[Verginius Rufus]

The problem is that the Judiciary Committee can prevent the rest of the Senate from getting to vote. A few thousand votes in two states (Montana and Virginia) and the Republicans would still have a majority in the Senate.

The most important vacancy is one the Gang of 14 has no control over--the next vacancy on the Supreme Court.

[MadIvan]

What is the composition of the Judiciary Committee - any swing votes?

The tactics that must be used are to twist the arms out of the sockets of the "Blue Dog" Democrats. I know they're lying about being conservative, the rest of the people here know they're lying - but they should be forced to live up to the "conservative" title they've stolen.

Regards, Ivan

[Theodore R.]

GWB should just name recess appointments to the courts for the rest of his term and forget the Senate. And the real court battle can be postponed until 2009, when the terrain may be a little more favorable, but I doubt it would be any better. People don't change that much in two years.