Some random thoughts on the "Nuclear Option"

As a follow up to Jazz's post below I have a few thoughts.

The internal politics of the Republican Party seems to have changed the nature of a "conservative judge". It used to be that a conservative judge was one that supported the oligarchic agenda of the big business wing of the Republican party. As the social conservative have taken control of the party it seems that a conservative judge is now one that supports the theocratic agenda. The oligarchs have been for the most part silent on the Nuclear Option. It's the theocrats who are screaming for it. This is significant because it will play a big part in determining the winners and the losers.

As I mentioned earlier Oregon's Senator Gordon Smith will be a loser, regardless of the outcome, if it comes to a vote. Smith needs the votes of moderate Democrats and independents to win re-election. If he votes to kill the filibuster he will lose those. He also needs the vote of the fanatical social conservatives to win. If he votes to uphold the filibuster he will lose many of those. They won't vote for the Democrat but they may just sit out the election.

Lisa Murkowski of Alaska is from a "conservative state" but Alaska is tends to be Libertarian conservative not social conservative. The threat of the Senate being procedurely ground to a halt will not fit in with the agenda of Alaskan conservatives.

John Sununu also represents a Libertarian conservative state and the fact that the Nuclear Option is now seen as a Radical Christian Right issue makes his decision more difficult.

Senator Bill Frist has put all his chips on the Radical Christian Right. Following the loss in the Terri Schiavo fiasco a loss here will eliminate any political future for him. He may talk the talk but he stumbles when he tries to walk the walk.

There has been little talk about the significance of the Nuclear Option morphing into a Radical Christian Right crusade. With the polls indicating that people increasingly distrust the theocrats I think it's significant.