Knew it was coming.  Just didn’t expect the starting pistol to be fired by a Democrat.

Ugh.  So, here’s the specifics:

President Obama said on Saturday that a Supreme Court nominee is coming soon, but Republicans in the Senate have spent weeks working to frame the type of judicial resume that would be unacceptable on the bench. On Sunday, the GOP got what could be a bit of a boost, as a key moderate Democrat left the door open to filibustering a possible Obama Court nominee.

Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Sen. Ben Nelson warned the president against appointing an activist judge to replace the retiring David Souter. In the process, the Nebraska Democrat acknowledged that the scenario could present itself where he joined the GOP in voting against cloture.

“I think that’s the test, will they be an activist or not?” Nelson said. “And I would hope that there wouldn’t be any circumstances that would be so extreme with any of the president’s nominees that the other side would feel the need to filibuster or that I might feel the need to filibuster in the case of extraordinary circumstances.”

One of the key negotiators behind the “Gang of 14″ compromise in 2005 that preserved the use of the filibuster and allowed several Bush nominees to go to a vote, Nelson is a veteran participant in the high-drama of judicial nominations.

Earlier in the interview, he said that as the “author of the words ‘extraordinary circumstances’” – the phrase that, per the 205 compromise, now serves as a the basis of the filibuster attempt – “I do understand that there could be certain circumstances where you might vote against somebody on the filibuster.”

So, to summarize – for three weeks, the GOP has been getting ready to stomp their feet about the new Supreme Court justice.  Not based on the idea that they can stop it – they know they can’t – but in an attempt to rile up the base.

Whatever – their base is already riled.  If anything, the base needs a Xanax and maybe a hug.

And who’s looking to make sure the spotlight is shone brightly on him?  

None other than the grandstanding nad-coddling Ben Nelson? You know, this guy.  The only guy in the Dem party rolling up his sleeves to stop Health Care reform.

Now, by the way, I am not suggesting he be tossed out of the Democratic party.  Okay?  We can disagree, I can be right about what a spineless money-chaser and power-opportunist I find him to be – but I’d be willing to bet I agree with him more than I disagree with him.

I probably agree with him more than I agree with Pelosi.

I just find this guy to be gross.

After all – this was going to happen. Obama can’t complain too much, because he wasn’t opposed to a filibuster with Judge Alito.  Of course they’re going to make him twist in the wind.  

But what I’d like – and hope to see – is some intellectual honesty here.  Nobody believes – unless Obama pulls a Harriet Miers – that Obama won’t get his pick. 

So what this is, is a recruitment tool.  Preaching to the choir.  Another chance to scream against “Socialism” or “Activism” or “Godlessness” or “Guns” or “Flag Burning” or whatever it is that the fringe screams to keep their tiny little corner of the world rallied and engaged.

It’s not about the judge’s qualifications.

It’s about something more important to the “loyal opposition.”  Their power.  And using it so as not to lose any more of it.

And that’s true, whether it’s a Republican or a Democrat doing the obstructing.