Be careful out there...

Blogging will be kind of hit and miss today, but this LA Times article by David Savage is a good place to start. Savage offers both good information and a dangerous idea...

WASHINGTON — The looming battle over President Bush's nominees to the U.S. appeals courts might derail the Senate, but it probably won't make much difference in the federal courts. That's because Republican appointees already dominate them.

Ninety-four of the 162 active judges now on the U.S. Court of Appeals were chosen by Republican presidents. On 10 of the 13 circuit courts, Republican appointees have a clear majority. And, since 1976, at least seven of the nine seats on the U.S. Supreme Court have been filled by Republican appointees.

It'w worth remembering, and reminding anyone you discuss this with, that the federal courts are already quite conservative, dominated by Republican appointees, and that even the most progressive district court is still subject to review by a Supreme Court that's over 70% GOP. Good information.

But it's a big mistake to believe that giving George Bush a free hand to pack the courts with the kind of radical nominees he seems to favor "won't make much difference..." Rather than the most distinguished jurists from the ranks of mainstream conservatives, Bush has too often turned hard right and turned to those who share the radical views like those of the Wise Use, Constitution in Exile and other wingnut movements.

Giving those radicals the opportunity to introduce their ideas into decisions of the federal courts constitutes a clear and present danger to Constitutional government as we know it. Make no mistake about it.

Vast right wing conspiracy?

Hillary had no idea...