Here's the Deal (Senate GOP "Deal ensures votes on seven of eight nominations")

american spectator ^ | 5/24/2005 | The Prowler

[soxfan]

The Democrats got rolled, plain and simple. They give up opposing three specific, important, and well-deserving conservative nominees. Done deal; no going back on those three. We should rejoice on behalf of those three fine public servants.

And the seven Republicans give up...nothing in return.

The constitutional option? Hardly off the table; they sold the Democrats the political equivalent of the Brooklyn Bridge. Those seven can't deliver the goods, because just like the Brooklyn Bridge, they don't own the goods. Frist owns the goods, and they ain't 'fer sale.

GOP promise to support for future filibusters? Nope. The seven GOP Senators have not agreed to support a filibuster of anyone. Those seven GOP senators reserve the right to determine in their own mind what constitutes "extreme circumstances" with respect to a proper filibuster. To them, that means if President Bush nominates, say, David Duke, the Democrats would have the right to filibuster. Filibuster anyone else, and they can say the Democrats broke the agreement, the deal is off, and the constitutional option is back on the table.

And then, we are...NOT...right back where we started...we are three important conservatives ahead.