Another Reid offer, another rejection

May 10, 2005

Harry Reid seems to have a penchant for offering Bill Frist really sweet deals that he knows Frist won’t accept. It happened two weeks ago and it happened again yesterday.

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid on Monday offered the Democrats’ support for one of President Bush’s judicial nominees, former Senate lawyer Thomas Griffith, as a goodwill gesture in the confrontation over banning judicial filibusters.

“Let’s take a step away from the precipice,” Reid said. “Let’s try cooperation, rather than confrontation, which seems to be the hallmark of what we’ve been doing here lately.”

This was no minor concession. Griffith, a Bush nominee to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, practiced law without a license in Utah for nearly five years, lost his D.C. law license, and passed up 10 opportunities to take the Utah bar exam. (Practicing law without a license is illegal.) Better yet, the American Bar Association gave Griffith the lowest possible passing grade for a judicial nominee.

But there was Reid, showing some flexibility, telling his colleagues on the other side of the aisle that they can bring Griffith to the floor, lawmakers would have a debate, and then Republicans could confirm the nomination. After all, that’s what Republicans want, right?

Not exactly.

Reid’s offer to move forward on Griffith’s nomination was rejected.

The Republicans declined, interested in maintaining indignation over other blocked nominees to fortify themselves to change the filibuster rules.

It was a telling turn of events. The Dems clear the way for confirmation of a controversial would-be judge — who really has no business even being nominated — and the Republicans pass on the chance. The GOP doesn’t want to confirm judicial nominees; they want to complain about not confirming judicial nominees.

Also take note of the p.r. success for Reid. Once again, there’s the Senate Minority Leader, reaching out, offering a good-faith gesture that would put another Bush nominee on the federal bench. And once again, there’s Bill Frist saying no and embracing division over compromise.

I wonder sometimes if Frist realizes how bad Reid is making him look.

The sad part is that we can only found out about it on the Internet, the Corporate Media is too busy talking about “runaway brides” and some other BS like that.

  • Based on this quote in the story:

    The majority leader, Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee, said there should be a floor vote on all the nominees.

    “All of this obstruction must stop,” Dr. Frist said. “It is hurting the nominees. It is hurting the Senate. It is hurting the American people.”

    it’s safe to say that bipartisan deal brokered by Lott and Ben Nelson is dead too.

  • You have to see where Frist feels the need to look good — not with the general public, but with the Republican Rapture Rangers. Their lunacy is piping him to dance faster and faster, closer and closer to the abyss. I don’t think that they believe that they can fail since they haven’t yet.

    I do think that they’re in for a rude surprise.

  • Yeah, with all due respect, I don’t see many people thinking this makes Frist look bad (yes, I’ve seen the polls). Sure, he looks bad to folks opposed to Frist & his ilk, but Reid looks equally bad to those opposed to the Democrats. I honestly don’t think Joe Redstate gives a crap about this or understands what’s going on here & doubt most folks can even name any of the court nominees being held back under filibuster threat.

    The information on Griffith is good, good stuff – the Democrats would do well to outline why they’re wanting to keep each of these people off the bench & should have held Griffith up on every Sunday talk show as an example. Practicing law without a license is something everyone can understand & seems like an awfully good reason to not want such a person in a judge’s robe.

  • rageman: Yes, but hopefully these feints will help shape the rhetoric when things get uglier. Basically Reid keeps making it impossible for Frist to claim certain things without knowing that Reid will slap him the next day in the press etc. Fingers crossed.

  • This is only good P.R. when Reid’s offer is given fair coverage in the media. Two weeks ago, when Reid made his first offer, Frist rejected that and then a day or two later made a counteroffer of his own (which Reid of course rejected).

    As luck would have it, EVERY media mention of Frist’s counteroffer was couched in the terms of “Frist’s offer” — without nary a mention of Reid’s PRIOR offer! So, I’m not holding my breath that the media will give this new offer any better coverage.

  • I really admire the way that Reid is handling this. I’m starting to see visions of Reid 2008 dancing in my head.

  • I’m starting to see visions of Reid 2008 dancing in my head.

    God, no. Talk of Daschle 2004 was disastrous for the 2002 midterms.

  • really admire the way that Reid is handling this. I’m starting to see visions of Reid 2008 dancing in my head.

    As Senate Majority Leader? Sounds great. Anything else is premature and scary for this social liberal.

  • Clarification: I’m not saying I’d support him for pres, I’m just saying beating this back would be plus in his column if he were to put a foot in the water

  • I was hoping to hear the Republicans defend a nominee who had practiced law without a license for five years, later lost his license, and earned the lowest possible “passing” rating from the ABA. It would have made their defense of Abu Gonzalez sould almost honest.

    Maybe that’s why Frist nixed the deal. Nah, he’s not that smart…

  • I think it’s pretty smart of Reed to offer Griffith. Just think…the only judge the Senate gets to confirm on a high-profile basis is a man who has practiced law illegally. THAT would go over well with the masses via a hungry-to-sink-Republicans media. It would be suicide for Frist. Nope…Frist is wise not to cave to Reed’s half-hearted and self-serving “sweet” deals. Let’s just get on with following the Consitution. Up or down people. Take a stand.

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