Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said he will block any potential nomination of Theodore Olson as Attorney General.

“Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid vowed on Wednesday to block former Solicitor General Theodore Olson from becoming attorney general if President George W. Bush nominates him to replace Alberto Gonzales. …

…”He’s a partisan, and the last thing we need as an attorney general is a partisan,” Reid told Reuters in a brief hallway interview on Capitol Hill.

We certainly don’t want partisans in Washington, do we? Especially one with an impeccable record and credentials.

The White House says it hasn’t made a decision yet on who will get the nod for AG, but it appears whoever it is will be filibustered by the Democrats anyway.

It’s a good thing our founding fathers are dead or they’d all die from the sheer horror of what is happening in the country they founded. All for the party (either one) and never mind the good of the country.

If this isn’t political gamesmanship I don’t know what is.

Following is the Democrat memo highlights or lowlights, depending on how you see them, for the big filibuster that will take place tonight. And CNN is already cooperating by talking about and showing the rollaway beds.

The Democratic memo includes this just-add-water message template for Democratic senators to propagate: “President Bush has proven beyond any doubt that he won’t listen to the Congress or the American people unless he is forced to. While some Senate Republicans might not want to change course in Iraq, it does not gives them the right to block an up or down vote on legislation supported by a majority of the Congress and the American people.”

The memo says Senate Democrats are coordinating with their House counterparts to produce an echo effect during floor speeches in the other chamber. Under a section called, “Amplifying Our Message to Force a Change Of Course in Iraq,” the memo gives this overview:

–“Senate Democrats will tape TV feeds and actualities back to their home states.”

–“Outside groups will hold a ‘call to action’ event Tuesday night to call on Republicans to end their Iraq filibuster.”

–“Iraq veterans will make visits to Senate offices asking Republican Senators to allow an up or down vote on the Levin-Reed Amendment.”

–“Center for American Progress will live-blog the all night session.”

–“Senate Democrats will conduct interviews on national cable and radio.”

–“The Steering and Outreach Committee will release a video of Iraq veterans and military families calling for a change of course in Iraq.”

The Republicans have their talking points too.

A companion memo for Senate Republicans accuses Democrats of pulling a “stunt” – a word you can count on hearing as a mantra from the GOP. Watch to see if White House Press Secretary Tony Snow uses it.

…

The memo from the Senate Republican Communications Center, part of the office of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), calls attention to the fact that the all-night session coincides with evening rallies sponsored by the liberal group MoveOn.org, which is giving supporters instructions on how to “Host a Counter-Filibuster to End the War.”

Is this what our Congress has come to? Staging events for the news and for Moveon.org? Too cute by half.

The fact of the matter is Sen. Reid could take a vote on this issue anytime today if he wanted to and the numbers will be no different from the ones taken tomorrow.

It’s a campaign publicity stunt and we’ll see how many Americans notice and even care.

When I was a girl I remember hearing of Senate filibusters that lasted days while senators were required to stay all night and sleep on roll-away cots.

Well Sen. Harry Reid must remember those days too, as he plans to keep the Senators awake most of Tuesday night to keep forcing votes on a pull-out from Iraq.

The Senate this week will pull its first all-night debate on the Iraq war in advance of a vote on whether to bring home combat troops by next spring, Democrats said Monday.
The rare, round-the-clock session Tuesday night through Wednesday morning is intended to bait Republicans into an exhaustive debate on the politically unpopular war, as well as punish GOP members for routinely blocking anti-war legislation.

“How many sleepless nights have our soldiers and their families had?” said Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

Democrats are trying to ratchet up pressure on Republicans who have grown uneasy with the lack of progress and begun questioning President Bush’s military strategy.

Republicans shrugged off the planned marathon debate as political theater. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Republicans “welcome further debate” but that there was no reason why the Senate couldn’t vote sooner.

Democrats want to pass legislation by Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., that would order combat troops to begin leaving in 120 days and complete the pullout by April 30. The legislation would allow some troops to remain behind to conduct counterterrorism, protect U.S. assets and train the Iraqis.

Republicans have insisted it take 60 votes to pass—a de facto filibuster threat because it takes as many votes to cut off debate under Senate rules.

With only three Republicans—Sens. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, Olympia Snowe of Maine and Gordon Smith of Oregon—having promised to back the measure, it’s expected to fail.

Frustrated by the minority’s ability to block its anti-war proposals, Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid said he planned an endless night of votes and live quorum calls to force members to the floor in advance of the Wednesday morning vote.

“We’re not going to let everybody go home and have a good night’s rest,” Reid, D-Nev., told reporters.

Republicans shrugged off the endless session as political theater.

It’s a good start, but I’d like to see a real filibuster where no one goes home until a deal is made. I can stay up all night one night standing on my head.

Just as in the last Congress the Democrats tied up all controversial legislation and judicial appointments with filibusters, the Republicans are using the only real tool the minority has in the Senate.

Just as the Republicans took the blame for being a “do-nothing” Congress due in part to the Democratic filibusters, the Democrats will take the blame this time in part due to the Republican filibusters.

The people hold the leader responsible for running a tight ship and most don’t understand why legislation can’t get passed.