Daschle the subject of Novak's "Outrage of the Week"

On this past weekend's edition of CNN's "Capital Gang," Bob Novak stated the following:

NOVAK: The stranglehold over the United States Senate by Democratic leader Tom Daschle has tightened. He has exerted life and death power over any federal judicial nomination, and many bills for the use of the filibuster.

Now he is preventing legislation, passed by both the House and Senate, from going to a Senate-House conference to iron out differences. That gives the minority of one chamber an absolute veto over everything.

In 16th Century Poland, a single member of parliament could veto any piece of legislation. Tom Daschle has that same power today.

In other words, Daschle is exercising his vaunted clout to further the interests of the national Democratic party by preventing legislation that has passed on a bipartisan basis to be ironed out in conference. And then Daschle has the temerity to blame President Bush for the poisonous partisanship in Washington. I think it's safe to say that by blocking legislation that has passed both houses of Congress, Tom Daschle is damaging South Dakota's interests and favoring the interests of the national party he leads.

Elsewhere in the news, Novak reports on Daschle's maneuverings to block the recess appointment of judicial nominees (scroll down to the "Blocking judges" heading).