I think that in the end, Harry Reid did the right thing

Reid couldn't keep the "gang of 14" from voting for cloture on the nominees, he had absolutely no control over that. There was not going to be a showdown and they were not going to employ the nuclear option because there was going to be cloture. Reid declared victory because it made the Democrats look reasonable and willing to compromise, Frist declared defeat so that he could keep the Evangelicals for his 2008 presidential bid.

Sure, it's not as good as having the GOP actually use the nuclear option and have it blow up in their faces, but it's better than Reid declaring defeat and making us look like uncompromising extremeists as well. I think that Reid is also counting on the fact that this WILL come up again when the SCOTUS nominees come up and that the GOP will have to choose once again between pleasing most America and pleasing the fundamentalist base. Only next time they will REALLY look like spoiled cry babies.

I worked on the Reid campaign last year. Harry is an amazing individual. Although I don't agree with all his positions, IMO this is truly an amazing feat he pulled off

:bounce: :toast: :bounce:

I am so please with the efforts of Harry Reid. He has done a great job for the Senate Democrats. This compromise was only possible because of his efforts. Without Reid's tremendous job in the Senate, the GOP would never have compromise on this issue.

After all, HE WAS WILLING TO COMPROMISE, unlike Frist the Freeper, who wants/wanted "all or nothing."

I was wary of him in the beginning but have grown to have a lot of respect and admiration for him.

I think he's doing a great job.