Live Blogging--Senators Make Deal

As I write, Senators are announcing a deal one day before a filibuster vote was to have taken place. The Senators who pulled it off (McCain and Warner, among others) seem quite pleased with themselves. Here's the deal--McCain is talking:

He says the 14 Senators who brokered an agreement prevented a crisis. He thanks Senator Byrd.

They have pledged to vote for cloture for three judges--including Brown and Owen--but not all of Bush's announced choices. He says in the future they'll do what they can do prevent filibusters. He claims this will help the Senate and protect the minority in the future. Only filibusters in "extraordinary circumstances," which I must presume included SC judges.

What's not clear is what will happen when future nominees come up, particularly for the Supreme Court. Nuclear option could still be on the table.

I wouldn't say this is loss or victory for either side. The Republicans have given up a bit, but maybe something they couldn't get anyway, on a couple nominee, and the Dems have averted a filibuster vote but given in on three judges once pronounced unacceptable. I suppose some might see it as a loss for Frist, who, win or lose, doesn't get a vote on what a lot of rank-and-filers were waiting a long time for.

Now Byrd is talking. He's quoting Franklin's famous line--"A republic, if you can keep it"--implying the filibuster, unmentioned in the Constitution, has something to do with keeping our republic. No mention of his several rule changes, nor the Democrat-sponsored ban of filibusters a few years ago (that went nowhere).

Warner is thrilled we won't have to know (now) about the nuclear option.

Presumably more on this later in Pajama Guy, unless American Idol is too entertaining.

PS Irony--an ad by Harry Reid comes on saying it's wrong for one party to have control over who sits on courts (though the Constitution sure seems to think it's okay).