CNN is
reporting a possible deal on the filibuster by a bipartisan group of Senators. Here is how it is described:
A draft "memorandum of understanding" would commit six Democrats to vote to cut off debate on five Bush nominees, breaking a Democratic filibuster that has kept several previous nominations from coming to a vote.
In exchange, six Republicans would agree to vote against the threatened "nuclear option" -- a change in Senate rules barring the use of filibusters against judicial nominees.
Thoughts below the fold.
I know some are not going to like this as many think that we will win, literally and politically, on the filibuster vote. I need to think more about it by my initial reaction is that this would be a good deal for the Dems for the following reasons:
- We don't actually know that we will win the filibuster vote.
- This would be a big slap in the face to Frist, undercutting his all-or-nothing rhetoric, leaving him essentially powerless to do anything about it. He will look weak, especially to Mullah Dobson.
- I think the Dems come off looking pretty good as being moderate on this, trying to seek a compromise in the face of the extremist GOP leadership.
- As with Frist, Bush comes off looking bad as he wont get the up-or-down vote on every nominee that he has been talking about, accelerating his lame-duck status.
There are some downsides, namely that some bad judges will get appointed. The other problem here is if Bush appoints a radical to the Supreme Court, but the Dems can still technically filibuster (it is worth noting that if Bush is replacing Rehnquist, it hardly matters if he picks a conservative).
Those are my initial thoughts, the devil, of course, is in the details which are still unclear, but it is an interesting development.