I’m glad John Podhoretz hasn’t been “unhinged” by it–a Podhoretz off his hinges is a fearsome thing.

My own take on it, with the benefit of a few days’ thought: I cared about the confirmation battles over appellate nominees only insofar as it affected Supreme Court confirmation fights. I still think conservatives are in a strong position to win those latter fights. Their chances are marginally worse because of the deal, for the reasons NR editorialized about. But they’re marginally better because so much of the base communicated its displeasure with the deal.