THIS is why passing the nuclear option is so important:
The Critically Important DC Circuit Court
Despite progressive victories in 2012, the far right’s outsized influence on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit gives them the power to undermine progressive laws and thwart the agenda that Americans elected President Obama to pursue. This court’s decisions affect the entire country, making it second only to the Supreme Court in national importance.
The DC Circuit is dominated by right-wing ideologues who are deeply hostile to the use of a robust federal government to tackle national problems and make our lives better. There are now three vacancies on the 11-member court, and President Obama has nominated three highly qualified people – Patricia Millett, Cornelia “Nina” Pillard, and Robert Wilkins – to fill them. But Senate Republicans – who blocked President Obama’s efforts to get even one judge onto the DC Circuit during his first term – are gearing up for more obstruction. Too much is at stake for us to allow that to happen again.
The DC Circuit Is Unique. The DC Circuit by law is the exclusive court to consider appeals of an array of agency regulations and decisions affecting the entire country. Moreover, even when parties appealing agency decisions, congressional statutes, or presidential actions have a choice of venues, they often choose to have their cases heard by the DC Circuit due to its expertise in complex administrative matters.
While the Supreme Court is better known, it only hears a miniscule portion of appeals that are filed with it. So when the DC Circuit makes a ruling, it is almost guaranteed to be the last word on the matter.
Every facet of our lives is affected by some aspect of federal law, whether it’s clean air rules, gun safety, telecom regulations, investor protection rules, securities fraud laws, labor law, banking regulations, food safety requirements, credit card regulations, election law … All these can be appealed to the courts, and that court is often the DC Circuit. So for those seeking to block a progressive federal government agenda, the DC Circuit is an important vehicle.
Consequences of Far Right Domination of the DC Circuit. Unfortunately, the current ideological imbalance on the DC Circuit has led to troubling decisions, frequently ones favoring the powerful and limiting the role government can play to address national problems. A sampling of those decisions:
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Much more: http://www.pfaw.org/media-center/publications/critically-important-dc-circuit-court
President Obama needs to ramp up the appointments and nominate as many qualified judges as possible.
The courts are too full of right wing ideologues as it is. Filling every vacancy he can with decent judges could begin to turn the judicial system away from its current tilt. The Supreme Court limits itself in the number of cases it will hear on appeal.
Yes, I know that many of Obama's appointments have been blocked. However, put the vetting process into overdrive.
= new reply since forum marked as read
that first gif has me choking with laughter.
"Kitteh goes PLOP!!!" 
