More from Robert Barnes' online discussion today:

Washington, DC: [T]he nuclear option wasn't about Roberts or Scalia. It was about the Dems filibustering qualified appeals court nominees..such as Miguel Estrada. Who, we know from memos leaked from Durbin's office, was held up because left-wing interests groups considered him a threat for the SC because he was Latino.

...

Robert Barnes: Interesting that Estrada held up because of Democratic concerns he could become first Hispanic justice, and Sotomayor's nomination to the 2nd Circuit held up by Republicans for just the same reason. Seems to reinforce the perceived political potency of such an appointment.

Estrada's qualifications are subject to some debate: he had no judicial experience, and refused to make available materials he wrote while working for the Solicitor General. Democrats also objected to his refusal to answer questions about his judicial philosophy. So Barnes probably shouldn't have agreed that Estrada was “held up because of Democratic concerns he could become first Hispanic justice.”

Further, Barnes probably shouldn't have accepted the description of the memos as having been “leaked.” Evidence suggests they were stolen by GOP aides.