[rcocean]

Nope sorry. The Repubs agreed not to ban IF the Democrats filibustered when it was NOT an extraordinary circumstance.

What does that mean?

It means the power to stop a filibuster and approve a nominee is in the hands of the McCain and his gang of 6.
If five decide it is "extraordinary" they can tell Friest to go jump in the lake - in private - and the nominee is DOA.

Goodbye any future Scalia or Thomas. Hello, any future Souter and O'Conner.

[RobFromGa]

If five decide it is "extraordinary" they can tell Friest to go jump in the lake

If five Republicans find the candidate unfit, they could always vote "No". This is always their right. That is not what this fight is about. The question will be whether two moderate Republicans think that the moderate Dems are breaking their agreement to not filibuster, allowing them to change and vote for the nuke option. It only takes two of the seven to change.

[Cboldt]

It means the power to stop a filibuster and approve a nominee is in the hands of the McCain and his gang of 6.

If so, it always was so.