Reply #33: I disagree

[doni_georgia]

I think you're using two-dimensional thought here. What has transpired is that McCain and the other thirteen have formed a de-facto nomination committee that can block ANY nomination, or allow any nomination. It's no longer about just Dems and Pubs. There are now three power blocs in the Senate.

McCain's spent a lot of political capital to make this happen, and I suspect that he's crossed the Rubicon in respect to the neoconservatives, along with the six who accompanied him. It's in his best interest, and those six who went with him, to broker deals with the Democrats AND the Republicans on nominees. I think that if Frist tries to break them, he will lose, and it will make Frist look really bad in the process, since it will demonstrate the shift in power that has taken place.

Since the GOP's congressional approval rating is already hovering around the freezing mark, it makes no sense for McCain to side with the GOP on every nominee. Since the Dems aren't in much better shape, he doesn't have to side all the time with them, either. Neither of the other two blocs can leverage him with the numbers, and they'll take a beating in the polls and/or the press if they try.

This is no paper agreement. This is a sea change. I really do not think McCain would have done this just to knuckle under to Frist on the first non-agreement nominee. And once he stands against Frist, the Dems will be much more willing to deal with him, because he'll have shown he'll do his best to keep his word. And they'll also play ball when (not if) it becomes apparent that Frist's political career is about to head for the seabed. It may cost the Dems the presidency in 2008... but it may save the country from a neofascist regime with no end in sight.

Mac in Ga