If you haven't been paying close attention to the filibuster controversy in the Senate, on Sunday Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell announced the Republicans had at least 51 votes to place them over the top to ban filibusters.

The Democrats took this very seriously, as Senator Joe Biden called for a compromise that would have all but two senators to be sent to the floor of the Senate for a vote.  That pretty much sealed McConnell's statement as fact.  Democrats know they are whipped.  Lo and behold, we get news today of private talks between Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid:

Officials said as part of an overall deal, Reid has indicated he is willing to allow the confirmation of Richard Griffin and David McKeague, both of whom Bush has twice nominated for the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. At the same time, the Democratic leader wants the nomination of Henry Saad scuttled. Democrats succeeded in blocking all three men from coming to a vote in 2004 in a struggle that turned on issues of senatorial prerogatives as well as ideology.

I know one thing:  if Frist makes a deal that doesn't include William Pryor, Janice Rogers Brown, and Priscilla Owen, I'm going to be very pissed, and there's going to be a number of conservatives that are going to be pissed as well.  The Republicans have the majority of the Senate and they have the votes to finish off this filibuster; they need to use their muscle. 

In fact, I don't see why Frist is so willing to seek a compromise anyway; the only compromise that should even be considered is that all of the judges they've tried to hold up to be placed on the Senate floor in place of keeping the filibuster option alive.  That's it.  If Reid and the Democrats aren't willing to do that, then tell them to take a hike.

Morrissey over at Captain's Quarters depicts this as backbone.  Let's hold our horses on that for a second, because we don't know what will come out of this.  Republicans have a way of screwing up these situations.  And it's gotten to the point that every time I hear about a compromise being forged, I cringe.  Somehow it's always conservative policies that get sacrificed.  Besides, this is more than just about getting judges confirmed; this is a matter of principle.  If the Republicans can't get their agenda with the advantages they were clearly given last November, then what else does the American people have to give them?