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#240136 - 04/11/2004 16:06 Ashcroft Likely to Leave AG Post
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
Woo-hoo!

Usually, people say "better the devil you do know than the devil you don't", but I just can't imagine that it could get any worse than Ashcroft.
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Bitt Faulk

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#240137 - 04/11/2004 16:44 Re: Ashcroft Likely to Leave AG Post [Re: wfaulk]
loren
carpal tunnel

Registered: 23/08/2000
Posts: 3826
Loc: SLC, UT, USA
*dancing a jig*
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#240138 - 04/11/2004 17:13 Re: Ashcroft Likely to Leave AG Post [Re: wfaulk]
Dignan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12338
Loc: Sterling, VA
A ray of sunshine in an otherwise terrible week.
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Matt

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#240139 - 04/11/2004 18:10 Re: Ashcroft Likely to Leave AG Post [Re: wfaulk]
genixia
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 08/02/2002
Posts: 3411
Quote:
but I just can't imagine that it could get any worse than Ashcroft.


Call me a cynic, but 4 years ago I couldn't have imagined a lot of things that have happened since.

What's the chance that he gets nominated to the Supreme Court?
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Mk2a 60GB Blue. Serial 030102962 sig.mp3: File Format not Valid.

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#240140 - 04/11/2004 18:15 Re: Ashcroft Likely to Leave AG Post [Re: genixia]
Dignan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12338
Loc: Sterling, VA
Quote:
Call me a cynic, but 4 years ago I couldn't have imagined a lot of things that have happened since.

True. Who would have thought that a man, who's state disliked him so much they voted for a dead guy, could get promoted to the AG position.
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Matt

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#240141 - 04/11/2004 18:31 Re: Ashcroft Likely to Leave AG Post [Re: genixia]
kayakjazz
member

Registered: 10/09/2004
Posts: 127
Loc: Bay Area, CA/Anchorage, AK


Quote:
What's the chance that he gets nominated to the Supreme Court?


My first reaction was that this was a tiny ray of sunshine; my second: I'd lay money you're right, probably as soon as Rehnquist resigns, which he's held off doing 'til after election day.

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#240142 - 04/11/2004 19:19 Re: Ashcroft Likely to Leave AG Post [Re: wfaulk]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14493
Loc: Canada
Oh crap.. that means he's headed for the Supreme Rulers ...er.. Supreme Court, that is.

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#240143 - 04/11/2004 19:27 Re: Ashcroft Likely to Leave AG Post [Re: mlord]
Daria
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/01/2002
Posts: 3937
Loc: Providence, RI
Quote:
Oh crap.. that means he's headed for the Supreme Rulers ...er.. Supreme Court, that is.


http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04309/406471.stm

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#240144 - 04/11/2004 19:35 Re: Ashcroft Likely to Leave AG Post [Re: Dignan]
siberia37
old hand

Registered: 09/01/2002
Posts: 702
Loc: Tacoma,WA
Quote:
Quote:
Call me a cynic, but 4 years ago I couldn't have imagined a lot of things that have happened since.

True. Who would have thought that a man, who's state disliked him so much they voted for a dead guy, could get promoted to the AG position.


This is the only intelligent thing my state (Missouri) has done in the last two elections. I just hope he doesn't decide to run for statewide office again now.

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#240145 - 09/11/2004 21:56 Re: Ashcroft Likely to Leave AG Post [Re: wfaulk]
ricin
veteran

Registered: 19/06/2000
Posts: 1495
Loc: US: CA
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#240146 - 09/11/2004 22:21 Re: Ashcroft Likely to Leave AG Post [Re: Daria]
JeffS
carpal tunnel

Registered: 14/01/2002
Posts: 2858
Loc: Atlanta, GA
OK, something about US politics I've never really gotten, despite being educated about it multiple times in the public school system, what exactly is "Filibustering"? I know it has something to do with the minority wasting a ton of time so the majority can't get its way, but a more precise explanation would be welcome.
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Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings; they did it by killing all those who opposed them.

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#240147 - 09/11/2004 23:17 Re: Ashcroft Likely to Leave AG Post [Re: JeffS]
andy
carpal tunnel

Registered: 10/06/1999
Posts: 5916
Loc: Wivenhoe, Essex, UK
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Remind me to change my signature to something more interesting someday

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#240148 - 10/11/2004 01:32 Re: Ashcroft Likely to Leave AG Post [Re: genixia]
kayakjazz
member

Registered: 10/09/2004
Posts: 127
Loc: Bay Area, CA/Anchorage, AK
Quote:
What's the chance that he gets nominated to the Supreme Court?


We must have similarly diabolical minds; that was my first thought...!

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#240149 - 10/11/2004 02:22 Re: Ashcroft Likely to Leave AG Post [Re: andy]
JeffS
carpal tunnel

Registered: 14/01/2002
Posts: 2858
Loc: Atlanta, GA
Ok, well that's kind of what I thought. Maybe I'm missing something, but doesn't it seem a bit . . . childish?
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-Jeff
Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings; they did it by killing all those who opposed them.

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#240150 - 10/11/2004 02:34 Re: Ashcroft Likely to Leave AG Post [Re: JeffS]
ricin
veteran

Registered: 19/06/2000
Posts: 1495
Loc: US: CA
Politics, childish? Never!
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MkII/080000565
MkIIa/010101253
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#240151 - 10/11/2004 02:53 Re: Ashcroft Likely to Leave AG Post [Re: JeffS]
Daria
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/01/2002
Posts: 3937
Loc: Providence, RI
Quote:
Ok, well that's kind of what I thought. Maybe I'm missing something, but doesn't it seem a bit . . . childish?


