bid (please no), then it's somewhat more open because then who knows what Trent Lott will do.