With the possible exception of the 14 senators who signed it, last week's deal avoiding a vote on the nuclear option left no one very happy: The GOP gave up the one thing it was looking for -- an unconditional end to judicial filibusters. And Senate Democrats must now adhere to a new and opaque standard -- "extraordinary circumstances" -- that, if the GOP feels it is being misinterpreted, could lead the Senate straight back into a legislative morass.

"It's very clearly definable," argued former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) last week, then added with a smile, as if to make the point, "although it's a nebulous term."