[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.

[You Dirty Rats]

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

McCain et al came up with this way of killing any future Thomas or Scalia without having to vote against the nomination -- they can just let Dirty Harry and the 'Rats (or is it Harry and the Dirty 'Rats) filibuster and then say that their hands are tied by the MOU.