Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Cooler Heads Prevail On The "Nuclear Option"

It's about time some centrists got together and bucked the leadership on something. I'm getting tired of the all or nothing attitudes of some people. Yes, I know some people on both sides, conservatives especially I imagine, will be upset that there was a compromise made. You should be careful what you wish for. I think your centrist brethren saved you a few seats in the next Congress. The people we should all be thanking are the following:

Democrats
Robert Byrd (West Virginia)
Daniel Inouye (Hawaii)
Mary Landrieu (Louisiana)
Joseph Lieberman (Connecticut)
Ben Nelson (Nebraska)
Mark Pryor (Arkansas)
Ken Salazar (Colorado)

Republicans
Lincoln Chafee (Rhode Island)
Susan Collins (Maine)
Mike DeWine (Ohio)
Lindsey Graham (South Carolina)
John McCain (Arizona)
John Warner (Virginia)
Olympia Snowe (Maine)

Oh and by the way the Republican establishment is so stupid for not wanting McCain to get the Republican nomination. He's the best you've got, and he would beat Hillary easily if that's what you're really concerned about.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Two times this week I have agreed with Erik. I am gald that a compromise was reached. Ending filibusters is an entirely un-democratic endeavor brought about by narrow minded people thinking of the short term only. Of course, I wish that we had achieved an agreemtn to at least vote on all of the nominees, but this is what comrpomise is all about.

Regarding your views on McCain, the man is not electable. I don't have a problem with his view so much as his tactics. He operates like a maverick, which is fine in business, but not in politics. He does not carry enough sway within his own party to even think about being the nominee. Hillary is so polarizring I think almost any opponent could beat her. I really look forward to an election with her as the democratic nominee.

Anonymous said...

FYI, I think that you meant to say "nucular option"

Erik Grow said...

Yes devo, I tend to agree. I'm trying to find reasons why I should be happy with Hillary, but can't find many. Mark Warner in '08! Ah well.

Yes nicnerd, it's Newcuelar.

Erik Grow said...

Governor of Virginia, centrist Democrat, pro-business, quite popular even with Republicans in a fairly red state (my state, Virginia). His term is up this year, because in Virginia you can only have one consecutive term (might be the only state like that). Google him, you'll find more. His name has been mentioned, but he would still be considered a dark horse to an extent.

Erik Grow said...

Nicnerd, is a guy that votes with his party about 80%+ of the time a maverick? Is this what "headcount politics" has really become? He's conservative too, just less of a cultural warrior than you like.

Paul Mitchell said...

I actually agree that for the most part McCain is conservative, but the McCain-Feingold crap was really bad. And there are NO Centrists/Moderates on either list. McCain and Lieberman are the only two on your lists that are not Liberals.

Lincoln Chafee and Olympia Snowe are probably the most Liberal Senators other than a few moonbat Democrats. Damn.

Paul Mitchell said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Erik Grow said...

Ahhh...the truth comes out. You and nicnerd are birds of a feather. There are no such thing as moderates/centrists in your world, as I suspected. Nicnerd told me pretty much the same thing about the Republican Senators on that list at lunch today. That's funny!

Paul Mitchell said...

I really don't know that much about nicnerd, he seems to be a rational person in the debate. I actually think that the closest thing that we have to a moderate in the Senate would be John McCain and maybe Lieberman, but ol' Joe does come out on the smart side of alot of issues these days.

Erik, the Republican party houses Liberals, too. Almost all of the Northeast guys and gals are old school left-wingers. In the Democrat party, there doesn't seem to be many conservatives anymore.

nicnerd said...

It is not how Mr. McCain votes, it is how he panders to the press. Like many liberals he says one thing and does another (I did not have sexual relations with that woman). Ok so that is a stretch anaalogy. My point is that McCain talks a big gain, he likes to hear his name mentioned as a centrist and "breaking party lines", he enjoys playing the bringer of peace card. When it comes down to it, John McCain is plastic and lacks conviction. I dislike him for some of his views, but I despise him for his lack of commitment to said views. He is a Bill Clinton Republican.

Lincoln Chafee, Olympia Snowe, and Sue Collins are about as true to their party as Zel Miller is to the Democrats.

Joe Lieberman is a decent guy (are you shocked that I said that?) but he lacks the charisma needed for a leadership position. He has one virtue that I appreciate, he stands firm in his postions regardless of the popularity of his views.

I would differ with twodogs strongly on John Warner, Mr. Warner is NOT leftists by any stretch. He is the more conservative of the Virginia delegation, he is somewhat centrists socially because Virginia is not as solidly red as some GOP strongholds. Regardless, he is generally a stand up guy. I have actually met him many times as he and my dad know each other. Truth be told, I would not count Warner out of a Presidential run.

Erik Grow said...

Hm, I don't know of a situation where McCain has backtracked, but maybe you know of one.

Joe Lieberman is just a pro-war Democrat. It doesn't bother me. His core is still Democratic values.

You know Nicnerd, Cal Thomas on WTOP had a commentary this morning in which he lit into Warner for "caving in" or some crap. It's funny to listen to people like him go on about how they wanted to fight to the bitter end until they got everything that they wanted. That attitude is why so many people hate Congress now.

Paul Mitchell said...

Paint me green and call me "Gumby". Funny as Hell. John McCain=Media Whore.

Paul Mitchell said...

I do know that Springsteen shilled for Kerry. McCain-Feingold in my humble opinion is unconstitutional and stupid. And there is no way that McCain could ever win the Presidency unless he runs as a Democrat. I'm thinking that I want more of the Bush family, so Jeb will be my candidate. And this is not necessarily because I like W's politics, I just like that moonbat stuff where everything is Bush's fault. It is funny.

nicnerd said...

To respond to Devo...

Just in case it is not abundantly clear form my other posts. I am NOT a fan of Bush, never have been, never will be. It caused me immense pain to vote for his stupid, sorry ass. He is as plastic as they come (well, maybe Clinton is more phony). The only Republican I have loathed more than GW Bush is his father. The Bush family like the Kennedy family really should get out of politics, they have nothing meaningful to contribute.

So let us be crystal clear, I detest Bush. Unfortunately the Democrats ran the biggest nimrod possible against Mr. Bush. The nation had no choice.

Never, ever call me a Bush fan. The Gipper must be rolling in his grave at the antics of BIG Government Bush.

nicnerd said...

Bull Moose

nicnerd said...

Bull Moose was a politcal party, silly. Theodore Roosevelt's party.

Anyhow, Peggy Noonan wrote an interesting piece on the compromise. YOu can finde it here:

http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110006736

Mr. Narcissus Goes to Washington

It's springtime, love is in the air, and 14 senators are gazing at the mirror.

Lindsey Graham defied the biases of his constituency to do what was right, not what was easy. Robert Byrd put aside personal gain to save our Republic. David Pryor ignored the counsels of hate to stand firm for our hopes and dreams. Mike DeWine protected our way of life. These men are uniters, not dividers.

How do I know?

Because they told me. Again and again, and at great length, as they announced The Deal. And I believed them, because I am an idiot. Or as they might put it, your basic "folk" from "back home."