Some week, huh?  Pope-emeritus  Benedict is gone as the first top prelate to retire since 1415.  Chuck Hagel is confirmed as the first defense nominee to be filibustered.  And Dennis Rodman  is the first NBA retiree to be dribbling around North Korea to teach the kids some basketball skills.

The only business-as-usual activity was Ohio Sen. Rob Portman’s vote against shutting down the filibuster.  Once again, Portman demonstrated that regardless of the generous references here and there  he is a right-leaning centrist,  he continues to vote on most occasions in the column that pleases the Republican fringe.

But the confirmation was […]