Seems to me Matt, that there was good reason for it, as quoted below. You see many democrats actually do what they were hired to do, that being to represent the interests of their state.

You faulting them for actually doing their jobs is a bit of a head scratcher. I guess you prefer the Republican ones collecting their salaries and pensions and NOT doing their jobs.

GO figure.

"Sen. Max Baucus (news, bio, voting record), D-Mont., held up consideration of Capka's appointment because he said the Bush administration wouldn't release money for a transportation project in his state."

"New Jersey's two senators, Democrats Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg, said they opposed Capka because the Bush administration reneged on a promise to send millions of dollars to their state for six highway projects."

I'm amazed by this notion that "doing their job" equates to holding any administration for ransom. When has their job been primarily to get pork projects?

Their job, as specificied by the Constitution, includes giving advice and consent, i.e. confirmation, of the president's nominees. What they're doing is nothing more than extortion. Confirmations should be done exclusive of all considerations of pork, and I'd say that if the republicans did the same thing to a democrat president.

Kerry had opposed him, but at least he gave a legitimate reason that involved the nominee.