The debate begins...

The Senate has begun debate on the constitutional option (to allow floor debate & then an up or down vote on judicial nominees). Well, technically the debate is about nominee Priscilla Owen... her nomination is the battleground over the issue.

The NRO editorial on this begins thus:

The Democratic position on the filibuster comes down to this: Senators should not be allowed to vote up or down on judges, because judges have to stay in the business of keeping voters from being able to decide policy issues. Anti-democratic ends justify anti-democratic means.

That pretty much sums it up.

If Democrats don't like Bush's nominees, fine. Just win the White House and nominate your own people. If they don't like being in the minority (and hence unable to vote down nominees on their own), fine. Just win back the majority in the Senate.

But don't change minority rights to minority rule.