My take: Lay off Santorum.
The CJ is a sick man and there will be a CJ nomination and an associate justice nomination in a couple months. I will assume - because I refuse to believe my party is THAT stupid - that the leadership and committee Republicans have made clear to Arlen that the price of admission to the chair is successful confirmation of W's nominations, including Justice Thomas to CJ.
I will also assume that Arlen will not be the final word on committee staff.
I further assume that Arlen will make sufficiently recordable pledges to the leadership and committee to allow his balls to be held in safekeeping.
Santorum's been such a money player for us, hasn't he? I mean, I understand ppl expecting the worst from ANY politician, but maybe just this once Santorum deserves the benefit of the doubt. I'm just raising the notion.