[Non-Sequitur]

Were the Republicans keeping the vote from getting out of committee so that it could go to a full vote in the Senate? (I know that you don't know, but I'm wondering if anyone else does.)

Yes. The majority party runs the Judiciary Committee, and the chairman runs the schedule. One one or two occasions nominees that had been voted out of committee were blocked by Senator Helms. Not a single one of these actions violated any Senate rule. But then again, neither does the filibuster.

[cantfindagoodscreenname]

Thanks for the explanation!