WP: It's All Up- or Downhill From Here (Byrd on Senate floor)

[Pirate Smile]

It's All Up- or Downhill From Here

By Dan Balz

Sunday, May 15, 2005; Page A04

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) were having one of their many colloquies about judicial nominations when Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.), a Bible and a copy of the Constitution in hand, suddenly intervened.

For the next hour, Byrd commanded center stage on the Senate floor, with pointed questions, extended ramblings and theatrical flourishes that had both leaders squirming and the galleries mesmerized.

With Frist poised to invoke what has become known as the "nuclear option" -- a rules change to prohibit filibusters on judicial nominees -- Byrd pleaded for compromise. Waving the Constitution, he said to Frist, "Does it say that each nominee shall have an up-or-down vote? Does it say that?"

Quietly, Frist responded, "The answer is no, the language is not there." But he then defended the principle of giving President Bush's nominees that opportunity. To which Byrd responded, "To give consent, we may vote. But to deny consent doesn't require a vote."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/14/AR2005051400752.html

[AuntiBush]

1. Oh. He was BEA-UTIFUL! Our Mir-acle! You Go Senator Byrd!

So glad I caught that! It was a "WOW! moment," and Byrd gave them a respectable finger-waving, which is more then one can say for the FRistians!

Oh yeah. We need more Senator Byrds! Thank god for him I might add. Thank God we have him there right now.

[lovuian]

2. I taped it and Byrd gave Frist a History Lesson!!!

Byrd is great!!!

[emcguffie]

14. I've missed both replays

Even though I called c-span and begged. They said they weren't going to play it anymore, and it wasn't available, except as the entire thing for $360.

Any way anybody who taped it can share it, legally?

I would so love to see it.

[cestpaspossible]

3. It was fun to watch.

I'm so glad cspan streams on the internet and I don't have to pay the corporate overlords to watch.

[Skip Intro]

4. Byrd was awesome - a Senator who knows and respects the Senate.

what a comparison, between him and frist, who obviously cares as much about America and the Constitution as his equally unAmerican "leader."

Byrd is a true patriot, and a defender of a United States constitution under attack by traitors who have seized power.

God help us - this second term of hell is only six months old.

I truly fear for my country.

[Occulus]

5. Can anyone throw up a link to the video?

Godawful phrasing on that, but I'd really like to see it.

[Bake]

6. Have you no shame, sir? At long last, have you no shame?

The sad thing is that at the end of the day, the Fristians HAVE NO shame. It's a naked power grab, and they don't give a fat rat's ass.

Bake

[gavodotcom]

7. I didn't notice Reid squirming.

Right from the start, it looked planned. Which, of course, made it a lot more highly entertaining (and beautiful, in the civic sense) for me.

[Sydnie]

9. I don't think it was planned to go the way it did

First of all, Byrd asked them to stay while he spoke. That was unique in and of itself. Then, all the wrangling for the floor and the questions back and forth, through the chair. Byrd reminding Frist that *HE* had the floor was powerful and priceless. Getting Frist to admit that the Constitution did NOT say what Frist was implying was amazing. Frist trying to make Bryd look like a man with short term memory issues was insulting and Byrd knew just how to side step that diversion and take back command of the conversation, to the obvious frustration of Frist. The bible lesson was the final slap in the face for Frist.

All Byrd was saying was to be careful what you wish for Frist, because you just might get it.

The rerun was cut off so I didn't see Frist leave the floor. I'll have to catch it on the web to see that part, I guess.

Byrd showed Frist what it was like to be a Statesman, something Frist will never be able to accomplish in his own lifetime.

It was, planned or not, a thing of beauty to watch and should be required viewing for any poli-sci class in the country.

[Hapameli]

8. I liked the end when Frist looks like he's about to cry... the writer

nailed it:

Frist kept looking for an exit and finally took his leave, prompting Byrd to wail theatrically, "He left me all alone here. What about this? Hey, where is my adversary? Where is my worthy adversary?"

[dmr]

10. Replay on C-Span

Just looked at the C-Span schedule, and it should be replayed at 10:40 this morning on C-Span 1. I'll be there.

Thank you Senator Byrd.

[BornLeft]

11. I have always been

proud of my senator. It hurts so much to see him frail of body, but the power and inspiration within still rouses the soul.

[StaggerLee]

12. I saw the replay online (CSPAN website) Thursday night

It was such a wonderful display of statesmanship, the likes of which our governing body is very short of. I honestly had a hard time settling down that evening and ended up going to bed very late.

Does anyone have a the video of this for those of us who aren't able to tape from cable?

[Festivito]

13. How about a 60-40 up and down vote.

If you want compromise, then 60-40 is down from a 67-33 up and down vote in order to gain the FULL MEASURE OF CONSENT.

Judges affect us all individually, for that reason, all judges should be elected by 100%, every one, of representative votes.