Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell used the element of surprise today to follow through on a promise he's made to fellow conservatives for quite some time.  Either the Democrats were going to give President Bush's judicial nominees, especially ones for the Appellate Court level, the same treatment given to previous administrations, or things were going to start moving very slowly in the Senate.  Harry Reid's most recent broken deal with McConnell was to confirm three of Bush's nominees by the Memorial Day recess.  It didn't happen.

Today, just before 1PM in the East, Harry Reid took to the floor for the purpose of substituting a 491-page amendment by Barbara Boxer on the Climate Change bill currently being discussed.  The clerk read the title of the bill, which is customary.  Senator Reid asked that the reading of the bill be ended so time could be divvied out and the matter discussed on the floor, which is again very customary.  Mitch McConnell then objected to the suspension of the reading of the bill, much to Reid's surprise and amazement.  Watch the video of the antics of today.



The bill is still being read as of this writing.  Senator Boxer, after complaining bitterly to any reporter in the Senate gallerly wishing to listen, took to the floor during this process a couple of times, desperately trying to stop the open reading of the bill on which she wants people to discuss and vote.  I guess the irony was lost on her. 

Meanwhile, Senator McConnell held his own press conference to explain what the maneuver was really about.  He has no qualms about debating the 491-page gas tax that Senator Boxer thinks will save the Earth.  He's very confident that going from $4 bucks a gallon to $4.50 virtually overnight if the bill were to become law isn't exactly the solution most Americans are looking for.  But a deal is a deal, and he's calling the Democrats out for their consistent screwing of Bush judicial nominees. 

For conservatives who bemoan Congressional Republicans always spending too much money, or not being pure enough on one issue or another, they should take note of the lengths Senate leadership is willing to go to protect one of the principles on which all conservatives should agree, and that's the the abilty of appointed conservatives to be able to be confirmed to the courts. 

Let's hope Republicans all over the country keep this in mind this fall when they're considering on how much time, energy and money they want to spend on their state's Senate race.