We can't blame the Demoscum for this one...

Miguel Estrada withdrew his name from consideration to the nation's second-highest court today.

He is the latest Bush nominee to fail to win confirmation - or, for that matter, even so much as consideration.

And the Republicans have no one to blame but themselves. This is what "kinder & gentler" gets us. This is the result of that so-called "new tone" in Washington.

Miguel Estrada, like Priscilla Owen & Charles Pickering before him, was a victim of a "phantom filibuster" - where the Senate leadership is notified that a filibuster is planned, and even "in effect" - but never actually carried out physically. It's the first time in American history appellate justice nominations have ever been filibustered.

And the GOP could easily bring this charade to an abrupt halt. The Constitution calls for only a majority vote in order to confirm a justice. Filibusters require 60 votes out of 100 to be broken. What the Demoscum are doing is blatantly unconstitutional, and the Republicans could easily declare the process not open to filibustering - but according to Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) this...his office actually told this to a Hannity radio show caller...this would violate "tradition".

Oh. So "tradition" is more important than the RULE OF LAW??? We kowtow to "tradition" more than the United States Constitution? So we're a government of the "traditions", by the "traditions" and for the "traditions"?

Hail the "new tone". Hail "kinder, gentler". Hail "bipartisanship".

More like "bend over and grab the ankles", GOP-style. Gag me with a friggin' spoon.

In a twisted, upside-down justice system where impeached excuses-for-Presidents are not convicted based on "precedents found in Scottish law (yeah, Arlen Specter, I'm looking at you); where Not-so-Supreme Court excuses for justices admit that they issue rulings based on international law, rather than the Constitution; where five words that aren't even found in the damned document are placed in higher esteem than the words which are there - "nor prohibit the free exercise thereof"; where it's okay to teach schoolkids how to be gay, but Cthulu forbid you mention God to them - is it any wonder that those charged with upholding and defending the Constitution at the legislative level DON'T GIVE A FUCKIN' FAT RAT'S ASS ABOUT IT?????

It is waaaaay past time the GOP got up off its fat, lazy ass and started playing its own game of hardball with the Demoscum. Meaning, back them off the plate with several high, hard ones aimed squarely at the noggin.

Memo to the Republicans: From this point forward, whenever the Donks even so much as think the word "filibuster", make them do it. Physically. Sacrifice a night's sleep and make the bastards stand up there in the well and flap their ugly gums. Make them actually earn all those pay raises they voted themselves over the years when they were in power. Put them on record as being the ones advocating and promoting all the gridlock that's gone on since 2001.

Don't think that, just because the Demoscum are in disarray right now, that you have 2004 in a slam dunk. You don't - not by a long shot - and, unless you grow some brass ones, like, yesterday...you won't.

UPDATE: Misha blames the Shrub in the Oval Office for this one. He's got a point...

Would you like an apple pie with that?

Over on Rottweiler, there's an asshat calling himself "h" (you'll need to search for the string "Posted by h").

Well, we tracked him down to a local Burger King, where he works...


(Credit to LC Albedo)