Senate Setbacks Test Frist's Influence.

For someone with the lofty title of Senate majority leader, Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) has had a terrible week. Last Monday, a curious mix of 14 senators took control of the judicial filibuster issue and crafted a compromise that left Frist grumbling from the outside. On Thursday, he stood glumly on the Senate floor as his party failed to pick up the half-dozen Democrats it needed to end debate on John R. Bolton's nomination to be U.N. ambassador.

The four-day stretch was so dismal that a Los Angeles Times editorial headlined "The Frist Problem" suggested he quit his post if he really wants to run for president in 2008, as many expect.

The British-based Economist magazine, commenting on the judicial filibuster compromise, wrote: "There are three big losers from the peace deal: Bill Frist, the White House and the religious right. Mr. Frist is a much diminished leader."

(5-20-05, The Washington Post)