In a legislative version of "Survivor," Republicans and Democrats will square off today in a Senate talkathon on who's to blame for some of President Bush's political nominees not making it to the federal appeals bench.

While both parties hope the debate will mobilize their political bases, the contestants already know the winner: the status quo.

For 30 straight hours -- from this evening through midnight Thursday -- senators will condemn each other and Bush for the impasse over four U.S. Appeals Court nominees: Alabama Attorney General William Pryor, Texas judge Priscilla Owen, Mississippi judge Charles Pickering and Hispanic lawyer Miguel Estrada.

Democrats have refused to allow confirmation votes, and Republicans have not been able to get the 60 votes to force them in a Senate split with 51 GOP senators, 48 Democrats and one independent. Frustrated at the delays, Estrada withdrew his nomination in September.

Republicans hope the all-night Senate session -- the first to go past 4 a.m. since 1992 -- will swing public favor and maybe some campaign cash their way during the winter break. Conservatives have complained the GOP hasn't done enough to highlight the Democrats' blockades.

Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., called the talkathon a "reverse filibuster."

"Filibusters are put forward by the minority to try and block action from occurring," he said. "We're trying to move to the floor to try to force action on judicial nominations. We're going to do everything we can to get a vote on judges, and they're going to do everything they can to block a vote on judges."