This WaPo article argues that the stakes are extremely high for liberal interest groups in the Supreme Court nomination battle:

After failing repeatedly in recent years to stop the advance of a conservative agenda by the Republican-controlled White House and Congress, a once-powerful liberal coalition is making what amounts to a last stand over control of the Supreme Court.

If the Coalition for a Fair and Independent Judiciary the lobbyists head is unsuccessful, it will risk not only seeing the courts tilt decidedly more conservative but also seeing the liberal movement lose further credibility as an organizing and advocacy force in Washington. "The stakes are enormous -- they could not be any higher for us," Aron said. "Progressive organizations throughout the country understand how much is at stake with a change on the Supreme Court."

This is, of course, a little overblown, but the Bush Administration can’t afford to hand them even a proverbial moral victory.

Oh yeah, and
the meet-ups have begun.