Some members of the blogosphere are becoming credible enough to be given audience with US Senators. The reporting that follows from such a conference would constitute first-hand primary source reporting.

Over at DailyKOS, they reported on a meeting held by Senator Schumer.

In reporting on the meeting, the reporter draws conclusions that seem to flow from the interview, as if Senator Schumer is making the accusations. I will fault the author for not really making clear whether Schumer is making the accusations or whether the reporter is drawing inferences from the words the Senator used.

But either way, Senator Schumer seems to have in effect accused Majority Leader Bill Frist of making a deal with Rev. Dobson —- Frist will destroy the filibuster rule so some judges can get past Democratic opposition, and Dobson will support Frist for President in 2008.

So Dobson has become (perhaps) a political wheeler and dealer, making bargains with politicians and offering to deliver his flock to particular candidates. It bugs me, it’s unseemly, for evangelical preachers to stick their hands so deeply into the manure pile that is “politics”.

Someday, there will be a religious backlash against politician-evangelists. The faithful will decide that preachers compromise their principles when they enter politics. And the preachers refrain from honest critique of the favored political party, in order to stay in the good graces of the powers that be.

Politics is a dirty dishonest business, and it’s kinda shameful that famous evangelicals are so closely associated with such filth and yet still maintain such huge followings.

Daily Kos :: Schumer Talk Before His Floor Speech
A bunch of bloggers, including Markos and myself, got to talk to Senator Schumer for about forty minutes before he went on the floor to deliver his powerful speech.

I would not say alot of news was made, except I personally got the very strong sense that this is going all the way. There is no realistic compromise on the horizon.

It boils down to this - the Republicans will not give up the Nuclear Option. And the Democrats can not accept it.

Why are the Republicans doing this when, in Schumer’s words, there are 25 Republican Senators who believe in the filibuster? Four words.

The Extreme Religious Right. James Dobson & Co. To put it plainly, this is Schiavo Part 2. Frist has made a despicable Faustian bargain - do what Dobson tells him on the Nuclear Option, judicial nominees, and just about everything else, and they will back him for President in 2008.

It is that simple. Senator Schumer expressed amazement at the total control that the Extremists have over the WHOLE Republican Party. He stated that is has never been like this before.

Indeed, one can see and feel it. This is NOT good politics for the GOP. And they know it. But the control of the Extreme Right is complete. They can NOT say no to Dobson and his reactionary friends.

Break the rules? Who cares say Dobson & Co. Do the nuclear option and do it now.

There will be no compromise I predict. Frist, and when I say Frist I mean Dobson, will not have it. They are determined to go nuclear.