A Lesson on the Folly of the 'Nuclear Option'

Last year, Senate Republicans, led by Majority Leader Bill Frist (Tenn.), threatened to abolish the filibuster, at least regarding judicial nominations, and thereby allow a bare majority to bring any nomination to the Senate floor for an up-or-down vote. This "nuclear option" would have flouted two centuries of Senate rules and traditions in a shortsighted effort to remove the last check on Republican dominance of the federal government. However, the threat was averted by moderates from both parties who reached a deal to reserve the filibuster for only extreme circumstances.

Perhaps the Republicans pursuing the nuclear option thought they had a permanent majority in the Senate and a permanent hold on the White House.

Come January, the 49 remaining Senate Republicans will find themselves in the minority. Yet they are far from powerless. Any controversial legislation or nomination will require a super-majority of 60 to achieve cloture and be brought to a vote. Forty-one senators can still block any measure or nomination.

This turn of events reveals that the nuclear option would have been the height of foolishness. The GOP nearly removed one of the great levers of bipartisanship and moderation from the workings of the government -- and nearly shot itself in the foot in the process. I hope the Republican Party and conservatives across America will take a lesson from this and have greater respect for the time-tested traditions that promote compromise in Congress.

DONALD ENRIGHT

Chevy Chase