 The opening salvos of the nuclear option were fired yesterday, according to the Denver Post [May 19, 2005, "Senate power battle begins"]. From the article, "Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar reached out further to Republicans than other Senate Democrats have been willing to go as he tried to head off a historic showdown over filibusters. Salazar publicly floated a compromise plan offering 'up-or- down votes' for all seven of Bush's controversial appeals- court nominees in exchange for a guarantee that Democrats keep the right to filibuster other nominees until early 2007. The proposal worried liberal Democrats, bothered by the prospect of confirming seven jurists they consider far too conservative. And it was rejected by conservatives who - with a potential vacancy looming on the Supreme Court - said they won't tolerate the prospect of Democrats filibustering future nominees. By the end of the day, no senators had signed on to Salazar's plan. There were reports of other compromise proposals, but no details."
Josh Marshall: "Just to be crystal clear, what the senate is about to do is not changing their rules. They are about to find that their existing rules are unconstitutional, thus getting around the established procedures by which senate rules can be changed."
Basie!: "Nuclear roundup: day 1."
TalkLeft: "Criticism of Priscilla Owen and Janice Rogers Brown is not new, at least not on TalkLeft. From our archives, and worth re-reading."
Senator Reid's floor speech from Mathew Gross.
Category: 2004 Presidential Transition
6:23:59 AM 
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