[Pharlap]

Your point is well taken. Specter, or whoever will become Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, should fully support the Rule change, and agree to vote for its adoption as a precondition to being voted Chairman. In the current Senate, there has been testimony before both the Rules and the Judiciary Committees on the constitutionality of filibustering judicial nominations. That esoteric discussion is no longer the critical to the resolution of the filibustering of judicial nominations. The change to Rule XXII, as a process or procedural matter, is now the paramount matter for Senate consideration.

[mrsmith]

Changing the rule is also a political neccessity now to protect our moderates from votes over judges who aren't 'pro-life'.

Snowe, Chaffee and Collins have many voters who NARAL will enrage against them if their vote to end a filibuster lets a 'pro-life' judge be confirmed.

If the filibuster is ended they can vote against the 'pro-life' judges every time. Otherwise they're on the spot. Politicians hate being put on the spot.