What Lit Her Wick?

An amazingly silly piece by Dahlia Lithwick in Slate on the Bush administration's attempt to get conservatives on the courts. She makes all sorts of absurd arguments as to why it's bad, but doesn't mention the obvious reason--she doesn't want conservative judges. Hey, I don't either (at least not social conservatives), but at least I'm honest about it.

Listen to this, for instance:

The reason social conservatives are so desperate about stacking the federal bench now is because they want instant action on issues like gay marriage, abortion, and school prayer...

Really? Doesn't seem to me they want instant action--they just want the courts to step aside on these issues so the people can democratically decide them.

Lithwick also makes the desperation argument that Bush shouldn't give his conservative base what they want since they'll never be satisfied anyway. It's always fun to hear liberals give conservatives political advice (and vice versa).

And Lithwick's greatest fear? The "nuclear option," which would get rid of the filibuster to stop judicial nominees. She warns conservatives they'll regret it as the political landscape changes. Maybe they will, but why should Lithwick care? All it would mean is the Senate will decide nominations by--gasp!--majority vote, as they always have (until recently) and as the Constitution requires.