Hurry up and wait.

It appears, despite President Bush's wishes to have a new Supreme Court Justice on the Bench by the end of 2005, confirmation hearings for Samuel Alito were pushed back until January, 2006.

Announcing Alito's nomination on Monday, Bush said he wanted the Senate to act "before the end of this year."

But committee Chairman Arlen Specter said that "simply couldn't be done" because of the volume of writings Alito has produced in 15 years as a judge.

The Pennsylvania Republican said senators need time to comb through about 300 opinions the New Jersey-based nominee has issued on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

"We have to do it right. We can't do it fast," Specter said. (Translation: "We have to do it right. We need more time to try to find some dirt on this guy--and hey--that ain't easy!")

He said the committee's staff was stretched "very, very thin" by the confirmation process for Chief Justice John Roberts, who was confirmed in September, and by the failed nomination of White House Counsel Harriet Miers, who dropped out of the process last week.

Specter said hearings will start January 9, with a vote by the full Senate tentatively scheduled for January 20. (my birthday--Yayyy!)