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Frist to Break Compromise Already?

Congress Daily P.M. reports (via Think Progress):

Senate Majority Leader Frist will file for cloture on President Bush’s nomination of William Myers to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later this week, according to sources on and off Capitol Hill, wasting no time in testing the resolve of 14 Republican and Democratic senators who forced at least a temporary halt to the battle over Democratic filibusters of President Bush’s judicial picks.

Update: The Hill reports:

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) warned Democrats yesterday that he will not hesitate to trigger the so-called “nuclear option” to enforce an eleventh-hour deal that a centrist coalition of 14 lawmakers struck Monday on President Bush’s stalled judicial nominees.

....Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Mike DeWine (R-Ohio), two of the seven Republican signatories to the memorandum of understanding on the judges, backed up Frist, threatening to vote for the option should Democrats attempt to block nominees in circumstances that the two lawmakers would not consider “extraordinary.”

So the Compromise, which failed to define "extraodinary circumstances," is subject to individual interpretation. In other words, "extraordinary circumstances" means whatever uber-right Republicans want it to mean. The phrase doesn't define when Democrats can filibuster. It defines when Republicans say they can't.

If I drew up a contract and failed to define a term so critical to the "meeting of the minds" of the parties, I'd be sued for malpractice in a heartbeat.

More from the Hill:

“Let me be very clear. The constitutional option remains on the table,” Frist said to Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid (Nev.) yesterday morning on the Senate floor, using the Republican-preferred term for the controversial tactic.

Reid had a different perspective: “The nuclear option is gone for our lifetime. We don’t have to talk about it anymore.” “It remains an option,” Frist said. “I will not hesitate to use it if necessary.”

Graham and DeWine later echoed Frist in a press conference after yesterday’s weekly Republican luncheon. “The nuclear option is on the table and remains on the table,” DeWine said.

If this falls apart so soon, it will be egg all over the faces of the Centrists, while Priscilla Owen laughs from her perch on the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. What a deal.

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    Re: Frist to Break Compromise Already? (none / 0) (#1)
    by ras on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:54:18 PM EST
    Actually, filing for cloture in no way breaks the agreement. It may lead to that, eventually, should the Dems try to filibuster and the Republicans disagree on the good faith of such a move. But both filing for cloture, and filibustering in genuine good faith (where truly extraordinary circumstances are involved), are each allowed.

    Re: Frist to Break Compromise Already? (none / 0) (#2)
    by ppjakajim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:54:18 PM EST
    et al - Uh, what don't you folks understand about that the "agreement" was with 7 Repub Senators, and not with the Repub Senate leaders. So, given that, why do you think Frist feels any obligation to back up a deal that made him look stupid and one that he had no hand in? As I noted earlier, now the Demos must keep at least 5 of the 7 Repubs happy. A task they will find daunting.

    Re: Frist to Break Compromise Already? (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:54:18 PM EST
    Cloture is a motion to end debate, i.e, a filibuster. Filibusters are supposed to be allowed. By moving for cloture, he's moving to prevent or prematurely end debate.

    Re: Frist to Break Compromise Already? (none / 0) (#4)
    by ppjakajim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:54:18 PM EST
    BTW - My guess is Frist will move for votes o