There are six Republican senators who are either against changing the rules or are not solidly for it. Chafee, Snowe, and Collins are the three that are predictibly solidly on the side of the 'Rats, Warner (VA), McCain, and another are wavering. Without the support of at least two of the six (51 votes required to change the rules), the rule change will fail and the liberals will win. Frist will not bring it up for a vote until he knows what the outcome will be.
The other wavering one is Hagel, I think.
"There are six Republican senators who are either against changing the rules or are not solidly for it...Without the support of at least two of the six (51 votes required to change the rules), the rule change will fail and the liberals will win. Frist will not bring it up for a vote until he knows what the outcome will be."
And that would be a mistake on Frist's part. By pushing for such an amendment and flushing out the Benedict Arnold Republican Senators, that would help the party in the future. How can the base correct the problem if it is not made aware of who the weak links are in the party?
And this guy thinks he can be President in '08?
Correct me if I am wrong, but don't the republicans just need 50 votes and then VP Cheney can break the tie..? So can't we afford 5 defections? It makes me thin that there are more than 5 "republican" senators who do not support this rule change, because if not it would have been done already.