Maybe someone can answer this without me having to do a lot of research:) Can the senate, after the 2006 elections, assuming they still have the majority, change the senate rules in Jan 2007 when the next congress convenes without having to have 60 votes? I know they could have done it after the last election but failed to do so. If they can do it this time and fail to do it they should have their tails kicked good.
All they need is the Dems to filibuster, and a call can be made to change the rules. This can happen at any time, any session of Congress.
The problem is that Frist will be gone and the next Majority Leader may not be as committed to changing the rules, at least right at the beginning.