According to the Washington Post. Here's the meat of the story:
With President Bush expected to name a successor to Justice Sandra Day O'Connor next week, liberals are laying the groundwork to challenge the nominee if he or she leans solidly to the right on affirmative action, abortion and other contentious issues. But even if they can show that the nominee has sharply held views on matters that divide many Americans, some of the 14 senators who crafted the May 23 compromise appear poised to prevent that strategy from blocking confirmation to the high court, according to numerous interviews.
The pact, signed by seven Democrats and seven Republicans, says a judicial nominee will be filibustered only under "extraordinary circumstances." Key members of the group said yesterday that a nominee's philosophical views cannot amount to "extraordinary circumstances" and that therefore a filibuster can be justified only on questions of personal ethics or character. [My emphasis].
I have blogged in favor of the filibuster deal, and against the conventional wisdom of most conservatives. If the following is accurate, boy will I look smart! Its about time.
Of course the Democrats are experts in raking up muck and if a stanch conservative is nominated an army of much rakers will fan out over the country. But giving up the right to contest a nomination on grounds of "judicial philosophy" seriously constricts the Democrat's strategy. This is quite remarkable.
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