November 21, 2002

PROFILE IN COURAGE:

All Eyes on La. Senator's Votes (DAVID ESPO, Nov 20, 2002, AP)
Faced with a difficult choice in the Capitol and a difficult election in Louisiana, Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu stood in the well of the Senate until time to vote had nearly expired.

Finally, with the issue already settled, she cast her vote with President Bush and the Republicans, and against a last-minute Democratic attempt to change legislation creating a new Department of Homeland Security. It was important, she said afterward, "for me to be able to express that I'm for the creation of this department and I've been for the creation of this department."

Other senators were unusually blunt in describing the political forces at work.

"I think she did the right thing," said Louisiana's other Democratic senator, John Breaux, who supported the proposal that Landrieu opposed. If Landrieu had voted the other way, "It would have created a new issue for a whole new set of ads" for Republicans to air in her runoff election on Dec. 7, he added.

The chairman of the GOP senatorial campaign committee seemed to agree. "If she had voted to obstruct the president's leadership it would have hurt her in Louisiana," said Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn. "So from a political standpoint, it was a wise decision on her part."


Sounds like she did everything but lick a finger and hold it in the air to test the political winds.
Posted by Orrin Judd at November 21, 2002 9:38 AM
Comments

But she voted against the Shedd nomination, which "obersevers" referenced by Byron York claim that she must feel comfortable about her chances to antagonize the "Strom Thrumond-wing" in LA. I sure hope they are wrong.

Posted by: MG at November 21, 2002 9:15 AM

I didn't agree with this sentence in York's article. Civil rights group made Shedd out to be a Klu Klux Klanner - she had to vote against Shedd to placate her base. Voting for Shedd probably wouldn't have won her many votes with the "Strom Thurmond wing" due to her votes on taxes and so forth but would have alienated her base. I think this vote shows she's weak (as does a recent poll showing her down 8pts)

On a related note, I think York overstates the Shedd vote's importance. Of the 44 no votes 3 came from Dem senators who are being replaced by GOPs in January. Another 4-6 were from Dems up in '04 running in Bush States (i.e. Edwards, Breaux, Dorgan). Some central dems like Miller and Nelson won't be obstrionist. So while the Dems could filibuster judge nominees (and risk voter wrath again in '04) it won't be easy for them

Posted by: AWW at November 21, 2002 12:37 PM

Yes, the whole filibuster issue is silly. The vote against Shedd was a free vote. Voting against closure when YOU can make the difference is another thing. It is easy to see more than 8 DEMS breaking rank on the more vacuous of filibusters.

Posted by: MG at November 22, 2002 5:10 AM
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