NYT Editorial: The Center Can Hold
For those who think Washington is too bitterly divided, which is almost everyone, some relief could be in sight. The bipartisan "gang of 14" that struck a deal to save the filibuster could start to be a powerful force for centrism on the most divisive issue on Capitol Hill - judicial nominations. But for that to happen, moderate Republicans like Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, Lincoln Chafee and John McCain need to do two things: stick to their promise not to allow the filibuster to be eliminated and vote against the worst of President Bush's judicial nominees.
The vast majority of President Bush's judicial nominees have sailed through the Senate. But Democratic senators have, quite reasonably, blocked a handful of the most extreme ones. Bill Frist, the Senate majority leader, has been so irate that he has not been able to get every last nominee approved that he has threatened to do away with the centuries-old right of senators to filibuster. He has promoted this so-called "nuclear option" even though he himself once helped to filibuster a Clinton judicial nominee...
...There was, however, an encouraging sign that the days of Republican rubber-stamping could be waning. It was gratifying to see Senators Snowe and Collins from Maine and Senator Chafee from Rhode Island vote against William Pryor, another troubling nominee. We hope that they will vote more often in the future to oppose nominees who are radically out of step with the majority of voters in their states. Republican senators like John McCain, Chuck Hagel, Lindsey Graham and Mike DeWine, who pride themselves on their independence, should start proving it by not being automatic "yes" votes for the worst of the Bush judicial nominees.
The agreement signed by the 14 senators noted that the Constitution expects the president to consult with the Senate about judicial nominees, something this White House has refused to do. If the senators who signed the agreement insist that the White House talk to them in advance about possible nominees, it could go a long way toward defusing the bitterness that has descended on the judicial nomination process.
While Mr. Frist has been busy currying favor with the far right, Congress's approval has fallen to just 31 percent, according to a new Associated Press-Ipsos poll. The public has been clear that it wants Congress to put partisanship aside to focus on issues that matter to ordinary Americans. Mr. Frist should stop devoting so much energy to getting every last extremist judicial nominee approved, and start addressing the country's real problems.