FYI
Last week Karl Rove appeared on Joe Scarborough. Here is part of what he said:
SCARBOROUGH: Talking about getting—getting things through the United States Congress, let's talk about not so much about John Bolton, but what the problems with Bolton may mean when this summer, the president may be trying to get a Supreme Court nominee through.
You had John McCain and six other Republicans team up with Robert Byrd. And they came up with this anti-filibuster deal. Did you feel like John McCain and those Republican senators betrayed the president, betrayed the Republican Party, betrayed conservatives across America?
ROVE: Look, John McCain, for example, is one of the strongest advocates for an up-or-down vote on John Bolton. We wish that the issue of judicial nominations had been settled once and for all.
As you know, for 200 and some-odd years, judges, judicial nominations were not routinely filibustered. In fact, the only time an appellate nominee faced a filibuster was in—under Lyndon Johnson. And if you go back and read the words of Democrats and Republicans who were discussing the filibuster, they were anguished-filled, because they felt it was the only way that they could cause Lyndon Johnson to rethink the nomination of a person who had received payments under the table from a foundation while in public service.
And, eventually, for those reasons, Johnson withdrew him, because it became an ethical concern.
SCARBOROUGH: So, what happens this summer? Obviously, you know as well as anybody—you can go back to Thomas in '91 -- Bork in '87. These summer appointments can be some of the dirtiest political battles that America sees.
ROVE: Well...
SCARBOROUGH: How is the president going to get a conservative through the United States Senate for the Supreme Court if he is having trouble getting John Bolton through?
ROVE: Well, first of all, look, John Bolton is going to be the United States ambassador to the United Nations. We will get either an up-or-down vote or he will be the ambassador one way...
(CROSSTALK)
SCARBOROUGH: A recess—possible recess appointment?
ROVE: Well, I'm not going to—we have got plenty of options we're going to...
(CROSSTALK)
SCARBOROUGH: But that's one possibility that is open...
(CROSSTALK)
ROVE: The best way for the United States to effect reform at the United Nations is to send a straight-talker to the United Nations.
And if the Democrats think they are doing themselves some favor by blocking his nomination, they are kidding themselves.
SCARBOROUGH: They're just not going to succeed?
ROVE: They are not going to succeed.
And if there is a—we don't know if there will be a Supreme Court vacancy. But if there is, I am confident the president will nominate a qualified mainstream conservative, somebody who will strictly interpret the Constitution and not legislate from the bench. And I am also confident that, because of the ability and talent of that individual, that they will be approved by the United States Senate.
If the Democrats attempt to filibuster, they will suffer politically, like they did in '02 and '04.
What a fucking thug.
They don't want people to see them losing the war in Iraq or failing to quell terrorism. Instead the chickenhawk army is going to stage a summer pageant in which they will take the fight to the only enemy they have ever beaten (barely) --- Democrats.
But with a 40% approval rating and allies like the wild-eyed Dobson freakshow, it may not be as easy as they think. It could be that the big tough Republican bullies have worn out their welcome with the American people. We'll soon see.
I'd like to make one thing clear. I don't see this as doom for the Democrats. The public is wavering in their support for Bush and they aren't giving him the benefit of the doubt anymore. If the Dems stick together on this it is a very powerful message, regardless of the ultimate outcome. Remember, they believe that the perception of winning is more important than actually winning. That's how we get them. Deny them that perception.
Gotta keep the heat on the gang of 14.
.