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I don't think the GOP lost anything tactically with the deal last night. They get three votes and didn't really lose anything. But strategically the Pubbies have hurt themselves with their base, at least for the short term. I'm hoping a few confirmations (including Bolton, who's basically a cinch now) will soothe some hurt feelings, but...

But the good news is Frist is not backing away from the nuke/constitutional option one bit.

The 'deal' is just a delay. The Democrats have allowed a couple 'straight up' votes in exchange for the Republicans not pulling the trigger now.

But the good news is Frist is not backing away from the nuke/constitutional option one bit.

It looks to me like the rats walked into a trap and the Republicans are actually better off now than they were a day ago.

As the Republicans shed their media-made image as frenzied extremists who are intent on nuking the Senate, etc., they get Bush's best nominees confirmed without a single shot being fired, and STILL get to keep their finger on the nuclear button.

They also somehow got the rats to throw the phrase "extraordinary circumstances" into the language, thereby providing perfect cover for at least two out of the seven Republicans who signed onto this deal to sign OFF of this deal and vote to "go nuclear" as Graham and DeWine have already said they would if the rats abuse that "extraordinary circumstances" excuse.

In other words, when the GOP finally does "go nuclear", the votes will be there.

You are right and a lot of singular minded types are wrong. It's amazing that so many conservatives can be so infantile as to think they can (and should) always win, all the time. The GOP got much of what it wanted without a rules change.

Something Freepers need to remember is that the electorate isn't nearly as conservative as we are (and certainly not as liberal as many of the singular minded dems). This is about politics and politics is about public perception as much as anything else. It was clear to me that we were losing the PR war, and I had no idea how the chips would have fallen if the Constitutional option had been used - it was just as likely (maybe more) that the winds would have turned against the GOP. That would stink, and given the fact that we got much of what we wanted, it would have been unnecessary.

I don't think the GOP lost anything tactically with the deal last night.

I disagree. The 'deal' agreed to by 7 pubbies, who could become democs at the drop of a hat, neutered the majority party and gave credence to to the minority. Proof positive that we need 60+ conservatives, not just republicans, in the Senate.....