AnalPhilosopher

I have gazed into my crystal ball. Here’s what I see. Chief Justice William Rehnquist resigns at the end of the current Supreme Court term. President Bush nominates his replacement: Miguel Estrada. (He also elevates Antonin Scalia to the chief justiceship.) At least one of the Democrats who signed today’s agreement filibusters the Estrada nomination (in response to intense interest-group pressure), claiming that it constitutes an extraordinary circumstance. This releases the seven Republicans from their obligation under the agreement. Republicans, also in response to intense interest-group pressure, change the Senate’s rules to prevent filibusters of judicial nominees. In other words, today’s deal only delays the inevitable.