Today's action was passive, the Democrats scared away 4 of Bush's nominees to various federal circuits.

These officials said that William Haynes, William Myers and Terrence Boyle had all decided to abandon their quest for confirmation. Another nominee, Michael Wallace, let it be known last month that he, too, had asked Bush to withdraw his nomination.

Haynes is the Pentagon's top lawyer, and was an architect of the Bush's now-abandoned policy toward treatment of detainees in the war on terror. He had been tapped for the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Boyle is a federal judge in North Carolina, and his appointment to the 4th Circuit provoked opposition from Democrats who cited his rulings in civil rights and disability cases, as well as his higher-than-average turnover rate by higher courts.

William G. Myers III, nominated to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, sparked opposition from environmentalist organizations and their allies among Senate Democrats.

Wallace's appointment to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals drew opposition from Democrats, civil rights groups and the American Bar Association.

Those who don't remember, Haynes drafted the administration's torture policy, Myers I believe penned an opinion that suggested that bird lovers should rejoice in the near extinction of species because that would make them more rare, and therefore more valued, and Boyle was a famous bigot. I know nothing of Wallace.

Good riddance to bad rubbish!

Labels: Democrats, federal circuit