[SolomoninSouthDakota]

"Which side is his bread buttered on?"

I just had a mnior revelation.
Bring to mind how much MORE power Sen. Specter obtains by clearly knocking out the possibility of filibustering. Every nominees fate will pretty well be established within Sen. Specter's cmmt. IMHO, that is probably the driving force of the the senator's helpful speech--ego. Power for power's sake. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that the major constituent of political ambition?

[processing please hold]

Politics is all about power, you're right. Power is the name of the game. We poor little peons must be a burr under their saddle at times. Demanding things from them at the most inopportune times, like conservative Judges.

[Cboldt]

I just had a mnior revelation.

Epiphanies are great experiences. And you are correct to see what is going on as nothing more than raw personal politics. Just like EVERYTHING ELSE in Congress ;-)

Those clowns aren't looking out for the people, or even for some high-minded principle. They are looking out for their elite little collegial selves.