"I suspect that Leahy and the Democrats' position is strategic: to defuse Republican charges that this is strict partisanship - that interest groups are controlling the show," says Sheldon Goldman, an expert on judicial confirmations at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
"Leahy's vote is a show of independence that also makes him more credible to oppose a much more extremist candidate for the O'Connor seat, or someone who cannot present as relatively reasonable a position as Roberts did," he adds.
It always helps to maintain a positive image when your opposition accuses you of being partisan and you say you are not. The Rats have been masters of manipulation since the days when they were slave owners. This is not my personal opinion, but historical fact.
Yesterday before the Judicial Committee vote, Lindsey Graham nailed the Democrats. He said everyone knew their votes were political, that they were already thinking more of the O'Connor vote than this one.
(I hope someone finds the transcripts from yesterday. Graham was particularly eloquent. I noted Kennedy and Schumer were up and about the entire time Graham spoke. Rude to the max! )