Don't you all forget, we're keeping a running count of how many Dems quote Gonzales on Patricia Owens.
Several senators were working furiously to stop the chamber from getting to that vote. Democratic Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado had attended at least 13 private meetings over the previous 24 hours with senators trying to craft a deal, a spokesman said.
Salazar and Sen. Lindsey Graham (news, bio, voting record), R-S.C., along with Ben Nelson, D-Neb., John McCain, R-Ariz., Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and others, were working to try and find six Republicans and six Democrats to block Frist from banning judicial filibusters and block Reid from filibustering all of Bush's controversial judicial nominees.
Several of the seven blocked nominees would be confirmed.
Aides said Republican negotiators want Owen, Brown and former Alabama Attorney General William Pryor confirmed, with Idaho lawyer William Myers's nomination scuttled. As part of that deal, two Michigan nominees, David McKeague and Richard Griffin, would be confirmed, while a third nominee — Henry Saad — would be jettisoned.
A fourth Michigan judge, Susan Neilson, also would be confirmed, although she has not been filibustered by Democrats.
Senators are still negotiating that part of the deal and it is subject to change