No nuclear explosion, but lots of fallout. And despite last week's tenuous disarmament, the nuclear weapon is still in the air.

The dramatic bipartisan compromise in the Senate on judicial nominations defused the Republican nuclear option, but it's Chapter One in a continuing saga that will lead to the front steps of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Whether the Gang of 14 — viewed as Spanky's friendly "Our Gang" by moderates and as "the Mafia" by detractors on the right —can hold together remains to be seen.

Might these senators choose to seize this unique opportunity to use their power to act as a quasi-third party, steering the Senate away from the far right, the far left and partisanship über alles now? Not a chance, don't you think?

Will President Bush respond to their call to recognize and respect the Senate's constitutional responsibility to advise, not just consent? Don't think so, do you?

Lots of questions and unknown answers hanging in the air.

Should be fun watching this one unfold.

This is the genuine reality show, a lot more unpredictable and unscripted and real than any of those Trumped-up TV shows.

Here's some of last week's fallout, with special attention on Nebraska's two senators:

John McCain earned "a new title as a superleader of the Senate," Republican consultant Scott Reed told New York Times reporter Adam Nagourney.

McCain, the feisty leader of the Republican gang members, bested Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist in heading off Frist's nuclear blast.  Those two heavyweights may compete in the 2008 GOP presidential sweepstakes.

Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and George Allen of Virginia both issued statements deploring the agreement "in what several Republicans described as an effort to take advantage of unhappiness with Dr. Frist among conservative voters," Nagourney reported.

Hagel has his eye on a possible presidential bid three years from now.

Here's how Washington Post reporter Dan Balz chose to connect the dots: "Perhaps mindful of the power of social and religious conservatives, other GOP senators with presidential aspirations, including George Allen and Chuck Hagel, condemned the deal."

Hagel was "the biggest surprise," Balz wrote.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Focus on the Family Action pointed at Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson, who spearheaded the Democratic members of the gang, as one of six senators who may pay a political price when he seeks re-election next year.

New York Times reporter Sheryl Gay Stolberg offered a different perspective: "Mr. Nelson had an incentive to act. He faces a tough re-election fight next year in an overwhelmingly Republican state."

The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Times looked askance at the deal.

"What a charade," the WSJ stated on its editorial page.

A future filibuster of Bush's nominee, or nominees, for the Supreme Court "will not be easy for Red State Democrats to support," the newspaper warned.

"What shall we call these 14 senators?" Washington Times editorial page editor Tony Blankley asked.

"Trustees, Regents, Governing Board Members, Blessed Ones, Lord Protectors, Proconsuls, Oligarchs, Cabalists, Conspirators, Usurpers?"

Easy, Tony.

Predictably, back home in Nebraska, with their eyes on both 2006 and 2008, the two political parties took alternating swipes at Nelson and Hagel.

With more to come.

Here's what Ben Nelson said when asked in an interview what he'd like to see in a new Supreme Court justice:

"Someone I thought would be interested in being an adjudicator and not a legislator," Nelson said.

A judge who would adhere to "a strict interpretation of the Constitution."

And a judge who respects stare decisis, the policy of law that abides by laws and precedents previously established.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.