[justshe]

Hmmmmm......further readings indicate that the same 'hold' that is used with judicial nominees can also be used on bills...although it would appear that a 'hold' on a bill indicates an intent to filibuster.

[Torie]

Interestingly in the good old days it was far worse. In fact at one time, the Senate even tended to dictate the president's cabinet, and certainly court appointees. I read that in Caro's book on the LBJ senate years. In fact, the Senate was the graveyard for most significant presidential domestic initiatives, except during the FDR depression window from 1933 until the court packing episode, up until really the LBJ landslide. Teddy Roosevelt did most of what he was famous for by executive order of fiat. Yep, it suprised me too.