"This deal keeps getting worse all the time"...

But it's not Republicans who are quoting Lando Calrissian, it's the Democrats.

James Taranto does a little analysis of the cloture votes on Justices Owen, Brown and Pryor and sees a pattern. The Democrats most wary of implementing any future filibusters just happen to be from Red States with re-election races in 2006 or 2008.

Coincidence? I think not. Looks like this recent deal has given cover to several Democrats to break away from their previous unity in blocking Bush's nominees.

The results of the Brown and Pryor cloture votes suggest that there are 12 Democrats who cannot be counted on to support future filibusters...Barring a Senate vacancy this year or next, sustaining a filibuster of a judicial nominee (again, excluding Myers and Saad) would require the cooperation of at least eight of the 12 above-listed senators [see chart], at least three of whom would be acting in violation of the agreement, and it would require the Republicans to refrain from using the nuclear option once the Democrats break the agreement.

Democrats really do look like they got the short end of this compromise. No wonder so many of 'em are pissed.

Posted by: Gary at 12:15 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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