As you may have heard, President Bush nominated appeals court Judge Samuel A. Alito (born in my home state of New Jersey) to the U.S. Supreme Court today.

Which begs the question...what does National Review think about him?

Well, quite a bit if this post is any indication:

WITH ONLY SLIGHT EXAGGERATION: IT'S GO-TIME [Jonah Goldberg]
This is it. Back in June I wrote, "In Washington, conservatives and liberals are quietly loading up on drinking water, D batteries and extra ammo, in preparation for the coming battle over judges. Ralph Neas himself has been seen by the campfire carving notches into the stock of his rifle, muttering, 'Pain don't hurt.' No one knows when the fight's coming, but everyone knows it is."

Ever since, my prognostications seemed wrong. Roberts virtually sailed through. Miers didn't cause a split between right and left but between right and right. But now, this is the guy. Cokie Roberts said a senior Demcratic Senator has already denounced Alito as a "rightwing whacko" or words to that effect. Nina Totenberg called him "filibuster bait." Even now, federalist society and Naral types are running around town ducking their heads into barber shops and shoe shine parlors, shouting "it's on! It's on!" Those inside throw down their newspapers, haircuts unfinished, and race to the law libraries.

It reminds me of one of those scenes from "Any Which Way You Can" or "Caddyshack" where the buzz spreads that the big fight or the big match is on.

The seventh seal has been broken, the goat entrails point toward gotterdamerung, it's on.

And it's already started:

Chuck Schumer just argued that it is possible that Judge Alito, as Justice Alito, would roll back the achievements of Rosa Parks. That can only be understood as Schumer's belief that Judge Alito could find segregationist policies acceptable under the constitution. While it is undeniable that the nomination of Robert Byrd would have raised such a question, it is preposterous and indeed base to even hint at such a thing about a distinguished judge and public servant.

Schumer's argument for delay is as predictable as it is unpersuasive. Chairman Specter needs to knock down this nonsense today.

For the Blogsphere's take on Alito, Glenn Reynolds, Hugh Hewitt and PoliPundit have lots-o-links.