Senate Democrats now want "consultation"

Senate Democrats want the President to consult with them on any Supreme Court nominee. They say they want a "fair and reasoned confirmation process."

Really? What happened when the President nominated Miguel Estrada for an Appellate Court seat?

With a few exceptions, Senate Democrats claimed they didn't have enough information to give him an up or down vote. So, they wouldn't allow one.

But the American Bar Association had enough information on Estrada to give him its highest rating, Highly Qualified. The vote by the ABA's committee on judicial nominations was unanimous.

For years, the Democrats refused to confirm Justice Priscilla Owen, even though she too had the ABA's highest rating with a unanimous vote.

A senior Senate Democrat, Tom Harkin, said he couldn't vote for Owen becasue she was "a whacko."

Based on their record, expecting Senate Democrats to respond to consultation in a "fair and reasoned" way is like expecting Senator Clinton to take good care of your law firm's records.