Probably the single most important political event of the year from the standpoint of long-lasting effect. Mag makes a good point about Hillary but nobody really believes she's a moderate. C'mon, you do not.
I don't think it's accurate to characterize a few surprising no-voters (Obama and Bayh) as moderates anymore either. What is surprising is the lack of news coverage about them (FoxNews, CNN, MSNBC) and the absence of any statements of disappointment from republican senators, punctuating their defection from moderate to wing-nut status.
The next nomination battle will be much less important and will most likely be derailed in and voted down by the Judicary Committee as moderate democrats will be emboldened by the lack of controversy over Obama and Bayh's wandering off the "bi-partisan" reservation. If I were Bush, I would include their names in a speech, noting how disappointed I was to see their dissent, and high-lighting how I would expect it from Boxer, Clinton, Kerry and Kennedy. It would be very handy when he nominates his next Justice to the Supreme Court. The time to identify the moral high ground is now.
