The Hill mentions that oppostion to the "nuclear option" is now coming from an unexpected front--
corporate lobbyists.
Industry lobbyists and association heads so far have avoided taking a public role as the debate over stalled judicial nominations escalates. Instead, they are relying on one-on-one conversations with Senate leaders, comments in meetings on other subjects, and staff contacts. But, according to multiple sources on K Street, the employer community has concluded that, whatever its merits, the nuclear option is not worth the price of imperiling the GOP's legislative agenda.
At the same time, the religious right is telling Frist, "Hit the button!"
Conservative social-issue groups, meanwhile, are pressuring GOP leaders to act soon to stop the Democratic filibusters. They held a press conference yesterday and released a letter signed by more than 150 groups supporting Frist's efforts.
David Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union and a columnist for The Hill, told reporters that, if Democrats disrupt the Senate, "it will be very clear ... just who it is who will be responsible for shutting things down."
But here's another interesting tidbit--apparently Orrin Hatch is against it.
In an interview with The Hill earlier this year, former Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) said he does not support using the constitutional option to thwart legislative filibusters.
I hope Hatch is still against it--it'll all but kill the nuclear option if he is. When you have the former Judiciary chairman against it and the sitting chairman leaning strongly against it ...