Smileys are general verboten here.

But there you are. I stand behind previous statements of gratitude and admiration for the great work so many of you did in bucking up Senate Republicans to give Arlen Specter a strong message–and I think the Senate is better for it, and Bush nominees will have a fighting chance, etc. because of it all. But you know the whole deal, and, at bottom, I think it’s still a bit of a shame: Arlen Specter was officially elected chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday.

Of course: “With the committee’s backing, Specter now must receive the blessing of the 55 members of the Republican Conference, who are to meet Wednesday.”

But this isn’t the Conservative Underground, so I’m not going there.