Sometimes the best defense...

Senate Democrats aren't sitting around waiting to find out whether Frist will follow through with his threat to eliminate the filibuster (in order to force through the handful of judicial nominees that the minority has blocked in this way). Instead, they're putting the GOP on notice that exercise of the so-called nuclear option will bring an end to Senate business.

Reid and his fellow Democrats, in effect, called Frist's bluff on Tuesday by issuing a preemptive strike, saying that Democrats would respond to any Frist action by continuing to work with Republicans only on matters that affected U.S. troops or that ensured the continuity of government operations.

"Beyond that, we will be reluctant to enter into any consent agreement that facilitates Senate activities, even on routine matters," Reid said in a letter to Frist. Nearly all Senate business requires unanimous consent; for example, one senator can prevent committee meetings from taking place simply by objecting.

Frist's response? "To shut down the Senate would be irresponsible and partisan." Well, yes. Think twice before making it happen.

(via How Appealing)

Side note: There is a strange secondary dynamic at work here. Senate Republicans are in a bit of a panic over the President's hugely unpopular Social Security proposal, which most of them oppose but would prefer not to have to openly vote down. If Senate business grinds to a halt, it ironically lets them off the hook. Both the SS plan and the possibility of ending legislative progress are likely to make the GOP look bad, so this is some high-stakes calculation...