NPR: Bob Dole warns Senate about changing filibuster

[Skinner]

From Morning Edition, this morning:

Steve Inskeep, NPR: Your former colleagues in the Senate are debating judgeships, President Bush's judicial nominees. One thing under consideration by the Republican leadership is maneuvering to get rid of the filibusters.

Bob Dole: I think you have to be very careful, that's my advice, before you start tinkering with the rules. I mean the rules have been changed before. You want to think down the road. You know, the Senate's going to change. It's not always going to be Republican. It changes back and forth. History shows that.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4586271 (cue to 4:00)

[Richardo]

1. Dole's other comment: "The other guys were my opponents....

...not my enemies."

Yes, he is a conservative Republican whose policies I disagree with, but at least he knows how to run a legislature.

[proud patriot]

9. Excellent point Dole made there

"The other guys were my opponents not my enemies."

I fear this gets forgotten by the other side .

[dhinojosa]

13. "I know it, you know it, the American people know it"

"Bob Dole can be considered a good person"*

*Certainly many screw ups here and there, but in light of this admin, yeah, Bob Dole is a good person

[KoKo]

18. Don't get carried away by Bob Dole, though. As charming as he can

be it's like when DU'ers get all excited about Pat Buchanan, until they see the "other side."

Just because Dole can appear "statesmenlike" in some encounters doesn't mean he has worked all his life against Democrats and he and his wife have made out handsomely by using the Goverment and our taxpayer dollars for their own ends.

He just enjoys attention once in awhile...so he says something that gets it. He certainly isn't going to sway any Republican or Democratic opinion on this...but it sounded good.

[Pirate Smile]

20. He was vicious to Kerry during the 2004 campaign.

I haven't seen Elizabeth Dole on the lists of Senators who were going to vote against changing the Filibuster rule.

I wonder if he has mentioned any of this to Libby. She seems to just vote the Republican party line every time. Has she ever bucked her party leadership on anything?

[KoKo]

21. She's my Senator...and the only positive thing she's done is to not show

up at the Chimp's Exclusive SS Privatization Town Hall meeting here. She claimed she had "another commitment..but her absence was noticed.

Other than that she's a "rubber stamp." Only shows up occasionally. She also doesn't answer her letters from non-republicans. Typical Bush Repug.

[LostinVA]

33. She NEVER answers my Mom's emails and letters

It pissed her off.

[KoKo]

42. That's our Liddy Dole...so pretty and a former prom queen or whatever

but in the end...she's the "Ghost Senator" from NC... :-(

[lady lib]

43. Heard Mr. Cranky on "Fresh Air" today.

Terri Gross brought up his treatment of Kerry during the 2004 presidential campaign. Dole defended his criticism of Kerry's purple hearts because according to him, Kerry talked about his wounds too much when they were just superficial; he criticized Kerry's congressional testimony because Kerry "didn't know the facts;" then he defended the Swift Boat Vet attacks with same line of nonreasoning that he used in the campaign - that so many people couldn't be lying - uh huh; then he refused to answer any more political questions because he "was doing the interview to talk about his book." He also managed to take a swipe at NPR. Did you know they're liberal? (For about 5 more minutes anyway :))

He's one of the few Repub's that I want to like, but he just won't let me.

[question everything]

17. I think that Dole will be on Daily Show tonight n/t

[progressiveBadger]

19. Yep, he is scheduled for it

I hope this is brought up... it will make up for that interview with Byron York.

[question everything]

22. Missed that one.

Who is Byron York?

[progressiveBadger]

26. Wrote the book "The Vast Left Wing Conspiracy"

and a corespondent for the National Review.
It made me dizzy listening to him talk in circles about how dangerous groups like MoveOn are.

[CAcyclist]

30. So now we can start calling Republicans "conspiracy theorists"?

They want affirmative action for conservative - read white male thought - even when they own all the media

They are paranoid about left wing conspiracies when they have all the power

Our peace activists are dangerous and are put on terrorist watch lists - their activists blow up buildings and kill people and are not considered a threat.

They call our morals relative when in actuality our morals are consistent - concern for fairness, truth and justice for all - whereas they say they have a corner on morality - but it is their morality which is relative - they are antiabortion when it suits them to control women - their concern is not the abortion per se - it is the control of women's lives. They excoriate child abusers until one of their own is revealed to also be one - them that guy is the prodigal son returned to the flock. They say they have a
'culture of life" but that is obviously relative - life for those who would prefer to die, life for unwanted children who would bebetter off not being born, but death for criminals, neglect and slow death for the poor, diseased and misfits, death for those whose opinions they disagree with.

These people have no core beliefs. These people merely want to control us - and they will say anything and do anything to accomplish that. They are sociopaths.

[Bouncy Ball]

34. Byron was SUCH a dork, anyway.

It was as if he couldn't even tell Jon and the audience were snickering at him. Well, the audience was flat-out laughing, but Jon definitely got some shots in and Byron just acted oblivious.

[CityDem]

27. Byron York

Is a right wing journalist / author who is promoting a book on the 2004 election. He often writes for the National Review and can be seen on Faux News. He has written numerous pieces on the fight over judicial nominations during the Bush years.

[The Doctor.]

29. To his credit-

York did not deny that there was a more sophistcated "Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy" either.

He seemed relatively balanced. I believe that is why Stewart didn't foist him.

An interesting point - Admissions during that interview seem to illustrate that Liberals are by far more candid about their goals.

Even on these boards I see Liberals, Progressives, and Democrats openly discussing ways to 'work' the media better and 'go mainstream'.

