So, it seems to be a MSM spin regarding "the deal" that the nuclear option showdown was created by both Republican and Democratic leadership. It's symptomatic of "he said/she said" style journalism that tries to either divide blame equally or place no blame at all--sort of the "pox on both their houses" approach.
and in this case, it's clearly untrue. Frist, at the command of Dobson and Rove, wanted to use the nuclear option to break senate rules in ordr to pack the courts. Reid defended the institution of the Senate. He offered multiple compromises to avert a nuclear showdown. Frist/Dobson/Rove wanted the nuclear option--end of story--this crisis was not created by both Republicans and Democrats, only Republicans. To portray it otherwise is untrue and says that there is no difference between Dobson/Frist/Rove extremism and the Democrats.
I say we document the occurances and start sending the emails.
I heard an NPR station (although I think it's a PRI show) the show "To the Point". Their first segment featured the host and Gail Chaddick of the Christian Science Monitor discussing the deal. I won't have the details until it becomes available online, but the gist was that the deal-makers were bucked the leadership of both the Dems and the GOP to avert the nuclear option (no mention of Reid's efforts to seek a compromise), that the deal pisses off both the right and left wings (fair enough), and then goes on to talk about how the left is pissed about the judges. no mention of Dobson or the other theocons jumping up and down, pulling out their hair. no mention of breaking senate rules.
I'm putting together an email, but I want to make sure I get details and quotes and get them right. I'm addressing the idea that this story is about a Frist/Rove/Dobson/Bush created power grab in the Senate. Reid and the Dems didn't want a nuclear option showdown, and did everything they could to avoid an unprecedented attempt by Frist to break the Senate rules--damaging the institution as a whole.
forgot the link to the show's site:
http://www.kcrw.org/cgi-bin/db/kcrw.pl?show_code=tp&tmplt_type=Program
give me an earful if I'm misinterpreting the spin. I could always be wrong.