ConfirmThem

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ABC News has a new poll out:

Fifty-one percent in this ABC News/Washington Post poll say the Senate should consider a judge's views on political issues, not solely his or her background and qualifications. But nearly as many, 46 percent, say politics should be left off the table.

More about the poll results here. The increasing politicization of the confirmation process is a tragedy, and one which can best be alleviated by confirming judges who follow the law, instead of making policy themselves.

Tomorrow, Judge Boyle may finally clear the Judiciary Committee.

The Federalist Society is out with a report detailing why conservative nominees on the Supreme Court would not jeopardize New Deal legislation (hat tip to Bench Memos, and note that the report is also now linked under "documents" at the right side of our home page).

The Hill has this report about the gobs of money that may be spent if Chief Justice Rehnquist really decides to hang up the robe:

Progress for America (PFA), a group that is quickly becoming the conservative counterpart to liberal 527 groups such as America Coming Together (ACT), pledged yesterday to spend at least $18 million on the expected fight to replace William Rehnquist, chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

PFA, if you're having trouble figuring out how to write your budget, please don't hesitate to consult with confirmthem. We would be glad to lavish the money on ourselves advise an optimum allocation of resources.

I previously mentioned that people are snapping up domain names in anticipation of the Supreme Court battles. Power Line has also commented on this new craze, which prompted this response titled "Is PowerLineBites.com Taken?" By the way, here's some free advice to PFA: don't waste the 18 million on domain names!

Finally, for now, Matt Tilley of the Daily O'Collegian in Oklahoma has an essay that includes these wise words:

[A]llowing judges to be voted on by the entire Senate by a simple majority would be the precise definition of democracy, not the end of democracy as we know it.

Which reminds me that the New York Times can't count.