[Wally_Kalbacken]

II (B) is the killer.

I do not understand how this makes any sense - it gives the Democrats a free pass to use the filibuster until January 2007. The key is the SC seats which will open in the near future. If you pulled the nuclear option now - you would get all three appointments, plus several others and no concerns about a Scalia or Thomas nomination to the Chief Justice chair.

[BobL]

"If you pulled the nuclear option now - you would get all three appointments, plus several others and no concerns about a Scalia or Thomas nomination to the Chief Justice chair."

The fact that we cannot now replace a Rehnquist with a clone-Rehnquist means that we are actually LOSING ground in the Supreme Court, even though we control all branches of government.

If that's a victory, then I'm all for defeat.

[CharlesWayneCT]

If we pulled the nuclear option, the only way a second vacancy would occur on the Supreme Court would be a death.

No liberal would quit without at least the hope that the democrats in the senate would protect the seat from the conservatives.

And we know we can keep people alive, so long as they aren't living in Florida.