That Word Does Not Mean What You Think It Means

Mark Halperin on the Sotomayor non-fight:

President Barack Obama knows how to avoid a fight — and still do what he thinks is right. The media and conservative activists might be spoiling for a Supreme Court nomination battle, but the choice of Circuit Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor to fill a high court vacancy is a classic Obama decision that makes the chances of political smooth sailing a near lock. Obama was clearly inspired by his selection, but he just as obviously kept an eye on the politics of his pick.

Assuming nothing surfaces in Sotomayor's background that causes controversy, expect her to be seated when the court opens for its new term in October, after thorough confirmation hearings that will seem more like a lovefest than a legal firing squad. By both design and luck, Obama faces a Supreme Court–pick process that has been drained of the tension and combat that has characterized such moments in the past several decades.

The fundamentals of the environment in which Obama has made his choice account for much of this reality. Democrats have a solid majority in the Senate, and Obama is seeking to replace one reliably liberal vote with another, meaning the balance of the court will not shift, lowering the stakes. And the social issues that used to fire up the right when it came to judicial disputes have lost some of their power, with the economy in the dumps and younger citizens drifting toward the left.

Has Halperin been, you know, actually paying attention to Republicans in the last four months? How they have been doubling down on obstructing everything Barack Obama is trying to do just because he's Barack Obama?

And he's counting on the support of his own party? The one that knifed him in the back over Gitmo, cramdown, and still can't get Dawn Johnsen past a filibuster? The Senate led by Harry "Chickenshit" Reid? You're counting on these guys to do the right thing?

"Near lock" my ass. By the time the new court session starts in October, it will start with either justices or Souter will still be there, twiddling his damn thumbs.

[UPDATE] Via BooMan, we see Charles Krauthammer basically call Sotomayor a racist. How many ConservaDems will buy this argument even though it's not the truth?

[UPDATE 2]Why does Type 1 Diabetes supposedly disqualify her from the position? Are you serious?