From Senate strife, a center takes hold | csmonitor.com: "On its face, their agreement simply averts a change in Senate rules on debate over nominees. But the deal's impact goes beyond the courts.

Although it can hardly be said that a dozen centrist renegades now rule Capitol HIll, this week may have witnessed the birth of a new Senate, in which rank and file members have rising clout. The dynamic could affect everything from President Bush's agenda to the tenor of America's red-blue political divide. At the very least, it gives new impetus to centrist bids to challenge the White House and party leaders on issues ranging from Social Security and fiscal discipline to revision of federal policy on stem-cell research."

(Via Christian Science Monitor.)