Senate Approves Owen--Finally!

Justice Priscilla R. Owen was confirmed for a seat on the federal appeals court in New Orleans by a vote of 55-43.

The New York Times reports, "The final vote on Justice Owen broke mainly along party lines: one Republican, Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, opposed her; two Democrats, Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia and Mary L. Landrieu of Louisiana, supported her. Senator Ben Nelson, a Nebraska Democrat who helped steer the compromise negotiations and opposed past filibusters of her confirmation, voted against her."

Although fourteen senators postponed a vote on the Constitutional Option by signing a memorandum of understanding, there was still a lot of bickering going on.

Frist reminded everyone that the Constitutional Option is "alive and well."

Reid shot back, "We need to have the Republican leader stop appealing to the far right and start doing what is right."

It's apparent that the deal McCain is bragging about and the media are drooling over was no more than a stopgap measure.

Nevertheless, Priscilla Owen has been confirmed.

Scott McClellan delivered this statement from President Bush:

I applaud the Senate for voting to confirm Justice Priscilla Owen. She has served with distinction on the Supreme Court of Texas, has demonstrated that she strictly interprets the law, and brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. I urge the Senate to build on this progress and provide my judicial nominees the up or down votes they deserve.

It took four years for Owen to receive a vote to confirm her. That battle is now history, but there are more battles over judicial nominees to come. The threats are still flying.

Monday's ceasefire was VERY short.