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I realize there might be a bit of "semantics" in all the words being thrown about, but:

Point number one: NOTHING at all has changed regarding the Constitutional Authority of the President regarding who he sends up to Congress. The only way that "authority" can be changed is for a Constitutional Amendment to be passed, and that has not happened.

Point number 2: As you all know, what Senator Frist was talking about all along was changing the Senate rule to prevent a filibuster on judicial appointments. The rule change would simply have been to require 51 votes for confirmation. The Democrats went ballistic didn't they?

Point number 3: What just happened? 7 Democrats and 7 Republicans, have banded together to do what? Yes you got it! They instituted a RULE CHANGE!

Point number 4: President Bush, Senator Frist, and the other 48 Republicans in the Senate are not bound by this side agreement.

Point number 5: The only way this side deal can be enforced is that the 7 Republicans would have to have pledged to support the Democrats whenever they object to a future nominee, and would have to have agreed IN ADVANCE, not knowing who the nominee might be, to support the Democrats! That, basically, is the only way this agreement, IMO, can be effective. Otherwise, it is not worth a cup of warm spit.

President Bush and Senator Frist need to do business as usual, and let the 7 Republicans put themselves under pressure, and put THEIR OWN CAREERS on the line. Let THEM face the continuing wrath of THEIR OWN CONSTITUENTS!

And oh, BTW - when you think of these 7 dwarfs, think of the term "cunning stunts."

Point number 4: President Bush, Senator Frist, and the other 48 Republicans in the Senate are not bound by this side agreement. I'm not sure the other 48 will have to. If the 14, plus whomever else they can draw in, support application of "extraordinary circumstance", there won't be enough votes to confirm. If the 14,plus whomever else they can draw in, do not see "extraordinary circumstance",there won't be enough votes to support a filibuster, they will be bound to allow a floor vote. This is all conditional upon the "mutual faith and trust" on which their agreement is based.

Point number one: NOTHING at all has changed regarding the Constitutional Authority of the President regarding who he sends up to Congress. The only way that "authority" can be changed is for a Constitutional Amendment to be passed, and that has not happened. You're right. The President can nominate whomever he chooses. But IMHO I think the 14, if they abide by their agreement, will have a lot of control over what happens to those nominees.

President Bush and Senator Frist need to do business as usual, and let the 7 Republicans put themselves under pressure, and put THEIR OWN CAREERS on the line. Let THEM face the continuing wrath of THEIR OWN CONSTITUENTS! Absolutely. The 14 are taking the gamble and regardless of all the Dem sideline grandstanding, I think the Rep have the upper hand so far IF we see final confirm on Owen, Brown, and Pryor. I think we need to watch to see who is the first to cry wolf (extraordinary) and why.