It's showdown time!
California Supreme Court justice Janice Rogers Brown, controversial mainly because she's black and conservative, goes back before the Senate Judiciary Committee today. Brown is one of many Bush nominations sunk by Senate Dems in the last Congress through the use (actually, through the threat) of filibusters — a tactic never before used on judicial nominations.
To counter this — in other words, to restore the confirmation process to status quo ante — the Senate GOP leadership appears ready to invoke a rules change explicitly stating that only 51 votes are necessary to cut off debate on judicial nominations.
Unless I missed this detail in the blizzard of words that have been expended on the topic, the filibuster rules change applies only to debate on judicial nominations, not to any other issue (despite what Dems are claiming).
I said here and here that the Senate GOP appears to be showing trace amounts of backbone on this issue. I remain ever hopeful, but I will also remain skeptical until I see them carry this through to its proper conclusion.
UPDATE: Sigh.
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