I have the same attitude toward Pickering’s nomination as I do toward the proposals to drill in ANWR: It’s not all that important, but it’d be worth it to demoralize the Left. Confirmation of Pickering or passage of ANWR would lead to another round of leftist fury against the impotent Senate Democrats. And I think both are quite doable. James Taranto analyzes the politics of the confirmation fight very well today. I would be more wholeheartedly supportive of Pickering, though, if he were just 20 years younger.