I've never heard a 'conservative' suggest that Right-Wing organizations coordinate in any way to influence public opinion.

Seems they are masters of self-deception.

[Bouncy Ball]

35. Very good points, Dr. I saw that interview and agree,

he did concede the left is far more transparent in its goals.

[fasttense]

2. The repugs think they will hold power from here on out.

They don't think congress will ever change hands. Repugs think they have a dynasty going.

[ClarkUSA]

7. With Diebold and ES&S behind them, I'd say they are right

[dragonkeep]

8. They will continue to have that...

until there is a paper trail for voting.

[GOPBasher]

14. You're right, dragon, and

welcome to DU! :hi:

[jwirr]

25. You mean a paper trail that cannot be lost or thrown

into a garbage can! We not only need a paper trail but honest electoral officials in every state.

[caligirl]

3. Lamar Alexander was on the floor blaming the dems for Forcing

the repugs rule change, then another repug got up there and did the same thing. If they dump the filibuster their going to try and make the dems look like they brought it on, leaviong repugs with no choice. SLEAZE!

Thjis was cspa 2 this am west coast time.

[KittyWampus]

4. Not Always Going To Be Republican? I Bet The GOP Is Counting On

Diebold.

[stellanoir]

5. yup

I was just about to post. . .guess he didn't get the Diebold memo.

[Pacifist Patriot]

6. That's exactly why they think a rule change is a good idea.

Why else would you do it unless you think you're going to keep benefitting.

[Blue Belle]

46. I agree...

I think it is the ONLY reason they are bringing up the possibility of changing the Filibuster rule... they know they are set with the voting machines.

Anyone else have that "end of days" feeling??

[beyurslf]

10. Dole knows what it is like to be in the minority. He was my Senator for

a long time.... May not have liked him but he can be a voice of sanity in a party that is desperately in need of it.

[DeepModem Mom]

11. Recommended! nt

[Beetwasher]

12. The Repubs Plan On Never Losing Another Election vis a vis Vote Rigging

It's the only reason why the would go ahead and actually do this.

[paula777]

28. THAT is the scary truth about this. Dole must not be privy to the diebolt

fraud

[mtnsnake]

15. Watch this TV ad I just saw showing a Republican defending the filibuster

Windows Media 56K: http://216.55.185.8/sites/multimedia/60low.wmv

Windows Media Broadband: http://216.55.185.8/sites/multimedia/60high.wmv

Quicktime 56K: http://www.savethefilibuster.org/site/lookup.asp?c=cpLIJSOwHmE&b=487467

Quicktime Broadband: http://www.savethefilibuster.org/site/lookup.asp?c=cpLIJSOwHmE&b=487477

Or if that doesn't work, go here and pick the correct connection for your computer. They (People for the American Way Foundation) have a petition at the bottom of the page for people to sign. Check it out: http://www.savethefilibuster.org/site/apps/ka/ct/contactcustom.asp?c=cpLIJSOwHmE&b=487553

[Democracy White]

40. Seen this ad..

I thought it was wonderful... I even called the number that they have provided, the guy who I talked to was a very nice man and even agreed with me on a variety of subjects that I came up with.

BTW who was that Senator in the beginning though?

Dee

[question everything]

16. And the WSJ has an online poll and so far the NOs are leading

53% to 47%

Should the Senate change its rules to prevent filibusters on judicial nominees?

http://discussions.wsj.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=wsjvoices&nav=messages&msg=3473&mod=?mod=home_us_inside_today

[Hobarticus]

23. Read this morning that if not for the filibuster, we'd have

direct elections (no electoral college crap), and every American would have health care.

:wow:

[ProfessorPlum]

24. So "Captain Queeg" is denouncing political nastiness, is he?

the irony never ends.

[cestpaspossible]

31. Notice he was afraid to use the term 'Nuclear Option' ??

Just a reminder to use that framing everytime the issue is discussed.

[DrGonzoLives]

32. I see the anti-filibuster trolls have not yet arrived

I shall :kick: this thread for them to see it.

[cornermouse]

36. I heard that interview.

It sounded to me like Dole's thinking processes have begun to deteriorate. He just didn't sound as sharp or agile as he has in the past. ALso, on the interview I heard, he displayed excessive anger in reaction to nothing more than a question that wasn't about him but about the republican party. He wouldn't have done that in the past.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

37. Dole is peddling his new book to Democrats too so he is making nice.

[The Doctor.]

38. The Republicans won't listen to Dole...

Dole hasn't been told about the machines because he has a shred of integrity.

The BFEE would never jeopardize their 'secret' weapon by telling anyone with credibility.

[Mr_Spock]

39. I heard that this morning - Dole is kinda an old school Republican

He's definitely not a neocon end-of-timer!

[Dr Ron]

41. Better talk to his wife

Elizabeth supports going nuclear:
http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/?view=plink&id=709

[pilgrimm]

44. He must have talked to his wife after that

Cause when Terry Gross asked him the same question in the afternoon he wouldn't even answer. He got all pissed off when she asked him about Delay too.

[Ironpost]

45. The key words

The rules have changed before. I'm sure the repuks will change them back as soon as their objective has been secured.

[johnlal]

47. Dole is a dick

It used to be that whatever evil thing Dole did, at least he was a war hero. When he attacked fellow Veteran John Kerry (gratuitously), coming down on the side of the Swiftboat Liars, he lost my respect. At the time, he was criticizing Kerry for emphasizing his war wounds. Now Dole is hawking his book about his own war injury. What a dick.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

48. The factual truth that NO ONE in the MSM will have the courage to utter.