Tomorrow am's
Wapo discusses the antics surrounding the "Gang of 12". This is a raw deal. Frist must be loving it. Divide and conquer.
And guess who's involved: our favorite Republican Democrat Joementum. Quote from him follows on the flip.
Oh, and take the poll whydontcha?
Joementum checks in (ya knew he was lurking):
Another negotiator, Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.), said a breakthrough deal is possible, at least in theory, because the Senate is so narrowly divided on the two questions driving the debate: Democratic-led filibusters that have blocked 10 of Bush's appellate court nominees, and Frist's threat to ban such tactics through a change in Senate rules. "It's certainly mathematically doable, and it's legislatively doable, too, but we've got more [work] to do," Lieberman said during a midday break in negotiations in the office of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).
Here are the terms. They are totally one-sided, and are nothing more than window-dressing to cover the fact that Bush/First/Dobson will get their way:
Negotiators said the toughest task is building sufficient mutual trust among the dozen so they feel confident that neither side will renege on or abuse an understanding that cannot be written in air-tight legalisms. At least six Democrats would agree to filibuster no more judicial nominees this year -- including any for the Supreme Court -- except in "extraordinary circumstances," the participants say. In return, at least six Republicans would pledge to oppose Frist's effort to change the filibuster rule unless the Democrats break their promise.
And the Dems are forcing Reid to expend resources to monitor these 21st century Benedict Arnolds:
A top GOP staffer, speaking on background because of the talks' sensitive status, said Frist and Reid "have spies in there," meaning both men are kept apprised of key points by loyal senators. A near-breakthrough Wednesday night was squelched, the aide said, when Reid pressed Democratic participants to reject language he felt would make it easier for Republicans to break a pledge to oppose Frist's rule change.
All told, I am getting a bad feeling about the "Gang of 12."