[Diddle E. Squat]

But is Bush gambling for a larger win in 2004, with Senate gains, and thus a clear mandate from which to then push through a host of conservative judges, including likely 3 USSC appointments, along with more conservative reforms in areas beyond the courts(though admittedly such a strategy IS a gamble).

[holdonnow]

This isn't and either or situation. Bush has 55 votes to confirm his judges -- even the most "controversial" nominees. Frist needs to stop the filibuster by scheduling a vote to end filibusters for judicial nominees, which requires a simple majority vote to change the Senate rules. He won't do it because of the White House's concern that other legislative matters would be lost to an angry debate, and the president doesn't want the showdown prior to the election. This should be an occasion for victory, to tell the people what the left has been doing, and to urge voters to elect more senators on these grounds alone.