Maybe Dems DON'T Have Their Shit Together

This has got to be the stupidest thing I've seen in a while:

"I do not see a likelihood of a filibuster," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. "This might be a man I disagree with, but it doesn't mean he shouldn't be on the court."

She said she will not vote to confirm the appeals court judge, based on his conservative record. But she acknowledged that nothing emerged during last week's hearings to justify any organized action by Democrats to stall the nomination.

I can't believe you say something like this in public, before any Judiciary Committee vote or Senate Democratic caucus meeting. Do you have a strategic bone in your body?

Democrats filibustered Bolton and a string of judicial nominees (before the Gang of 14 compromise). Most of them ended up getting in anyway, but there was no political downside to any of it. I'm fairly agnostic on whether or not to filibuster (and this post by DHinMI elucidates my feelings), but what you DON'T do is pronounce judgment before the fact!

As a minority party, the objective is to fight the battles you can win, and if you can't win them, at least articulate your principles. The hearings weren't very successful in that regard, and this play by Feinstein is politically tone-deaf.