[RandyRep]

My take on this is this:

1) A filibuster on a judicial nomination is a very bad precedent - so Bush and Frist are doing this as a last gasp before really calling for cloture. The call for more questions and offering peers for comment looks reasonable to most people.

2) If the filibuster works for the Dems, then every judicial nomination can be held to the 60 vote standard. Every president will have a hard time getting nominations through a Senate controlled by either party if there are enough partisans (and they are nearly all partisans, I think).

3) What is needed is a Senate rule that states that Senate advice and consent are not subject to cloture rules. Unfortunately, to add or change a Senate rule requires a 2/3 vote. With all the previous statements about not using a filibuster to delay votes, it would be hard for Leahy and others to vote no.

4) Unfortunately, this is not getting the attention it deserves because of the Iraq situation.

[hobbes1]

2) If the filibuster works for the Dems, then every judicial nomination can be held to the 60 vote standard.

Which is why they do not intend to lose this fight.

[1Old Pro]

Unfortunately, this is not getting the attention it deserves because of the Iraq situation.

Which is precisely why the GOP should force a real 24/7 fillibuster.

[AndrewC]

Unfortunately, to add or change a Senate rule requires a 2/3 vote.

I believe that only applies to the expulsion of a member.