ConfirmThem

By AndrewHyman Comments () / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

Ron Brownstein of the LA Times brings us up to date on the latest news:

[A]ides on both sides say neither party appears certain it has enough support to prevail if Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) brings the rules change to a vote. . . . Republican Senate aides . . . . argue if Democrats tried to stall the Senate, the party would face a public backlash like the GOP did in 1995 when it shut down the government during budget battles with President Clinton. . . . Frist intends to present a proposal to Democrats "within the next couple of weeks," said Bob Stevenson, his communications director. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), a moderate facing reelection next year in a state Bush easily carried in 2004, has developed the most concrete proposal. Nelson aides said he was preparing legislation that would change the judicial confirmation process to ensure that all nominees received an up-or-down vote on the floor if any senator requested it . . . . But operatives on both sides consider a deal unlikely. "I don't think there will be a compromise," one Republican heavily involved in the party's strategy said on condition of anonymity. "Frist wants to go through the motions and say he tried. But I don't think the Democrats will agree" with anything he proposes. Congressional Democrats have scheduled a rally for Wednesday .... [and are] releasing a letter this week from a coalition they call "the unusual suspects," which opposes the rules change, said one ranking party Senate aide who requested anonymity.