Salon.com News | Senators avert showdown over filibusters: "Averting a showdown, centrists from both parties reached agreement Monday night on a compromise that clears the way for confirmation votes on many of President Bush's stalled judicial nominees, leaves others in limbo and preserves venerable Senate filibuster rules.

'In a Senate that is increasingly polarized, the bipartisan center held,' said Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn.

'The Senate is back in business,' echoed Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., one of 14 senators who signed the two-page memorandum of agreement, which cited 'mutual trust and confidence.'

Under the terms, Democrats would agree to oppose any attempt to filibuster — and thus block final votes — on the confirmation of Priscilla Owen, Janice Rogers Brown and William Pryor. There is 'no commitment to vote for or against' the filibuster against two other conservative nominees, Henry Saad and William Myers."

(Via Salon.)