5/23/2005 11:00:00 PM|||Buzz|||Captain's Quarters has a solid analysis of the "gang of 14's" deal. Click here to read.

Under no circumstances can this be seen as a good deal for the Senate majority or for Constitutional rule. The net effect is that an even smaller minority in the Senate has hijacked the confirmation process than we saw during the filibusters -- and like all tyrannies, we can only hope for benevolent despotism rather than disaster.

Captain Ed is exactly right. The leader of this little band of tyrants is Sen. McCain. I suspect that part of McCain's motivation is to attempt to harm Sen. Frist's Presidential chances (thus exposing McCain's petty selfishness). McCain's Presidential chances went up in smoke tonight - judging from the reaction of the blogosphere. Furthermore, I can tell you that the Republican base will be very upset with this deal (not that I speak for the GOP base, but I am in touch with a good crossection of GOP voters). McCain is dead meat and if a number of these Judges are not confirmed, Frist will be as well. The stakes remain high and the 63 million people who sent President Bush back to the White House, and increased GOP majorities in the Senate and House, didn't support the GOP so the agenda can be held hostage to a gang of egomaniacs like McCain.

Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin|||111690479730430087|||Analysis Of "The Deal."