The Washington Post reports Senate Democrats Want To Retain the Right to Block Judicial Nominees. "If they, for whatever reason, decide to do this, it's not only wrong, they will rue the day they did it, because we will do whatever we can do to strike back," Senate Democratic leader, Harry M. Reid, said last week. "I know procedures around here. And I know that there will still be Senate business conducted. But I will, for lack of a better word, screw things up."

What in the world is going on here? The Dem.s speak as if it is routine for the minority party to filibuster judicial nominations. It is not. Historically speaking, this is brand spanking new AND unconstitutional."

Judicial votes are decided based on a simple majority. To stop a filibuster takes 60 votes. There are a number of circumstances in which it is appropriate for the minority party to filibuster. Judicial nominations just do not happen to be one of them. Specifically, the Consitution speaks to the President's and Senate's role in appointing judges. The President "by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate ... shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for."

There is nothing in the Constitution, in Senate history, or anywhere else which indicates it is appropriate for the Senate to filibuster judicial nominations. It is time for the minority party in the Senate to realize that we know they are pushing the envelope far beyond what we can reasonably expect of those WE PUT IN OFFICE TO REPRESENT US.

The Constitution is the foundation. Senators who do not obey it will be identified and fought hard against in their next races. We have lost patience with this ridiculous behavior.