FREE TERRY BOYLE!

James Taranto in his Best of the Web feature today notes U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and awaits confirmation by the full Senate to sit on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Boyle was nominated by Bush 41 but the libs ran out the clock and his nomination was never brought to a committee vote. In response, Jesse Helms blue-slipped every North Carolinian nominated by Clinton to the Fourth Circuit, including fellow Yalie J. Rich Leonard. John Edwards in turn blue-slipped Boyle when re-nominated by Bush 43. Judge Boyle was not one of the favored five covered by the Gang of 14 sellout but I doubt the libs will attempt a filibuster. NRO reports Lindsay Graham and Mike DeWine have gotten religion and will support the president's judicial nominees. Their support along with Cheney's tie-breaker puts the nuclear option back under Frist's finger. One can imagine the cloakroom discussion as Frist dares Reid to try a fillibuster: "Do it! What's the matter? Chicken? C'mon, do it--you know you want to . . ."