The Supreme Court is shaping up as the first defining issue of a second Bush term--and that`s before there`s a nominee or even an opening. Consider the gauntlet thrown down last week by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist at the Federalist Society`s annual conference. Speaking of Democrats` unprecedented filibuster of 10 appeals-court nominees, Sen. Frist announced his intention to go "nuclear" if they try the same tactic again. Under the "nuclear option," Senate rules would be reinterpreted so that 51 votes, not a supermajority of 60, would be needed to end debate on judicial nominees and move to an up-or-down vote on the floor.
Read Original at: Wall Street Journal