Weak kneed Republican Senators torpedoed their own party's efforts to ensure that George Bush's judicial nominees received an up or down vote in the full Senate, by appeasing Democrats and the mainstream media with a compromise. Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Nebraska, said that preserving the filibuster rule, which is used for blocking legislation like the Civil Rights Act, was not worth discriminating against all of the judges, but some are alright.

He said it was important that the filibuster -- a form of extended debate that has been part of Senate rules since the early 19th century -- was preserved and that most judges would get an up-or-down vote by the full Senate.

So four years is "extended" debate. And so long as "most" of them get a vote, I guess it's okay to horse trade with people's lives. Most, by the way, is 3 of 10. And the sacred filibuster rule that requires a 2/3 majority vote, holding the Senate floor without yielding, stopping Senate operations until a deal is reached, a 60-vote majority, is preserved just as it was 300 years ago when George Washington crossed the Potomac and discovered Plymouth Rock.

The 14 Senators who would be king are:

Democrats
Robert Byrd (West Virginia)
Daniel Inouye (Hawaii)
Mary Landrieu (Louisiana)
Joseph Lieberman (Connecticut)
Ben Nelson (Nebraska)
Mark Pryor (Arkansas)
Ken Salazar (Colorado)

Republicans
Lincoln Chafee (Rhode Island)
Susan Collins (Maine)
Mike DeWine (Ohio)
Lindsey Graham (South Carolina)
John McCain (Arizona)
John Warner (Virginia)
Olympia Snowe (Maine)

UPDATE: Of course the filibuster option is still available to Democrats under "extraordinary options", with the Dems being able to decide what constitutes "extraordinary". Republicans on the other hand have pledged not to change any Senate Rules during this term of Congress. (in other words: until after the mid-term elections)

Furthermore, the Senate is trying to subvert the President's power to nominate Judges. From the text:

We believe that, under Article II, Section 2, of the United States Constitution, the word "Advice" speaks to consultation between the Senate and the President with regard to the use of the President's power to make nominations. We encourage the Executive branch of government to consult with members of the Senate, both Democratic and Republican, prior to submitting a judicial nomination to the Senate for consideration.

This rule is sure to backfire for the hapless Republicans.

UPDATE2: A quick and hilarious must read: The Filibuster Deal for Dummies.