John Roberts needs a nickname. I'm suggesting "Moon"

for two reasons. The first is, as a look out the window will tell you, he was nominated under a full (or nearly full) moon. Anyone who believes in omens (and even some who don't) will say that's not a good sign.

But also, I think Cuckoo Bananas is trying to shoot the moon with the timing of this nomination. What do I mean by that? Well, anyone who plays hearts knows what shooting the moon is, and I think that's the real strategy here.

In order to shoot the moon, you need to first take a lot of points (which you don't normally want to do). But once you take enough points, you can play the game in such a way that you take ALL of the points in a hand, which works to your advantage and the detriment of all the other players. But when you shoot the moon, nobody should know you're doing it until it's already too late for them to stop you. It only takes one person who knows what's going on to stop it, which makes the failure of the person making the attempt all the more painful.

THere's no doubt in my mind that Iraq, Bolton, Plame, Social Security, Schaivo, DeLay, etc. have put this administration in a bad spot. But if they can get the culture wars into high gear, all of their troubles will disappear. Karl Who? Scooter What? And then Rhenquist dies and the fun really begins. Hello, Chief Justice Scalia. And make way for Justice Ted Olsen. It only takes one spark, and his name shall be Moon.

That's one theory, anyway.

So I think I'll just call him "Dudley Do-Right-Wing."

Well constructed. I agree that the Bush administration is looking to gear up the culture war once again.

This nominee isn't just bad on the cultural issues though. The attack upon his suitability shouldn't be pigeon-holed on the abortion thing. Go at him evenly across all fronts and don't get trapped by the cultural issue.