Eric Boehlert alerts Salon.com readers that my favorite senator (and you know you’re a political geek when you have a “favorite senator”), Wisconsin Democrat Russ Feingold, is, like me, not too pleased with the much vaunted pact limiting the time-honored Senate tradition known as the filibuster.

Boehlert cites Sen. Feingold’s statement, available on the lawmaker’s web site, which reads:

This is not a good deal for the U.S. Senate or for the American people. Democrats should have stood together firmly against the bullying tactics of the Republican leadership abusing their power as they control both houses of Congress and the White House. Confirming unacceptable judicial nominations is simply a green light for the Bush administration to send more nominees who lack the judicial temperament or record to serve in these lifetime positions. I value the many traditions of the Senate, including the tradition of bipartisanship to forge consensus. I do not, however, value threatening to disregard an important Senate tradition, like occasional unlimited debate, when necessary. I respect all my colleagues very much who thought to end this playground squabble over judges, but I am disappointed in this deal.

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