[Congressman Billybob]

As discussed on another thread, judicial nominations, like all other Senate votes, are subject to a filibuster, meaning that debate cannot be closed without 60 votes under the Cloture Rule. However, not all Democrat Senators will go along with this.

If President Bush and Majority Leader Frist stand their guns, all business in the US Senate will then come to a screeching halt (once the Pickering nomination is on the floor), until a total of 60 Senators vote to end the filibuster. Not all Democrats, and especially the ones facing election in 2004, will go along with this initially.

As the obstruction stops more and more Senate business, of interest to more and more Americans, supporters of the filibuster will peel off. Democrat Senators Miller (Ga.) and Breaux (La.) will not support it from the beginning. Republican squishes like Chafee (R.I.), Blanche Lincoln, and Snowe (Vt.) will support it at the beginning, but will be under pressure to back off.

Even though Schumer is now announcing this publicly, it is about a month before the Pickering nomination will be on the floor. A lot of nose-counting is going to happen in the Senate between now and then. If Schumer doesn't have 40 solid supporters at the beginning, he will be a fool even to begin his filibuster. But even if he begins it, he cannot necessarily sustain it. Both Bush and Frist have much larger bully pulpits to fight it than Schumer has to defend it.

I predict that it won't even begin. But if it does, I predict that it will collapse, and Pickering will be confirmed, within three days. Either way, Schumer winds up with well-deserved egg on his face.

Congressman Billybob

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[nicmarlo]

I predict that it will collapse, and Pickering will be confirmed, within three days. Either way, Schumer winds up with well-deserved egg on his face.

Let's hope your predictions come true.

[hobbes1]

No, CB no egg, not really. As youpointed out it is a month before the nomination will be brought forward...That is instructive to Schmuckies real agenda.

It is remote that he is even considering a filibuster, what this is plain and simple and two fold.

In the first instance, this is another way for Schmuckie to grab some print and face time, upstaging HRH Hillary!ous.

secoindly and nicely dovetailing with the first, this is also away to further endear him to the leftist organizations that support him, both organizationally and financially.

Campaign Cash, and Headlines...That's it....