Middle Course

The Senate this afternoon reached a compromise over the filibuster standoff. Hard-liners on both sides are decrying it, which I suppose means it was a good day for moderation. Anyway, how can one not be a little pleased when Michelle Malkin is left sputtering “the GOP parade of pusillanimity marches on. With this pathetic cave-in, the Republicans have sealed their fate as a Majority in Name Only.” And more significantly, James Dobson is saying that the compromise was a “complete bailout and betrayal by a cabal of Republicans and a great victory for united Democrats.” (Via Crooks and Liars.)

Frist lost for sure in this turn of events, and by extension so did Bush and the religious Right. The moderate Republicans are asserting themselves: let’s hope this marks the widening of the fissure between the moderates and the radical Right.

One final skirmish remains in this particular battle: it is by no means a sure thing that the three judges that the Democrats agreed not to filibuster are all going to win Senate approval. At least that’s what Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is hinting.