Tuesday, May 24, 2005

 

Nuclear Optioned

Last night, The Deal looked a lot to me like the Fugitive Slave Law, a compromise over matters that simply ought not to be compromised, and only a brief postponement of the inevitable conflagration.

Today, with Catkillah Frist threatening to "retrigger" the nuclear option immediately, I'm feeling more optimistic. The good folks over at Legal Fiction point out that The Deal expressly takes the nuclear option off the table until 2006 -- at least for its 14 signatories. If Frist and his neomonarchists, in their relentless march backward through history, want to pick an intramural street fight with the Republican Jacobins before the 2006 election, I say fine. I think this agreement has the potential, at least, of marking a turning point for Republicans in the Senate. And if and when the McCain-Graham branch of the GOP finally decides to push the theocrats in their party under the blade, I'll be sure to save us some good seats up front. You bring the popcorn.

posted by Michael 8:17 PM