The Republican strategy for the Federal courts is far grander than even the outrageous 'nuclear option'.
Check this out:
A) On Feb 18, Bush signs the "Class Action Fairness Act" which forces Class Action suits against corporation to move from state courts to Federal courts. He pushes for laws to restrict suits against medicial malpractice.
B) Focus on Family's Dobson meets with senior Republican officials where the strategy of stripping funding from certain courts was "prominently" discussed and Dobson says
"Very few people know this, that the Congress can simply disenfranchise a court,They don't have to fire anybody or impeach them or go through that battle. All they have to do is say the 9th Circuit doesn't exist anymore, and it's gone."
C) Then Bush pushes the nuclear option, to install extremist judges into open positions over Democratic objection.
This is more than just a fight over obscure Senate rules, this is a full Republican assault to completely take over the Federal legal system.
We can't let it happen.