[JoeVortex]

It has now been several days since Miguel Estrada withdrew his nomination and I have not seen or heard any commentary on question: OK, what happens next in the Senate?

The status quo essentially hands Ted Kennedy and Charles Schumer veto power over Federal judicial appointments, and they are not going to back down. It anything, their success defeating the Estrada nomination with only encourage them to stand their ground. Therefore, the issue is not going to go away. It seems like Senate Majority Leader Frist has a small constitutional crisis on his hands.

Doing nothing in response and just letting things slide until after the next election in the hope that the Republicans will increase their majority does not seem like an effective way of mobilizing conservative voters to achieve that very result.

Whatever happened to the idea being suggested before the August recess of changing the Senate rules regarding executive appointments such they were not subject to the same rules of legislative debate regarding breaking the filibuster (i.e. the so called "nuclear option")?

[steveegg]

It has now been several days since Miguel Estrada withdrew his nomination and I have not seen or heard any commentary on question: OK, what happens next in the Senate?

While it's barely 24 hours (the expected news was a day early), that there is the $64,000 question. I honestly don't know what's going through Bill (Lott Lite) Frist's "mind" right now, but it better not be continued surrender for the reasons you mentioned. Hell, if I wanted that, I'd be French.