[hispanichoosier]

They are itching to lose a fight.

How do you figure? If a proven conservative like Janice Rogers Brown or Michael Luttig had been nominated, either of two things would happen. One: she or he is confirmed and we get a stalwart on the Supreme Court. Two: she or he is filibustered and we go nuclear on the Dems. The latter scenario is perfect for the midterm elections; we can paint the Dems as obstructionist children while at the same time firing up our base.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"...we go nuclear on the Dems."

Yeah, that'll happen.

[jveritas]

Janice Rogers Brown got through by the agreement of the gang of 14. No guarantee what so ever that this agreement will apply for JRB to a SCOTUS justice.

[Leto]

"How do you figure? If a proven conservative like Janice Rogers Brown or Michael Luttig had been nominated, either of two things would happen. One: she or he is confirmed and we get a stalwart on the Supreme Court. Two: she or he is filibustered and we go nuclear on the Dems. The latter scenario is perfect for the midterm elections; we can paint the Dems as obstructionist children while at the same time firing up our base.

This Senate will not go nuclear on the Rats too many RINO's. Specter, McCain, Graham, Chaffe, Collins, Snowe, they are more intereseted in 'bi-partisanship' with their rat 'collegues' than doing what is right.

This has a lot to do with this nomination, a judge like JR Brown can't get through this Senate, the spineless pubbies won't stand up to the rats.

[Aetius]

Exactly -- it seems Bush had no stomach for a fight; a fight that would be worth waging no matter the short-term outcome.

And we may very well have won. At least two GOP members of the Gang of 14 have pledged to go nuclear if the Dem members of the Gang joined a baseless filibuster. And since several of our dream candidates passed the 'not-extraordinary' test for appellate courts, then the Dems would have a hard time making the case for them suddenly being extraordinary.

[badgerlandjim]

BINGO!

And if the Dems want to filibuster, let 'em. But make them speak non-stop, for weeks if necessary, with C-Span carrying every word. But, of course, the rules they want to play by means they just have to invoke the rule of filibuster, without having to actually speak. Make 'em talk. Incessantly! Then see which party ends up looking like the sane and reasoned one to the nation.

[Digger]

If a proven conservative like Janice Rogers Brown or Michael Luttig had been nominated, either of two things would happen. One: she or he is confirmed and we get a stalwart on the Supreme Court. Two: she or he is filibustered and we go nuclear on the Dems. The latter scenario is perfect for the midterm elections; we can paint the Dems as obstructionist children while at the same time firing up our base.

So true. End of story. This would not have happened if we elected a true conservative. This women must step aside. If not we may well see a 3rd party filling the vacuum. I don't think this White House understands what they have done. What a joke these hearings will be. As so many of us have said, Please Harriet, bow out now.