Deal Averts Filibuster Showdown

By Heather
"Senators from both parties reached a compromise Monday night to avoid a showdown on President Bush’s stalled judicial nominees and the Senate’s own filibuster rules," MSNBC reports.

Said Sen. John McCain: "We have reached an agreement... to pull the institution back from a precipice."

The AP notes that under the agreement, Democrats "would pledge not to filibuster any of Bush's future appeals court or Supreme Court nominees except in 'extraordinary circumstances.'"

Interestingly, the Washington Post notes the group of Senators said the Senate leadership "had signaled it would go along with the compromise."

Instant analysis: McCain is the big winner; Sen. Bill Frist is the loser.

Heather