It's starting

Senate Judicial Showdown Begins to Unfold With Debate Over Nominees - New York Times: "WASHINGTON, May 18 - The long-awaited confrontation over judicial nominees began to unfold today, as Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee, the majority leader, opened debate on the Senate floor on the nomination of Priscilla R. Owen, a Texas Supreme Court justice. The move will set in motion a battle over rules that have enabled Democrats to block Justice Owen and six other nominees from confirmation votes."

And 25 years to the day after the 1980 Mount St. Helens blast.

Cosmic.