Advise and consent; do they know what that means?
Are they determined to smear him as much as they can??
Yes, but it hasn't done them much good. In fact, looking at their declining political fortunes and probable outcome of the forthcoming 2006 elections, they are doing themselves great political harm by opposing everything and everyone whom/that our President wants.
How many of them are still willing to repeat their slanders of Secretary Rice, for instance?!
It would appear their definition of Advise and Consent IS to SMEAR the other guy. Since it has often worked for them they figure they'll just keep doing it. Taking any other tack would involve new ideas......a prospect with which they are unfamiliar.