In the run-up to the 2000 decision of Bush v. Gore, the Republican establishment worked tirelessly to frame the events of those days as a 'constitutional crisis' -- a situation so dire, so delicate -- as to threaten the very foundation of our nation's existence.

So, it was with great relief that Justice Scalia hastily passed down the high court's decision to forego a genuine manual recount and award to George W. Bush the White House and all its associated powers, real or imagined.

Little did the Supremes (or the rest of the Republican establishment) imagine that those actions would be the catalyst that set forth a series of unfortunate, unforgivable, and completely unnecessary, events that would eventually lead to a genuine constitutional crises -- a situation truly dire and legitimately threatening to the founding principles of America.

But here we are -- crisis in hand.