ConfirmThem

By DanCT Posted in Senate Rules — Comments () / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

On the floor today, Senator Frist (R-TN) said: "...the agreement, if followed in good faith, will make filibusters of judicial nominees in the future, including Supreme Court nominees, almost impossible."

That conditional "if followed in good faith" does have some teeth. Graham and DeWine have both said they will use the "out clause" if they think a filibuster arises except in "extraordinary circumstances" -- and they don't hold the NARAL view of "extraordinary circumstances". Let's wait and see.

Democrats are trying to push the spin that the Byrd option is off the table:

"[The compromise] took the nuclear option off the table," Reid, D.-Nev., said May 25. "The nuclear option is gone for our lifetime. We don't have to talk about it anymore. I'm disappointed that there's still these threats of the nuclear option."

But it is clearly not gone because Graham and DeWine are already talking about it coming right back on the table at the first sign of Democrats' reneging by filibustering outside of "extraordinary circumstances." Expect floor debates on Kavanaugh, Haynes, Saad, and Myers. Expect cloture to be filed. Expect a vote on the Byrd option if the cloture vote does not pass. Let Graham and DeWine and the wobbly Democrats (i.e., the six who signed the deal, excepting Byrd) know that this is what you expect.