[snooker]

I think you are overlooking the election -- it did intervene and it changes perceptions of those serving.

The power dynamics of the Senate has been dramatically altered with two events. Daschle losing, and the the Republicans gaining a 55 seat majority. Frist's power is greatly enhanced now. The power wielded by a single Senator is diminished, even that of a committee chair. There will be additional Rs added to Judiciary committee, that will also change a lot.

All those red states are going to make red state dems think twice before just going along with judicial filibusters. Daschle was counting on winning back the Senate to hold the filibuster. We all know how that worked out :)

One more point for you to consider. The Massachusetts Supreme court cemented in the publics eye what judicial activism meant and what strict construction is all about. The Massachusetts Supreme court did us a huge favor. The public was watching and they didn't like it one bit. This directly works against the dems trying to filibuster judges that are presented to the public properly, that is they interpret the law not make it up. What Bush was saying is he saw this and is going to use it to build off of. We would be wise to follow his lead.

[Defiant]

I grant all that you say and still say that Harry Reid will filubuster conservative Supreme Court nominees, and that Arlen Specter will do what he can to torpedo them. The election means that they won't filibuster the Appeals Court nominees anymore, and that Arlen will be more circumspect in his opposition.