The Filibuster: Exposing GOP 2008 Presidential Hopefuls

Never a dull moment in Washington D.C. The truce reached by a bi-partisan Senate cohort to save the filibuster, protected the American legislative process from future logjams. However, it fell far short of providing a long term solution to the partisan wrangling over the appointment and confirmation of nominees into lifetime judicial positions. The implications of the debate on the American legal system were lost in the vitriolic accusations and counter-accusations which pervaded the filibuster process. Meanwhile some senators came out looking very presidential as they jockeyed for positioning in the crowded field of GOP presidential hopefuls (which include some good-looking gubernatorial hopefuls).

The media has been quick to declare a GOP Armageddon opposing the “centrists” and the “Christian conservatives.” (Whatever those clichés mean). Reading through the pages of a reputed newspaper, I think I even saw something about the “McCainists.” These would be the supporters of Sen. John McCain, one of the architects of the bi-partisan truce to save the filibuster. This same plan led to the recent Senate confirmation of Justice Owen and the possible Senate confirmation of Justice Rogers Brown of California and Judge Pryor of Alabama.

However, this truce segued right into the agenda of Sen. Bill Frist, who is purported to represent the “Christian conservative” wing of the GOP. Sen. McCain emerged as a consensus building legislator. Sen. Frist emerged as a steadfast advocate of his cause.

A few weeks ago, Sen. Frist took the hard line, making his case in a televised address to a huge chunk of the GOP base – “Christian Conservatives.” I spoke with a registered GOP friend about this appearance, and she made me understand that Sen. Frist was “nuts,” in putting himself out there. What she seemed to forget that he was a man on a mission. There are two tiebreakers in Fall of 2007. The first tiebreaker is an individual the outgoing president George W. Bush (of course, depending on his approval rating at the end of his lame duck season). The second tiebreaker will be the party’s base (which counts for a lot given the highly polarized nature of the contemporary political landscape).

In earning the confirmation vote on three federal judgeships, which have evoked riotous contention for 4 years, Sen. Frist has put the President and the Christian Conservative base in debt. That is a debt which will come in handy when the decks are stacked in a potentially tight field of the GOP’s primaries.

Sen. Frist emerged from the filibuster showing evidence of character, conviction and courage to stay the course. Through the entire process, he sounded more like a caring doctor tending to the inherent frailties within the legislative patient. Two days after the “Filibuster Truce,” he got his first wish, the senate confirmation of Justice Priscilla Owen to the US Court of Appeals 5th Circuit. In the coming days, he will win the confirmation of Juctice Rogers Brown and Judge Pryor and then, he will push for more. What does all this mean for the Democrats (Dems)? How do these mutations affect their chances in the mid-term elections? All these questions are definitely for another blog and in another thought. In the meantime, Sen. Frist is one up ahead of the pack.

To avoid another major defeat in the mid-term elections, the Dems need to go back to the drawing board after delivering a solid victory to the GOP base. Within a game theoretical dynamic, the truce which ended the Filibuster Showdown amounts to a lose-lose situation for the Dems (I know many who contest this assertion, which will only gain acceptance in hindsight). The GOP threat to eliminate the filibuster led to a deal which saved the filibuster and lead to the possible Senate confirmation of 3 ultra-conservative and polarizing judges. The GOP makes no apologies of polarizing the American electorate to strengthen its base. Looking down the pike, there is bound to be many more showdowns, many more threats and many more concessions to be made.

The fitting end to this commentary is “…to be continued.”