Interesting... it doesn't look as though Bush will use a recess appointment to seat Estrada on the appeals court, choosing instead to fight it out.

Fleischer decried the "reemergence of the liberal wing" as though it was a bad thing. If he wants to call 45 Senate Democrats the "liberal wing" of the party, then I'm happy.

But my favorite is Leahy's egging on of Senate Republicans:

But Democrats have said they have enough votes to sustain a filibuster in the Senate, which would prevent an up or down vote the majority Republicans would be expected to win.

"The strong feeling continues in the Senate Democratic caucus that candidates and administrations should not be rewarded for stonewalling the Senate to keep senators from making informed decisions about judicial nominees," said David Carle, a spokesman for Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, the highest ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

He said Republicans, however, have shown signs of wavering, as the party backed off of threats to keep the Senate in session during this week's recess to continue debate over the nomination. "The Republican leadership still seems undecided about how they will proceed," he said.