One of life's little ironies played itself out in the United States
Senate these past few days. Let us return to 2005. Then Majority Leader
William H. (Bill) Frist, M.D. (R-TN) threatened a rules change which
would have made confirmations subject to an up-or-down vote. Analysts
such as Mike Hammond, former Counsel to the Senate Steering Committee
(the caucus of conservative Senators) argued that if Senate Rule 22 were
amended for confirmation votes it well could carry over into the
legislative arena and end the filibuster. Frist was hesitant and waited
too long. Senator John S. McCain (R-AZ), who was no great friend of the
Majority Leader, pulled the rug out from him by putting together the
Gang of 14. Because of that move Rule 22 was preserved. According to
Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WVA) the Senate, indeed the Republic itself,
was saved.
Early in 2005 Frist had told me that he would not run for the Presidency
unless he achieved real reform and could run on that record. With the
end of what was called the "nuclear option," Frist failed to achieve
major reform in the Senate. True to his word, he headed home. Frist is a
friend. I regard him as one of the finest Christians ever to have graced
that office. But he was not an experienced leader. He was too cautious.
All during the 109th Congress Frist was frustrated. He had 55 Republican
Senators. Yet because of the need to get 60 votes to avoid a filibuster,
the Democrats were more in control than Frist or the Republicans. They
played the game brilliantly, especially with the help of the media. Very
little was accomplished in that Congress. The tax cuts are not
permanent. There was no entitlement reform. Most appropriations bills,
although passed by the House, died in the Senate.