VOLuntarilyConservative

I heard strong rumors out of the Beltway late last week that Bush was leaning towards either Samuel Alito (known as "Scalito" for his originalist judicial philosophy and penchant for biting dissenting opinions) or Michael Luttig as his next Supreme Court nominee. Reports this morning confirm that it is Alito who will be the next nominee, with an all-out war to come over his confirmation.

Thank you, Mr. President, for (eventually) doing the right thing. To quote Doc Holliday from Tombstone, "Now we can be friends again."

MORE REACTIONS: Orin Kerr is happy, Bob Krumm is in a fighting mood, Thoughts of an Average Woman is panicking about Alito's dissent in Casey, MY Vast Right Wing Conspiracy is ecstatic, Captain's Quarters is trumpeting Alito's principled approach, Temple of the Screaming Penguin appears to like Miers better, CommonSenseAmerica is looking forward to the fireworks, North American Patriot is looking forward to the bloodbath (but in a good way), and Blanton over at RedState tells the liberals to "bring it on."

Scrappleface, meanwhile, has a great fictitious press release:

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said, "The president acknowledges that his nominee is probably too brilliant for this Court."

I can't explain how satisfying this nomination is to me. President Bush has nominated a principled judge with a proven track record who was on every conservative commentator's short list, not an intellectual lightweight or an ideological activist. (On the last point, yes, I want to win, but, no, I don't want to win by using the same unprincipled tactics of the Left. Judicial activism is wrong, no matter if it comes from the Left or the Right.)

Happy, happy day!

MORE: The following press release was generated by Progress for America, a group that has been working for Bush's nominees (I wouldn't call them conservative, because they backed Miers, too):

PFA APPLAUDS NOMINATION OF JUDGE SAMUEL ALITO
Senators Should Reject Pressure from Liberal Extremists

WASHINGTON - Progress for America Inc. (PFA) president Brian McCabe today applauded the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito as Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court and officially launched the website www.JudgeAlito.com.

“Judge Alito is uniquely qualified to be an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court,” said Brian McCabe, PFA's president. “Like Chief Justice Roberts, Judge Alito will bring a wealth of experience to the U.S. Supreme Court.”

“Judge Alito has dedicated his entire life to public service: he served as a well-respected Judge on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Deputy Assistant to the U.S. Attorney General, Assistant to the U.S. Solicitor General and as a law clerk to Judge Leonard Garth,” McCabe noted.

“As a crime fighting U.S. Attorney, Judge Alito convicted numerous terrorists and corporate criminals,” McCabe continued.“Although some liberal extremists will inevitably urge Senate Democrats to obstruct Judge Alito’s nomination, they should set bitter partisanship aside. No one can argue that Judge Alito is anything but extremely well qualified for the Court and his unanimous confirmation to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals will undermine any attempt by liberals to argue that he is a ideologue,” McCabe added.

“Senator Lautenberg put it best during Judge Alito’s earlier confirmation when he said, ‘I believe Mr. Alito has the experience and the skills to be the kind of judge the public deserves – one who is impartial, thoughtful, and fair. I urge the Senate to confirm his nomination.’ We could not have put it better ourselves,” McCabe concluded.

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I especially like the "crime fighting U.S. Attorney" comment. Heh. I guess it will be up to Senate Judiciary to find out what was in his superhero utility belt when he was doing this alleged crime fighting.