Peggy Noonan suggests that Rush, Newt, conservative activists are “idiots” for attacking Sotomayor

She laments the Republican knee-jerk fascination with "exciting the base."

Another told me a [Supreme Court nomination] fight is needed to excite the base.

Excite the base? How about excite a moderate, or interest an independent? How about gain the attention of people who aren't already on your side?

When you're at 20% in the polls, your problem isn't exciting your base. It's how to hide it.