Deal Averts Filibuster Showdown
May 23, 2005

"Senators from both parties reached a compromise Monday night to avoid a showdown on President Bush’s stalled judicial nominees and the Senate’s own filibuster rules," MSNBC reports.

Said Sen. John McCain: "We have reached an agreement... to pull the institution back from a precipice.

"The AP notes that under the agreement, Democrats "would pledge not to filibuster any of Bush's future appeals court or Supreme Court nominees except in 'extraordinary circumstances.'

" Interestingly, the Washington Post notes the group of Senators said the Senate leadership "had signaled it would go along with the compromise."

Instant analysis: McCain is the big winner; Sen. Bill Frist is the loser

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2005/05/23/deal_averts_filibuster_showdown.html