Democrats argued that Republicans were slavishly following Bush's desire to rewrite Senate rules to free up his nominations of Estrada and Owen to federal appeals courts. They said the Senate has approved 127 of the 129 Bush nominees to the bench that the Senate has considered.
"Because it's not 100 percent, we are entertaining changing the rules," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. "It's almost like a temper tantrum."
In a brief interview after the hearing, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said he has not discussed with Frist whether he would resort to a ruling from the Senate chair to end nomination filibusters. Such a ruling would enrage Democrats.
"I'd rather not even entertain such an unthinkable act. I'd think nobody would ever allow something as radical and dramatic as that," he said.
Not that we have experienced anything else radical and dramatic with this administration.