Answering Cornyn
The American people should ask why Democrats are threatening to shut down the Senate. They should ask why Democrats are willing to block funding for health care, education, farms and families in order to prevent a simple up-or-down vote on the president's judicial nominees. Sen. John Cornyn R-Texas.
Cornyn was responding to Henry Reid's letter of today that the Minority intend to slow or stop most Senate business if Republicans unilaterally change the rules to assure confirmation of Thomas Griffiths 1,2,3, Williams Meyers 1,2, and others.
Dwight asks in two earlier pieces 1 and 2 "What should the Democratic response be to the Republican strategy of provoking "no consent"?"
Henry Reid's letter exempted military and national security legislation from the threat of "no consent", and that the Minority would not block passage of measures needed to assure continuation of critical government services.
Absent an attack by Iraq on the US or its treaty allies, not to mention WMDs of any type or vintage, is Iraq "national security" or just "foreign aid" or merely "omnibus Pentagon pork"? Is it "military" or is it only "pre-UN peacekeeping". Is there any part of the current can't-form-a-government-because-minority-rights-are-in-the-Transitional-Administrative-Law mess in Iraq that meets the national defense means is-it-worth-it test? That's a political question, and we already know the polling data.
Where is the next sacred cow?
Frist, Cornyn and Lott want to burn the Senate's Minority rule over the failure of the Republicans to act out six decades of "Social Security must Die" rhetoric. Its their call that there are no "critical government services" which require continuity. Gingrich Rides Again.