Knee Jerk Reactionaries

The Democrats prove themselves to be knee jerk reactionaries. Again. President Bush announces his pick for the open position on the SCOTUS, and before the t.v. cameras and lights can cool down, Senators Patrick Leahy and Charles Schumer are picking a fight in response.
Why is it that President Bill Clinton was able to have his extremist nominee, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, confirmed, but President Bush will have to fight an ugly battle in order to confirm a talented, level-headed judge? Oh yeah, we're talking about Democrats, aren't we?