14 Senators Announce Filibuster Compromise

ABC News/AP is reporting: Averting a showdown, centrists from both parties reached agreement Monday night on a compromise that clears the way for confirmation votes on many of President Bush's stalled judicial nominees, leaves others in limbo and preserves venerable Senate filibuster rules. "In a Senate that is increasingly polarized, the bipartisan center held," said Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn. "The Senate is back in business," echoed Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., one of 14 senators who signed the two-page memorandum of agreement, which cited "mutual trust and confidence." According to their report, the compromise involves the Democtrats would oppose any attempt to filibuster and thereby blocking final votes on the confirmation of Priscilla Owen, Janice Rogers Brown and William Pryor. As for any future nominees, they would "only be filibustered under extraordinary circumstances," with each Democrat senator holding the discretion to decide when those conditions had been met. In return, the Senate Republicans said they would oppose any attempt to make changes in the application of filibuster rules. Personally I wouldn't trust the Republicans as far as I could throw them, but I do have a great deal of faith in Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, and if it passes his smell test, I guess it is ok. Having said that however, I wish they had not compromised at all with these jerks and forced a showdown. However I suspect they are seeing the same polls the Republicans see which show a very high unfavorable rating regarding the work of congress. People just don't care about their squabble over senate rules. They want action on the high price of gas, medicare and prescription drugs, and the economy. Unfortunately the American public does not realize that this only paves the way for Bush attempt to get extreme right-wing judges on the Supreme Court. I only hope the Democrats meant what they said about reserving the right to fillibuster future nominees "under extraordinary circumstances". In his comments regarding the compromise agreement, Senator Reid said: "We have sent President George Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and the radical right of the Republican party an undeniable message….the abuse of power will not be tolerated." He went on to point out that even though he welcomed the agreement, he remains opposed to some of the nominees who will now likely take seats on the appeals court. The 14 Senators who joined to reach this compromise were: McCain, Ben Nelson, Pryor, Warner, Byrd, Graham, Snowe, DeWine, Lieberman, Landrieu, Collins, Salazar, Inouye and Chafee.