Senator Frist loses the support of the Conservative movement
After all, the did say defending House Majority Leader Tom DeLay is a litmus test for any Republican lawmaker seeking their support.
Concise summary of note:
"The Republican legislative leaders in Congress have forgotten what our Constitution's all about," Mr. Reid said. "If they don't get what they want, they attack who's ever around. Now they're after the courts."
Frist Isn't Following Republicans on Criticism of Judges
By CARL HULSE
Published: April 6, 2005
WASHINGTON, April 5 - The struggle over the relationship between Congress and the courts intensified on Tuesday as Senator Bill Frist, the majority leader, broke with fellow Republicans calling for new judicial accountability after Terri Schiavo's death. Democrats accused Republicans of undermining the separation of powers.
Disagreeing with Representative Tom DeLay, the Texas Republican who is the House majority leader, Dr. Frist said he saw no need to examine why federal judges chose not to intervene in Ms. Schiavo's case after Congress had passed an emergency law that let them do so.
"I believe we have a fair and independent judiciary today," said Dr. Frist, who declined to comment directly on Mr. DeLay. "I respect that."
Dr. Frist, of Tennessee, moved quickly to separate the emotionally charged case of Ms. Schiavo from the politically charged possibility of a showdown over Democratic filibusters against President Bush's judicial nominees. Opponents are linking the two, calling them examples of how Republicans, stymied by resistance, take extreme steps to advance their ideology. That tie could complicate Dr. Frist's push to change Senate rules.
