Let’s shoot for 50

Now that Senate minority guy Harry Reid has indicated that he will vote against Supreme Court nominee John Roberts, it’s probable that he’ll only gain about ten Democratic votes. That the Democrats would vote against such a qualified nominee indicates they’re completely in the tank for their special interests. Reid is utterly insane if he believes this is a threat:

During his floor remarks, Reid said Roberts' nomination does not rise to the level of "extraordinary circumstances," the code phrase used to suggest whether Democrats would employ a filibuster, the procedural tool used to block a nomination from getting a full Senate vote.

Oh-no: not the filibuster threat that was spayed and neutered last year! The “Gang of 14” made sure of that and the Coalition of the Chillin’ smiled. It’s transparent now that the Democrats will reflexively vote against any Bush nominee to replace that critical swing vote of Sandra Day O’Connor. Let’s get Priscilla Owen in there or maybe Michael Luttig. Hell, let’s dig up Robert Bork. There will be no filibuster and Bush’s next nominee only needs 50 out of 55 Republican votes.

Let’s drive the Dems crazy and engineer a tie so that Cheney can break it.

Extra – The days of bipartisan votes are over. 96-3 for Ginsberg? You’ll never see that again.

Bonus – John Cole calls Reid’s decision either “tone deaf or brain dead”: “If someone like Roberts is going to get 30-40 votes against from Democrats, I see no reason why Bush doesn’t appoint a fire-breathing ideologue.”