[So Cal Rocket]

I didn't read the rest of the article, so Dole may say this, but the Fortas filibuster was done as a favor to Fortas. He didn't have the votes to be confirmed, and so, to keep Fortas from the shame of being voted down, they filibustered him so Fortas could withdraw. By the way... both Dems and GOP voted against cloture - it was bipartisan.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

the Fortas filibuster was done as a favor to Fortas.

Dole's main points were:

1. Fortas lacked a majority so it wasn't even really a fillibuster - there wasn't a majority that was demanding a vote (which is not inconsistent with what you say),
2. Fortas was under an ethical cloud, which eventually brought him down,
3. Fortas' nomination was only debated for several days, and
4. Fortas' opposition and his suppot were both bipartisan.

In addition, Dole notes that as Republican leader in the Senate he was troubled by some Clinton nominees and in one case voted against confirmation - after he had voted for cloture to bring the issue to to a vote.

None of the above is true of Bush's appelate court nominees or of the Democrats' obstruction of the voting on their confirmation.