Frist's filibuster claim

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Majority Whip Mitch McConnell have declared they have the necessary votes to detonate the nuclear option this week if they so choose. This is rather interesting, considering that a couple of Republicans have said they'd vote no, and others are on the fence and likely to vote no. The Dems only need six defections, they have two guaranteed already, and Snowe, Collins, Warner and Hagel probably will give them the other four.

I think that Frist is trying to scare some of his people into a yes vote, publicly praising the targeting of moderate GOP senators, a move that pissed off Collins royally. If Frist presses the button this week, it may blow up in his face instead.