A Day Which Shall Live in Perfidy

Cowardly GOP Senators give Senate Democrats veto authority on Republican judicial appointees:

WASHINGTON (AP) - In a dramatic reach across party lines, Senate centrists agreed Monday night on a compromise that clears the way for confirmation of many of President Bush's stalled judicial nominees, leaves others in limbo and preserves venerable filibuster rules.

"In a Senate that is increasingly polarized, the bipartisan center held," said Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., one of 14 senators _seven from each party - to sign the agreement that pledged lawmakers to "mutual trust and confidence."

"The Senate is back in business," echoed Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C..

Under the terms, Democrats agreed to allow final confirmation votes for Priscilla Owen, Janice Rogers Brown and William Pryor, named to appeals court seats. There is "no commitment to vote for or against" the filibuster against two other conservatives named to the appeals court, Henry Saad and William Myers.

The agreement said future nominees to the appeals court and Supreme Court should "only be filibustered under extraordinary circumstances," with each Democrat senator holding the discretion to decide when those conditions had been met.

"In light of the spirit and continuing commitments made in this agreement," Republicans said they would oppose any attempt to make changes in the application of filibuster rules.

Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., swiftly noted he had not been a party to the deal, which fell short of his stated goal of winning yes-or-no votes on each of Bush's nominees. "It has some good news and it has some disappointing news and it will require careful monitoring," he said,

Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada seemed more receptive - although he hastened to say he remains opposed to some of the nominees who will now likely take seats on federal appeals courts.

"We have sent President George Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and the radical right of the Republican party an undeniable message ... the abuse of power will not be tolerated."

So essentially these fools folded on a winning hand and preserved for Senate Democrats a power which has never been exercised before---the routine filibustering of judicial appointees. (Abe Fortas was filibustered to prevent the man the embarassment of being voted down for his ethical lapses). Will anyone be surprised when each Democrat senator discovers every single Bush Supreme Court nominee is an extremist worth the "extraordinary" measure of a filibuster? You can bet they'll have countermeasures against "the nuclear option" in place by then, too.

Once again, the GOP is playing solitaire while the Democrats play chess.

I wouldn't be surprised if McCain and his clowns now vote against Owen, Brown, and Pryor, as a measure of "good faith."