We think that our representatives in Washington, D.C. could use
some of the cojones that the MAMs seem to have in spades. Captain
Ed (Captain's Quarters
blog) has a long post about "the world's greatest deliberative body"
and the judicial nominees that are stuck in process. Few people
realize what an awful experience it is for the nominees and their
families to be ground down by innuendo, scurrilous attacks, lies,
rumors, and misrepresentations:
The hearings have been bad enough. Normally, nominees would have family members attend hearings as support and a demonstration of the comity expected in the proceedings. That practice has begun to die in direct proportion to the invective hurled at these jurists -- every one of which has been found qualified by the ABA, which prior to Bush taking office was considered the gold standard by Democrats for confirmation. Quite frankly, the spectacle has proven too painful for families to watch in person, and that's just in the hearings. Afterwards, they have to listen to their spouse, or parent, or grandparent, insulted and vilified by the likes of Nan Aron or Ralph Neas, with nary a peep from Frist, Specter, or any of the other GOP members of what used to be the world's greatest deliberative body.
Any other Republicans currently feeling their knee muscles turning to jelly should wrap their knees tightly, stick a ramrod up their dorsal side and get back in the fight.And furthermore:
If a party can be stampeded -- by phony charges and a run of shoddy stories in whorish newspapers -- into dumping their most effective congressional leader, I wouldn't give two cents for their near term future. A party that would voluntarily cut off its own testicles and FedEx them to their opponent as a trophy is not likely to manifest any regenerative powers. That's the thing about losing those organs.Senators, Congressmen: welcome to Testosterone Central. If you need a refill (and you do), we are only too happy to oblige.