[Texas Deb]

I did not get in on the very first so I might have misunderstood but they were interviewing Dewine and it was in regard to the "deal" the other night, not the Bolton nomination. And the way I understood it, Frist did NOT have the 51 votes for sure as he could not count on Spector as Spector would not commit one way or the other. Therefore, Bush sent Dewine and Graham in to make the best deal they could to get some of his nominees through and to retain the constitutional option and start to get the Senate moving on other things.

If this is true, then Frist, Bush, Dewine and Graham were in on hoodwinking the Dems into a compromise, as the Dems probably thought Frist had the votes for the constitutional option so they thought they were about to lose it all, therefore, they compromised on the three most conservative judges. Of course, none of this could have come out at the time as the Dems would have been tipped off and NOT compromised if they knew Frist did not have the votes.

I think Bush has just hoodwinked the Dems and pulled off a sting, if I am reading this right, whereas he was about to get nothing, he got three judges and Frist retains the CO.

[cousair]

I must have missed what you did, but I am so mad tonight, you have taken a little of the heat off!! Thankyou for that, and lets hope and pray you are right. I like Frist, but it seems he is way too much of a gentleman and straight shooter for this bunch. I could see he was very angry at the end of the session. Appreciate your info!!

[vaudine]

If Specter wouldn't play, why didn't the President and Santorum twist his arm because he owes them.

This doesn't make sense.

vaudine

[penowa]

I saw the entire Brit Hume program and the White House is trying to give cover to DeWine and Graham. I think they had NO idea how balistic the conservative reaction would be to "the deal" and now that they see the handwriting on the wall that DeWine's kid may bite the dust, not to mention Graham and DeWine when the voters have an opportunity to get to them, they are trying to shift the blame for Frist not having the votes from DeWine and Graham to Arlen Specter. Arlen is recently re-elected and should he live long enough to run again, probably will not. They even blamed Arlen for leaving town early and not staying to vote for cloture on Bolton. This is a real stretch considering that Reid didn't come through as he supposedly "promised" putting them at 57 votes (3 short, not just Arlen's 1 vote.) Maybe the deal Arlen made to get his chairmanship was to let them blame him for ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING.

Yes, you are correct. Bush, the WH, Frist, the senate leadership were all in on "the deal." Unfortunately, I think the sting is on the voters, not the Democrats. There isn't going to be any nuclear option and there isn't going to be any SC appointee unless Bush finds himself a "Souter." My guess is they will try to convince us we need to go to the polls in even bigger numbers next time and elect more Republicans so they can be chairmen and we can get the shaft (again.)