It's part of those checks and balances. The side in power seems to rail against it but no procedural change will be made because the other side would filibuster it

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#240152 - 10/11/2004 05:05 Re: Ashcroft Likely to Leave AG Post [Re: andy]
gbeer
carpal tunnel

Registered: 17/12/2000
Posts: 2665
Loc: Manteca, California
I didn't notice in those write ups but the Senator doesn't even have to talk On Topic. Just stand up and speak. I seem to remember my PolySci professor saying that the Bible has been read into the congressional record by filibusterers more times than any thing else.

What makes it effective, is that all progress is stalled, eventually the leadership has to cave, so congress may deal with more pressing buisness. edit (presuming the 60 votes necessary to end debate cannot be had.)


Edited by gbeer (10/11/2004 05:13)
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Glenn

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#240153 - 10/11/2004 12:23 Re: Ashcroft Likely to Leave AG Post [Re: gbeer]
DWallach
carpal tunnel

Registered: 30/04/2000
Posts: 3810
My understanding is that, in modern times, they have something of a protocol to threathen to perform a filibuster and thereby avoid actually needing to do the deed. Of course, they can't make the threats too often, or perhaps, the leadership party may choose to violate the tradition of letting the minority leader run for re-election unopposed, and then manage to bump him out of office. Which, more or less, is what happened to Tom Daschle.

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#240154 - 10/11/2004 12:24 Re: Ashcroft Likely to Leave AG Post [Re: gbeer]
jmwking
old hand

Registered: 27/02/2003
Posts: 777
Loc: Washington, DC metro
Quote:
I didn't notice in those write ups but the Senator doesn't even have to talk On Topic.

And Senator Byrd can quote hours of Shakespeare from memory.

-jk

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#240155 - 10/11/2004 12:48 Re: Ashcroft Likely to Leave AG Post [Re: Daria]
JeffS
carpal tunnel

Registered: 14/01/2002
Posts: 2858
Loc: Atlanta, GA
Quote:
It's pasrt of those checks and balances.
Yeah, but you think they could have come up with some more civilized way of accomplishing the same thing.

I suppose this practice just seems grating to me because the one personality I can't stand to work with is the person who just tries to delay progress. I don't mind working with someone who has different ideas, and while there are times I have to give in and do something another person's way, I never try to be a wrench in the machine and bring things to a grinding halt, no matter how bad an idea I think something is.

At work I have a reputation as being someone who's willing to work with others and a solid team player. However, this perception comes crashing down whenever I have to work with individuals who are willing to bring the whole project to a halt just because they don't get their way. Other people in the company are able to deal with these individuals and work with (around actually) them, but I get so furious I become a liability in these situations: it's a personality weakness and something I'm working on. But I think I'd just implode if I had to sit through a fillibuster.
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-Jeff
Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings; they did it by killing all those who opposed them.

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#240156 - 10/11/2004 13:03 Re: Ashcroft Likely to Leave AG Post [Re: JeffS]
jmwking
old hand

Registered: 27/02/2003
Posts: 777
Loc: Washington, DC metro
Quote:
I suppose this practice just seems grating to me because the one personality I can't stand to work with is the person who just tries to delay progress.

I think sometimes "progress" needs to be slowed down and issues thoughtfully (or at least extensively) discussed. Think of the 18th amendment, Prohibition, followed shortly by the 21st amendment, Repeal of Prohibition.

Passions get inflamed (the debates around marriage being a curent example), and having a brake on the system can be helpful.

-jk

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#240157 - 10/11/2004 15:05 Re: Ashcroft Likely to Leave AG Post [Re: JeffS]
Daria
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/01/2002
Posts: 3937
Loc: Providence, RI
Quote:
I suppose this practice just seems grating to me because the one personality I can't stand to work with is the person who just tries to delay progress. I don't mind working with someone who has different ideas, and while there are times I have to give in and do something another person's way, I never try to be a wrench in the machine and bring things to a grinding halt, no matter how bad an idea I think something is.


Well, at this point I've gotten tired of the stupid decisions which lead to inferior "solutions" we get to deal with for years, so if I can't put them on course I record my objections (I'm a prick, remember. "I told you so" is very definitely part of my lexicon) and then I walk away. Do what you're doing, but leave me out of it. Need my help? Do it right, or I'm going on vacation.

Quote:

At work I have a reputation as being someone who's willing to work with others and a solid team player.


I have a reputation as hard to work with. Of course, the amusing thing is that several new hires have heard that and don't see a justification for it. None of them have tried pushing double signon, or told me they needed one thing and then complained after I implemented it that secretly they meant something else.
As to being hard to work with, well, after you have to live with enough of those aforementioned bad decisions, eventually it's a drag. How many pieces of mail server software are there? So why, when you evaluate them, would you pick the one that I told you "I've run it for years, the user experience is unpleasant, pick anything but that", and then fail to aadmit defeat when you find that the user experience is horrible?

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#240158 - 10/11/2004 15:16 Re: Ashcroft Likely to Leave AG Post [Re: JeffS]
DWallach
carpal tunnel

Registered: 30/04/2000
Posts: 3810
Quote:
Yeah, but you think they could have come up with some more civilized way of accomplishing the same thing.


Sure, requiring a 60-vote super-majority to pass any bill rather than the standard 51-vote majority would be an entirely civilized way to deal with it. But, many feel that such a rule would bad for the Senate's ability to ever get any work done. The filibuster, in practice, serves to allow the minority party, in limited circumstances, to require a 60-vote super-majority.

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