Now it is less likely that will happen.

McCain effectively sabataged the nominations of 4 lower court judges, and really didn't achieve anything because the showdown over the filibuster of nominated judges will come up again in a few weeks when Renquist retires...And the Democrats again filibuster a nominated judge.

The Democrats see this as a victory, and they should: Not only did they kill 4 of 7 nominations, but also as soon as Renquist retires, the court will be 50/50 split conservative/liberal, and the court could very easily rule that a filibuster of judge nominations in the Senate is legitimate constitutionally; where as the court would be less likely to rule in that way while Renquist is in place and the court leans to the conservative side.

As I said, McCain had better have gotten something better than an empty promise of "goodwill" from the Democrats: Because he may very well have given away the keys to the store, and if he didn't, then he is a complete and total idiot to give away something this big for nothing.

Note: If the filibuster of judges in the Senate is ruled as constitutionally guaranteed by the courts, then expect to see the judiciary appointments grind to a halt no matter who is elected (Republican or Democrat). McCan will then inadvertantly undermine the "institution" he claims he is trying to protect. I could concieve of a period of years where NO judges get through the system: What then? Wait for a supermajority that controls the Senate and Whitehouse before any new Judges get confirmed?

John McCain...I'm betting he is a COMPLETE IDIOT. They guy doesn't appear able to think thing through completely...He's definitly not Presidential material. I'm more convinced of that then ever.