Judicial Appointments

As HughHewitt and Instapundit noticed, Barbara Boxer wants to change the Constitution to require a supermajority for judicial confirmation. RadioBlogger has a tape of the MoveOn rally of Democratic all-stars, and Barbara said:

Why would we give lifetime appointments to people who earn up to $200,000 a year, with absolutely a great retirement system, and all the things all Americans wish for, with absolutely no check and balance except that one confirmation vote. So we're saying we think you ought to get nine votes over the 51 required. That isn't too much to ask for such a super important position. There ought to be a super vote. Don't you think so? It's the only check and balance on these people. They're in for life. They don't stand for election like we do, which is scary.

You can't believe she would be stupid enough to actually say that? Well listen to her say it.

I wonder what Barbara's opinion would be if the situation was reversed, i.e. if the Dems held the White House, the Senate, and the House, and the Republicans wanted to block a Democratic President's appointments that had the support of a majority of the Senate. No, really I don't wonder. I know what she would think. She would think that the Republicans were just being mean, and she would support stopping any Republican filibuster.

RadioBlogger also quotes what RobertByrd said:

Some in the United States Senate want to bully the American people and the Senate and force feed us far right wing judges. We cannot let them do it. Don't let them do it. Speak out. Tell the people. Get the people. Get the people. We cannot let them do it. Their view of the Constitution is based on the opinions of a fancy Washington law firm. Our view, your view, of the Constitution is based on the plain words of the framers who wrote that Constitution.

Radioblogger gave a very appropriate analysis Time out. The Democrat's view, and the public's view, is based on the plain words of the framers? The plain words that say 51 votes to confirm a nominee is all that is required? Those plain words?

See my earlier blog for further information on Byrd's position.

The Democrats are so upset at the fact that they don't control the White House, the Senate, or the House, and they are determined to use any means possible to prevent Bush from appointing any more conservative judges. See Judicial Confirmation Statistics for a very good analysis