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01/26/2006: Why not filibuster the Alito nomination?
This analysis at Daily Kos makes some sense. I'm not sure I agree, but it is at least a reasoned approach.
The Short Form: if Roberts, C.J., represents the O'Connor swing vote (i.e., he'll be more centrist than Alito will be), then basically Alito replaces Rehnquist, C.J. (deceased), and the overall ideological balance of the Court remains roughly the same. That saves the showdown over the potential invocation of The Nuclear Option for a time that it really might be needed: the next nomination, when a (presumably) more liberal justice retires/dies (the most likely prospect here being John Paul Stevens).
As I say it makes sense. If I had reason to believe that the Democratic leadership was really thinking like this (as opposed to just rolling over because they do it out of habit), I would feel less apprehensive....
Thanks to The Umpire at Corked Bats for the pointer to dKos.
Len on 01.26.06 @ 12:43 PM CST
