Several ways of vetting judges have legitimacy. One is the select committee,another the permanent committee, third is deference to senators from the state that the candidate comes from. The last practice dates to the WASHINGTON administration. to extend the same courtesy to the minority party is absurd.
Note the quotation marks around 'advice and consent'. The Constitution is silent as to the exact protocol for 'advice and consent'. This was noted by no less an authority than Sen. Robert Byrd. Why doesn't the Republican majority simply send a letter signed by 51 senators to George Bush approving his appointee? Of course, it has never been done this way, but neither have filibusters been used the way the Democratic Party have been using them to block voting on judicial appointees. Just a thought.....