[Jim in CT]

Let the fireworks begin, this is going to be dramatic politics, and likely very divisive.

The GOP did not attempt to block Obama's picks of Kagan (who is fine, though I disagree with her often)) and Sotomayor (who is a maniac). But then they dug in their heels and refused to give the other guy a hearing.

If the GOP wants to block the filibuster with the nuclear option, on one hand, they can say that the Dems did the same thing. On the other hand, the dems can say (correctly) that they did it with lower court picks, but not SCOTUS picks. On the other hand, the GOP can say (correctly) they didn't force the Dems to consider the nuclear option for SCOTUS , because the GOP didn't try to block Kagan or Sotomayor. They went along with those two picks.

This pick does not change the makeup of the court - one staunch conservative replaced by another. There may be future picks that really change the makeup of the court. Ginsburg should maybe have retired when Obama and the GOP would have replaced her with a comparable liberal.

Also, I don't like hearing Schumer and Pelosi attack the nominee because his decisions have had adverse consequences for women. Have they ever taken high school civics? The role of the judge is to apply the law fairly, he isn't supposed to spend one second thinking about the outcome of the decision, or where his sympathies might lie. His only job is to apply the law equally to both parties. That's exactly why the statues of lady justice are blindfolded. The judge isn't supposed to care bout man/woman, rich/poor, or powerful/weak. If the law is flawed, it's the legislature's job to address that, not the judge's job. If he interpreted the law incorrectly, that is fair criticism. If he applied the law in a way that led to unfortunate consequences for a sympathetic party, that has no bearing whatsoever. A judge isn't supposed to be predisposed to rule in favor of groups he has personal empathy for. He is bound by the law.

This is going to be fascinating. In the end, if the Dems try to filibuster, I presume the GOP will borrow Harry Reid's trick and go nuclear. Unless there is something in his past that legitimately disqualifies him, he's going in. The Dems will have bigger SCOTUS battles down the road, than this pick. If kennedy, or god help the dems, Ginsburg, retires, there will be the possibility of really altering the curt to the right.