:has and :not pseudo-selectors don't play well together

[nkallen]

$('tr:has(td.name:contains(bob))') // this works

$('tr:has(td.name:not(:contains(bob)))') // this doesn't

$('td.name:not(:contains(bob))') // this does

See http://pastie.caboo.se/177061 for full details

[upandhigh]

as I know atm jQuery supports only one level nesting. so it's because your second variant doesn't work.

tr:has(td.name:not(someval)) - it's one level nesting and this one is OK tr:has(td.name:not(:contains(someval))) - this one is second level nesting and atm jQuery doesn't support it.