Sen. Conrad says he wants to play hardball on the budget. He says he's going to hold off on holding the Senate's confirmation hearings for Jim Nussle, President Bush's nominee for OMB director, until they find common ground on discretionary spending. From the Washington Post: "We will not be setting a time for the hearing until there have been further discussions," said Conrad (D-N.D.), whose committee is one of two Senate panels that must vote on the nomination of former Iowa congressman Jim Nussle (R). "There needs to be a serious discussion here about how we conclude the business of the country in some serious and responsible way." Good for him. Let's hope they can end this ridiculous fight over budget peanuts, without cuts to vital programs.