I have a suggestion for the Democrats in the Senate. If you want to make a little noise by delaying the vote on the first African-American woman to be nominated for Secretary of State, it might be a good idea to choose someone who isn't a former member of the Ku Klux Klan to put up the "dip" sign.

Underscoring the Democrats' dissatisfaction, Senator Robert C. Byrd, an outspoken critic of the decision to go to war, announced late in the day that he would not allow the Senate to approve Ms. Rice without a few days of consideration of her lengthy testimony, and at least a token debate on the floor. His refusal to join in the unanimous consent of all senators for a quick vote effectively torpedoed the administration's hopes to have her nomination approved Thursday.

"Senator Byrd and others believe that the Senate's advise-and-consent constitutional responsibilities are not a rubber stamp," Mr. Byrd's spokesman said.

Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb.