Filibuster compromise

I'm reminded of a passage from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. The day job of one of the evil Black Ajah is as a negotiator, which job, done successfully, she viewed as involving the even spreading of pain. As she very much enjoyed spreading pain she was extremely good at her profession.

So, one sign of successful compromise is that no-one, especially at the extremes, is especially pleased with the result, except, perhaps, that there IS a result.

So it is with the filibuster compromise. Liberals will rightly bemoan the appointment of 3 very poor appellate court choices, while the reactionary right will lament the lost opportunity for carte blanche judicial appointments.

And while the result of the compromise is hardly unambiguous (Dems can filibuster under extraordinary circumstances?!) still, the judicial filibuster has been preserved for the moment for use in the really big show, the expected summertime Supreme Court vacancy.

Which reason is why the worst losers are BushCorp™, Frist and the rest of the Dobson right. Even more than a fight between liberals and conservatives, this is a fight between the wingnuts and what passes for the moderate wing of the Republican party. Sens. McCain et al. have sent a shot across the bow of the wingnut faction.

So, welcome to the first volleys of Campaign 2008.

The Black Ajah would be pleased.