>President Bush has apparently decided things can't get any worse, so is returning to the warm embrace of the far right. Tossing Harriet Miers over the side and nominating Judge Alito in her place this morning shows he has not lost faith in the politics of division. Alito, who is nicknamed "Scalito" for his ideological similarity to Justice Scalia, will delight the conservative base and made Democrats see red. I don't think Bush has enough political capital left to ram a conservative idealogue through the Senate confirmation process, but he must think he does. This sure looks like the confirmation battle royale that has been anticipated for years now. The Clarence Thomas hearings may seem like a tempest in a teapot by the time this is over. It seems likely to tie the Senate up for months. (Which may not be a bad thing, considering how little they have been doing anyway!)

Which may be a good thing, giving them less time to do more damage :).