While on the one hand, I understand that 1) these nominations are incredibly significant, and 2) that the Democrats are within their rights to do what they are doing (in terms of the rules), on the other hand the President has the right to nominate whomever he wishes, and the Republicans are in the majority. Further, if this is to the new standard, i.e., that 60 votes is needed to confirm a judge, then this represents a substantial alteration in the process–one that over time may come back to bite the Democrats.

Senate Democrats said Tuesday that they will block the judicial nomination of Priscilla Owen, marking the second time this year they’ve employed filibuster tactics to thwart President Bush’s efforts to name conservatives to the federal bench.

Further, the rationale behind these moves flies in the face of what one of the Democratic front-runners (Kerry) has stated publicly–which is that he would have a test for nominees: they would have to be pro-choice. Surely establishing that clear-cut a standard violates the spirit of the current push by Senate Democrats for “moderates” who won’t use “personal views” in their adjudicating.

Source: Senate Democrats plan new filibuster — this time for Texas justice / But they allow approval of another Bush nominee