The Next Filibuster? Republicans should welcome a judicial brawl.

Wall Street Journal ^ | May 4, 2006 | Editors

[conservativecorner]

It's merely taken three years, but Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled to come for a vote before the Senate Judiciary Committee today. Democrats are likely to oppose him in lock-step, and some on the left are urging them to use the F-word.

Anything is possible, but it's hard to believe Democrats are nuts enough to launch a judicial filibuster in the middle of an election year with a GOP President so low in the polls. Talk about a get-out-the-vote gift for Republicans. Then again, no one ever got rich overestimating the intelligence of the political class.

Mr. Kavanaugh is one of the "left-behind" nominees, who weren't covered one way or another by the bipartisan Gang of 14's no-filibuster deal last year. In a rational world, he wouldn't be considered anything close to controversial enough to trigger that accord's "extraordinary circumstances" exception. But the anti-Bush, anti-conservative animus isn't rational, and the main (only) charge against Mr. Kavanaugh is that he's allegedly too "partisan" to sit on the bench.

[TommyDale]

Kavanaugh is one thing, and I hope he gets an up/down vote. The other nominee, however, sounds like he may be corrupt and should be looked into. I don't want a justice on an appeals court who bought stock in a company while that company's case was before him.

[Mr. Jeeves]

I had a vivid dream last night that Justice Stevens was going to leave the Court by July due to failing health, and Bush would nominate Janice Rogers Brown to replace him.

Not that I've ever been psychic before, but that's one I really hope comes true... ;)

[zerosix]

That dream conclusion would certainly be poetic justice to Sandra Day O'Connor, who has given interviews and speeches on how she is "disappointed" that Bush didn't nominate a woman to "fill her vacancy."

Janice is just the one in my book.

Let Kennedy and Schumer sit daily in front of the cameras and stare her down, shouting insults at her. Let Leaky Leahy smugly raise his eyebrows with his half-smirk and speak in condescending tones.

Let all of America see who gets by with demeaning women and blacks and who finds them infinitely qualified for top jobs.

[Baynative]

I have an old table I was going to give away. Maybe I should donate it to the senate republicans ...to hide under.

[Preachin']

"I had a vivid dream last night that Justice Stevens was going to leave the Court by July due to failing health, and Bush would nominate Janice Rogers Brown to replace him."

It would also be on the plate at election time, which would stir up the conservative base.

[conservativecorner]

Let us pray that you are a prophet with this premonition. Janice Rogers Brown is awesome, and I would love to see the demoncrats squirm as they ask a successful black conservative jurist their usual stupid questions. She will eat their lunch!

[conservativecorner]

Send them some of this new currency:

[mosquitobite]

Talk about a get-out-the-vote gift for Republicans.

If Rove truly is the political genius he's supposed to be, he would MAKE this happen. Have the Senate put up every damn nominee there is. I guarantee you it would cause mass suicide for Dems in November when they see the election results. There's ONE thing the social base cares about and it's the judiciary. Bring it front and center and you've got big wins in November.

[Clintonfatigued]

I'm going to make a prediction. Harry Reid and the DemocRATS will back down on Brett Kavanaugh and the GOP will back down on Terrance Boyle.