A federal district court in San Francisco ruled Wednesday that the phrase 'under God' in the text of the Pledge of Allegiance was unconstitutional because it violates the precedent of the separation of church and state. Nearly all the way across the country, another federal district court judge in Michigan ruled that any law banning the procedure known to opponents as 'partial-birth abortion' would be unconstitutional.

In recent years, the federal bench has stood behind flag burning as free speech and overturned anti-sodomy laws. They have been steadfast in pro-choice rulings and upheld euthanasia cases as legal.

Is it any wonder that Christian conservatives rail against the current state of the federal judiciary and swear that everyone on the left is out to get them?

Well boys, here's your chance.

While the Democrats in Congress attempt to remove their collective thumb from their hindparts, Republicans have been given a rare gift: not one, but two nominations to the highest court in the land.

My predictions for the nomination hearings for Judge John Roberts are already coming to pass: there will be much noise from Sen. Ted Kennedy D-Mass. and Dick Durbin D-Ill. because they like to talk, regardless of whether they have anything useful to say. At the same time, Tom Coburn R-Okla. will stick up for him and say crazy things, because he is, of course, completely crazy (favors death penalty for abortion doctors though he performed them early in his medical career, said the gay community was the greatest threat to freedom the United States faces today, the list goes on and on). These hearings seem to be the only way for Democrats to make themselves known.

It is a fact that for more than 30 years, the Democrats have lacked a broad and comprehensive national strategy. Having the word 'democrat' next to your name as a candidate for office is an albatross around your neck so large that there is no small amount of wonder that you can even stand up. What it amounts to is a party with a lot of wind, but none of it blowing hard enough to move anything.

So the Bush administration gave John Roberts to the Senate as a mainstream gift to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. They need not do the same to replace the late Justice William Rehnquist. If I were there, I would appoint whatever right-wing, party-affiliated, anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage judge I wanted because the Democrats are fighting all the wrong battles. Instead of finding meaningful ways to get back in the White House and regain a Congressional majority, they block up the Senate with judicial nominees ' who cares?

So go ahead, Mr. President, fire away.