Since April, the NAACP has been organizing weekly Monday evening protests in the North Carolina capital of Raleigh. They come in reaction to the GOP seizing control of the statehouse there for the first time since Reconstruction — a big win for Republicans in what was otherwise a pretty gloomy Election Day in November. Since then a conservative legislative agenda and some hardball political tactics have ignited Democratic opposition. Hence, the weekly protests. Last night, at least 140 protestors were arrested after entering the Legislative Building.

Noting that GOP donors and base voters will be tightly aligned in this fight, Matt Yglesias predicts Senate Republicans won’t confirm any of President Obama’s coming nominees to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals later this year.

Here’s my #slatepitch in response: Obama will get some, if not all, of his nominees confirmed. I’d personally put my money on one or two. Read More