Y'know, y'all can complain about our "disloyal" Democrats, but I think you'll be okay with this little clip from the other side.
From Face the Nation, yesterday:
SCHIEFFER: Well, let me just ask you the question directly, because you heard Senator Reid mention your name as one of those who is thinking perhaps of breaking with your own party leadership on this. Would you oppose this if Senator Frist decides to do it, Senator McCain?
Sen. McCAIN: I would listen to my leaders. I believe that these judges should be confirmed. I think that they are good people. And as I said, elections have consequences. Having said that, the Senate is different. Wyoming has two votes and California has two votes. We have traditionally protected the rights of the minority. I remember, not with great joy, when I was with the minority in the--with Republicans who were in the minority in the Senate and President Clinton was president. And we were able to stop some of his initiatives because we had more than 40 votes. I think that there's a problem with a slippery slope.
I think that there's a problem with really changing the environment of the Senate and we are different from the House and if we don't protect the rights of the minority, someday history shows that we won't always be in the majority. And if you had a liberal president and a Democrat- controlled Senate, I think that it could do great damage.
SCHIEFFER: Well, can I just ask you the direct question? Are you opposed to doing away with the filibuster, Senator?
Sen. McCAIN: Yes.
SCHIEFFER: You are.
Sen. McCAIN: Yes, but I will listen to our leadership.
SCHIEFFER: All right. Let me just ask you one more question. At this point, do you think your leader, Senator Frist, has the votes that would be necessary to do away with the filibuster?
Sen. McCAIN: I don't know. I think it's going to be close. People that make a living doing these kinds of counts say that it's about five or so. But all of us want to listen to our leadership.
We believe--the Republicans, I'm talking about-- we believe these judges should be confirmed. At the same time, we have these other concerns and I think they are legitimate. Suppose, Bob, that there's some overwhelming legislative issue that comes up after we've done this? This is important to the future of the country. What would keep us from taking the same tack about a legislative issue if it were some really huge issue that we're now contemplating as far as confirmation of judges is concerned?