Spector sees no 'nuclear option' on Judges as long as Dems cave

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20050208-121832-2445r.htm

Specter wary of 'nuclear option'
By Charles Hurt THE WASHINGTON TIMES February 08, 2005

The new Senate Judiciary Committee chairman favors more negotiations with Democrats over the so-called "nuclear option" Republicans could use to push President Bush's judicial nominees through Democratic filibusters. <snip>

Backers of the option — termed "nuclear" because of its potential fallout in the Senate — say they have the 51 votes necessary to enact it and say it could be used at any moment. Some conservatives have complained for more than a year that the option hasn't already been employed to dislodge the 10 filibustered Bush nominees.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee gave Democrats until the end of last month to decide whether they wanted to continue the filibusters. If so, he said, they may face the nuclear option the next time a judicial nominee comes to the floor.<snip>

Mr. Specter said he's studied the filibustered nominees and thinks he can find ways to pick up Democrats on them.
He will begin with Department of Interior Solicitor William G. Myers, nominated to the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, for whom he said he can get support from Democratic Sens. Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware and Charles E. Schumer of New York.
Former Alabama Attorney General William Pryor — nominated to the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals and serving a temporary term on that bench — has "written a half dozen very moderate-progressive opinions," Mr. Specter said. "I've circulated those among all the committee members and asked them to take a fresh look at Pryor. <snip>

The Democrats can prevent any unanimous consent agreements, thereby severely slowing down the Senate from getting anything done. Maybe they can call it the "nuclear winter option", because it will freeze the Senate.