Senate approves Southwick

Remember how we thought the Senate Democrats were going to block all the nasty, right-wing judges? Wrong again:

Senate Republicans scored a key victory Wednesday with the confirmation of Leslie Southwick to the New Orleans-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.

A united GOP conference convinced enough Democrats to cross party lines to first clear a procedural hurdle and then succeed in the confirmation vote. Southwick has been arguably the most contentious judicial nominee of the 110th Congress up to this point, amid strong opposition from Democratic leaders and liberal groups. Senators had invoked cloture in a 62-35 vote and, minutes later, confirmed Southwick on a 59-38 vote.

Read that first line again "Senate Republicans scored a key victory Wednesday...." That's pathetic.

The roll call vote to break invoke cloture (and end the debate) is here. Several Democrats crossed over to support Southwick, but the worst offender is Dianne Feinstein. She cast the deciding vote to get the nomination out of committee in the first place.

Three Democrats, Carper (DE), Inouye (HI) and Salazar (CO), voted yes on cloture, then against the actual nomination. Because, you know, they probably respect the process, blah, blah, blah. Pathetic.