When they rubber stamp all the judges with "up/down" this week

[The_Casual_Observer]

what will this "deal" mean? What was the "win?"

[DefenseLawyer]

1. The win is that the rules weren't changed

so in the future the Democrats will still have the threat of a filibuster to block nominees, which in theory should keep Bush from nominating a total crank to be on the Supreme Court when the time comes.

[yankeedem]

2. Yea, it's worked so far

* hasn't nominated any total cranks so far. Oh yea, that's why we're here today.

[DefenseLawyer]

5. Bush hasn't nominated anyone to the Supreme Court, crank or otherwise

Having cranks in the circuits is bad, but I'll take a few more loonies in the Courts of Appeals in exchange for keeping them off the Supreme Court.

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. "in the future"

As the sign in the bar reads "FREE BEER TOMORROW!"

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

7. What's to keep the Republicans from re-opening the fillibuster debate

in the future, the first time the Democrats raise the issue of "extreme circumstances"? To me, this is just delaying the inevitable, while continuing to give ground and giving the Republicans some political cover with the average voter.

[DefenseLawyer]

8. Assuming Frist had the votes

what would you have preferred the Democrats do, sit back and lose the filibuster all together, then have to sit there with their thumbs up their asses when John Ashcroft or some other nut is ramrodded on to the Supreme Court?

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

9. First, I'd rather go down fighting and force the Republicans' hands

But more importantly, the American people were beginning to see the lock-step extremism in the Republican Party and question whether it is wise to have a one-party system in America.

There is nothing that would preclude the Republicans from using the "nuclear option" anyway again tomorrow and I won't put it past them at all. What are we going to do when that happens? Cut another deal to make the Republicans look like moderates?

[The_Casual_Observer]

10. With this "deal" Ashcroft would sail through anyway

Whats going to stop him? He served is country with honor, nothing "extraordinary" there.

[DELUSIONAL]

4. Isn't it amazing how many democrats are falling for this con job??

[The_Casual_Observer]

6. Seems that there are many good folks that are looking for the

underlying secret genius strategy. They have been reading too many philosophical logic and ethics books I'm afraid.