Inside Politics

Judicial struggle

“Let’s assume that the Democrats use all the procedural tools available to them and are committed to blocking Senate business until the Republicans agree to recognize the need for a supermajority to confirm judges. How would the country react?” Stuart Rothenberg asks in Roll Call.

“The Republicans almost certainly would be the first ones to absorb a negative media hit, as journalists report that Senate Republicans have ‘changed the rules of the game’ and are abusing their power in their efforts to confirm judges that the Democrats oppose. …

“Barring the existence of a news story of equal importance, such as the capture of Osama bin Laden or a major terrorist attack, the Senate ‘nuclear option’ story would dominate the news for days, even weeks,” Mr. Rothenberg said.

“While Republicans would seek to put their strategy into a more positive historical context and demonize the Democrats for frustrating the will of the majority and politicizing judicial confirmations, the GOP tactic would probably draw most of the attention. And if so, the party would be at risk of a backlash.

“However, the longer that the confrontation on Capitol Hill continued, the more the Democrats’ vulnerability would grow. … Like the Republicans who ‘shut down the government’ in 1995, Senate Democrats would likely be viewed ultimately as behaving irresponsibly.”

Romney’s future

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said he loves his job and plans to keep it, contradicting speculation he will forgo a re-election bid to focus on a 2008 presidential run.

A Romney run for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination is considered likely, but he seemed to suggest that he would seek a second term as governor in 2006, according to an interview with the Boston Globe.

“I’ve got a lot that I want to do as governor of Massachusetts, and I’ll be surprised if I can get it done in two years, so you can expect to see me around for at least another six,” Mr. Romney said, adding that he will make a formal announcement of his plans in the fall.

Mr. Romney’s statements come after recent visits to Missouri, South Carolina and Utah — trips that fueled speculation he is mulling a presidential bid, United Press International reports.

Some political observers say Mr. Romney may relinquish his office so he can accentuate his conservatism for Republican primary voters without fear of a backlash from his constituents in liberal Massachusetts. Others, however, say he needs a second term to burnish his resume.

Tough choice

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