Cheney (read White House) Enters Fray on Judicial Nominees. - This is not a smart move at a good time. It might backfire.

The White House intervened in Congress's bitterly partisan debate over federal judges yesterday, as Vice President Cheney vowed to break a tie vote if necessary to change Senate rules and ban filibusters of judicial nominees.

Until now, President Bush has avoided being drawn into the fracas by signaling it was up to Senate GOP leaders to find the votes needed to change the rule despite vehement Democratic opposition.

"Last week, I met with the president and was encouraged when he told me he would not become involved in Republican efforts to break the Senate rules," [Senate minority leader Harry] Reid said in a statement. "Now it appears he was not being honest, and that the White House is encouraging this raw abuse of power." Reid said his exchange with Bush took place at a regularly scheduled breakfast with congressional leaders.

(4-23-05, The Washington Post.)