What good is a majority when pubbies all check in their cajones (if they ever had them) at the the senate door.
The simple truth is that this deal gave us some of what we want and spared us potential political fallout. Yes, there was a strong possibility of the Democrats making us look bad by using the "nuclear option", especially come '06 elections.
Conservatives have to lose this "all or nothing" viewpoint or it is going to end up being the "nothing" option.
Am I a moderate? No. Do I agree with moderates? No. Do I know that without moderate Republicans we end up with a liberal government? YES!