Showdown Time?

Sen. Allen predicts showdown will end in 'nuclear option' by James G. Lakely and Charles Hurt / The Washington Times.

"Sen. George Allen, Virginia Republican, said yesterday that he doesn't think a compromise can be reached with Senate Democrats and predicted his party has the 51 votes needed to employ the so-called 'nuclear option' that will prevent the filibustering of judicial nominees."

The article also reported on what Sen. John McCain said:

Some lawmakers were holding out hope for a compromise before tomorrow's vote. Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, told "Fox News Sunday" that the nuclear option will "hurt the Senate in the long run."

"We're talking about changing the rules of the Senate with 51 votes, which has never happened in the history of the United States Senate," Mr. McCain said, adding that he was worried that eliminating the filibuster for judicial nominees would lead to the elimination of the 214-year-old parliamentary tactic altogether.

"If you have 51 votes changing the rules of the Senate, nominations of the president is next, and then legislation follows that, and we will now become an institution exactly like the House of Representatives," Mr. McCain said.

Where is Sen. McCain when you need him?

Heavy Handed says, to John McCain the man, to the American patriot, and to this veteran of the armed forces, I take off my hat; but to John McCain the "maverick" politician... I put it back on.