This is an excerpt from the public statement issued last night be Senator Harry Reid in the wake of the filibuster deal:
We have sent President George Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and the radical arm of the Republican base an undeniable message: Abuse of power will not be tolerated, and attempts to trample the Constitution and grab absolute control are over. We are
a separate and equal branch of government. That is our founding fathers’ vision, and one we hold dear.
I offered Senator Frist several options similar to this compromise, and while he was not able to agree, I am pleased that some responsible Republicans and my colleagues were able to put aside there differences and work from the center. I do not support several of the judges that have been agreed to because their views and records display judicial activism that jeopardize individual rights and freedoms. But other troublesome nominees have been turned down. And, most importantly, the U.S. Senate retains the checks and balances to ensure all voices are heard in our democracy and the Supreme Court make-up cannot be decided by a simple majority.
I would remind Senator Reid and others worried about those who trample on the Constitution — John Bolton misled and lied to Congress, and the administration is still defying Senator Lugar’s and Biden’s request for evidence on Bolton. The administration decided that enough evidence had been provided but as Biden reminded the administration then and Reid does above, the Senate does not work for the White House. It is a co-equal branch of government.
— Steve Clemons
