Senate Democrats have maintained for months that they have routinely confirmed nominees who are not right-wing extremists or lukewarm about civil rights - faults that they have ascribed to the nominees that they have managed to block.
The White House, asserting that Senate inaction "delays timely justice for the American people," said Mr. Bush "looks forward to working with the new Senate to ensure a well-functioning and independent judiciary."
-------
Notice: No quotes For RIGHT-WING EXTREMISTS, but WH side is put into qoutes.
You picked up on some of the subtleties also. The article seems to say all the right things but it's obviously difficult for the writer to say/type 'em. "Bush says"; the "White House" says yadda yadda. The "pink" still shines through.
FGS