I predict that Thomas will be confirmed w/out a huge amount of controversy. The Dems need to save their ammo for Rehnquist's replacement, and other future nominees. Cheif Justice is a figurehead title anyway for the most part.
However, I think that the Dems will hurt their 2006 chances if they go nuclear on Thomas and bring up Anita Hill, etc. Dreging up discredited 15 year old sleaze against a respected jurist who is also a minority will further expose the true, ugly face of the Dem party. I hope that they do pull something like this, complete with black Hollywood morons like Whoppi Glodberg and P-Diddy trashing Thomas and calling him an Uncle Tom, etc. Let's just sit back and watch the Dems continue thier scorched earth policy of protecting abortion at any cost. WE'll have 60 votes in the Senate in no time.......
The Constitution states that the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate will appoint judges to the Supreme Court. Since Thomas is already on the court and has been consented to, why does he have to go through another confirmation process to be Chief Justice?