I Love the Smell of Filibuster in the Morning

Well, Bush has made his pick and it's very-conservative Judge Samuel Alito who is hardly in the mold of the Sandra Day O'Connor he hopes to replace. And the early comments – which are traditionally very non-committal -- from key Senate Democrats, signal a major fight in the coming months.

"A preliminary review of his record raises real questions about Judge Alito's judicial philosophy and his commitment to civil rights, workers' rights, women's rights, the rights of average Americans which the courts have always looked out for," said Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), who serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee. "It's sad that the president felt he had to pick a nominee likely to divide America instead of choosing a nominee in the mold of Sandra Day O'Connor who would unify us."

Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) blasted Bush over the nomination.

"Rather than selecting a nominee for the good of the nation and the court, President Bush has picked a nominee whom he hopes will stop the massive hemorrhaging of support on his right wing. This is a nomination based on weakness, not on strength," said Kennedy. "After insisting that Harriet Miers shouldn't even get a hearing because she couldn't prove she was extreme enough, the far right has now forced the President to choose a nominee that they think has views as extreme as their own."

OK. Let's get this started.