Is Frist Going to Light the Fuse?

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The Washington Post is reporting that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is likely to invoke the nuclear option for judicial appointees:

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is all but certain to press for a rule change that would ban filibusters of judicial nominations in the next few weeks, despite misgivings by some of his fellow Republicans and a possible Democratic backlash that could paralyze the chamber, close associates said yesterday.

The strategy carries significant risks for the Tennessee Republican, who is weighing a 2008 presidential bid. It could embroil the Senate in a bitter stalemate that would complicate passage of President Bush's agenda and raise questions about Frist's leadership capabilities. Should he fail to make the move or to get the necessary votes, however, Frist risks the ire of key conservative groups that will play big roles in the 2008 GOP primaries.

Frist feels he has no acceptable options to seeking the rule change unless there is a last-minute compromise, which neither party considers plausible, according to senators and aides close to the situation. "I think it's going to happen," Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) said this week, although he would prefer that Frist wait to allow more legislation to pass before the Senate explodes in partisan recriminations. Aides privy to senior Republicans' thinking concur with Thune.

This will be a very simple test for Frist and the GOP Senators. I've given a little money to GOP candidates in the last two election cycles (very little, but that's more than I did for 45 years), and I can guarantee you that any Senator who votes against the nuclear option will get neither one thin dime from me, nor will they get my vote should they appear on a presidential ballot. It's time for the GOP to develop some backbone and call the Dem bluff. If the Dems want to shut down the Senate - GREAT! The GOP will be in position to play them like a cheap fiddle.

Some pundits are questioning whether it would be wise to attempt to invoke the option if the GOP isn't sure it has all the votes. I say go ahead, and if you lose, start sending up nominee after nominee and just beat the Dems over the head with the judicial filibusters in the '06 elections. We've already run Dashle out of office - which Dem wants to be next?

I'm getting tired of seeing the GOP act like a minority party. We even have McCain saying that he doesn't want to vote for the option because someday the GOP will be a minority again. Wow, what positive thinking! Senator McCain - you can kiss any presidential hopes goodbye buddy, because the conservatives like me will absolutely run away from you. I don't care if you go up against Queen Hillary herself in the '08 election...I'll write my own name in before I vote for you.