A filibuster on Bolton won't kill the "deal", because the deal was never about him.
The confirmation of 2 levels of the judiciary were the only thing covered in the "deal". Neither the understanding, nor the Constitutional option were about Bush nominations for any other positions.
So you think that the hold on Bolton was coincidentally removed? There are things about the deal that was not made public.
We are left guessing about what they are but clearly the Dims allowing this early shedule of the Bolton cloture vote is part of this. If cloture fails on Bolton, then the deal is already breaking down.
Only because the only nominations sujected to a refusal to vote were Circuit Court nominees. Frist has said he'd amke 100 Senators go on the record the next time the Senate refuses to vote on a nominee, any nominee. They ALL get a vote.
Regardless, it seems to me that the prinicple is what the American people are looking at, and if not, that is sure as hell what the bases of both parties are looking at. I for one hope they filibuster, then let frist pull the trigger to cover judicial nominiations as well. Wording will be simple "filibusters are off base for ALL/b> presidential appointments.
Let the chips fall where they may.