Several senators were working furiously to stop the chamber from getting to that vote. Democratic Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado had attended at least 13 private meetings over the previous 24 hours with senators trying to craft a deal, a spokesman said.
Salazar and Sen. Lindsey Graham (news, bio, voting record), R-S.C., along with Ben Nelson, D-Neb., John McCain, R-Ariz., Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and others, were working to try and find six Republicans and six Democrats to block Frist from banning judicial filibusters and block Reid from filibustering all of Bush's controversial judicial nominees.
Several of the seven blocked nominees would be confirmed.
Aides said Republican negotiators want Owen, Brown and former Alabama Attorney General William Pryor confirmed, with Idaho lawyer William Myers's nomination scuttled. As part of that deal, two Michigan nominees, David McKeague and Richard Griffin, would be confirmed, while a third nominee — Henry Saad — would be jettisoned.
A fourth Michigan judge, Susan Neilson, also would be confirmed, although she has not been filibustered by Democrats.
Senators are still negotiating that part of the deal and it is subject to change
What a surprise... McCain and Graham. Yuk!
Damn Graham. he has an election in '06 doesn't he? I guarentee he'll LOSE IF HE TRIES THIS. he's attempts to raise our taxes through Social Security are bad enough but this will be unforgiveable.
They absolutely CANNOT dump Saad unless Reid is censured! If they do and Reid's remarks stand, people WILl think there is something in his FBI files!
What the hell is he doing in there? He wants voters to think he is a centrist when he owes his soul to Hillary Clinton and NARAL. If not for them he would still be prising around Little Rock, Arkansas and worshiping at the halls of the Clinton LIEbrary.