[Altair333]

This is much more significant than you people are indicating.

These two conservative judges will alter the balance of power in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. In that regard, it's much more significant than Owen going to the 5th or Pryor going to the 11th- those were already strongly conservative courts.

And I have to say this much for the fillibuster deal- the nuclear option would not have allowed these 2 judges to be confirmed because they were being held by the blue slip exercised by 2 Democratic senators- not by fillibuster.

So this is one way in which the deal actually produced BETTER results than the nuclear option. With the nuclear option, these 2 judges would still be stalled by the blue slip.

I hate what the 7 dwarves did, but I have to be honest about the results of this particular committee action.

[tfecw]

Thanks for the info!

But when the senate (or house) makes a deal like this is there anything binding either side to it?

[Rumierules]

What's a blue slip?

[reformedliberal]

That is very important information. Thank you!

It is vitally important that at least some of these appointments begin to change the make up of the various Federal Courts.

Now, I do not believe either Levin or Stabenow is behaving out of anything other than self interest. Neither was party to the MOU. What do you think influenced their behavior?