COULD THERE BE COMPROMISE ON THE HORIZION?

It seems as though something we haven't seen in quite awhile on Capitol Hill is actually possible: Compromise.

According to the morning news, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D - Nevada) and Majority Leader Bill Frist (R - Tennessee) have been holding private discussions on the issue of judicial appointments to the Federal appeals courts.

Reportedly, Reid has shown a willingness to sign off on a deal that would allow two of President Bush's appointees to the Cincinnati-based Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, if Frist and the Republicans would 1) replace another appointee for the Sixth Circuit with one that is preferred by Michigan's two Democratic senators, and 2) withdraw their threat of the "nuclear option" to change Senate rules which would end the right of the minority party to filibuster against judicial nominees.

Will it work? A good question. Many of the far-right Republicans, including the president, have on a number of occasions taken a "win-at-all-costs" attitude to insure that their side prevails. And the judicial appointments issue is vital to continue the foundation of moving government at large to the right, as federal judgeships are for life. However, they tend to be short-sighted, seeming to forget that the time will come --- hopefully sooner, rather than later --- that Delay, Frist, and company will once again be in the minority. And that's one helluva reason to begin working hard on a comprimise where both sides can come away from the table somewhat satisfied. Maybe both sides can and will learn something from the experience, that if working together on an issue like judicial appointments can result in a middle ground, they can use that as a starting point on other issues as well.

Maybe I'm too much of an optimist here...