I read your piece and I think the weak link is the scenario of mcCain (and the rest of the nitwit 7) rising up in righteous wrath after the 'rats scuttle the "agreement" and filibuster the next judgicial nominee.
It would be dramatic and it would certainly go far toward recapturing the base, but I don't think McCain has it in him to do it. He loves the favorable press and the stroking by the pundits way too much to risk their condemnation by acting on principle.
Remember, he is their favorite only because he has no scruples, is easily fooled, and has no party loyalty to begin with.
If this does play out, however, I think you would be right that Hillary would be history as a Presidential candidate.
My point is..McCain won't have to do it..the Dems will do it for him..they are gonna go beserk with the SC nominees..anyone whom W ends up...it's just laying out that way, and Graham and DeWine put down some very strong markers today...Remember how they screwed up the Wellstone memorial service?