First, he destroys the whole premise of his own argument:
Besides, the Constitution says each house of Congress "may determine the rules of its proceedings."
Then he constructs a straw man:
Some conservatives say there is a "constitutional right" to have an up-or-down Senate vote on nominees.
"Some conservatives"? No. Many conservatives say simply that the Constitution's "advise and consent" provision has been turned on its head by the Democrats with their wanton, unprecedented use of filibusters of TEN judicial nominees, I don't recall any conservatives claiming that an up-or-down vote was a "constitutional right". George then goes on to claim that conservatives would "rue the day" they changed the rule because, well, what if the shoes were on the other feet?
What planet is this guy on?
(The following is from: GO NUCLEAR!)
During the Robert Bork confirmation hearings the Democrats devised and unveiled the smear tactic now known colloquially as "Borking". Over the next fifteen years or so, the Democrats fine-tuned and expanded this "art of the smear". At one point they conducted what was for all intents and purposes an inquisition of Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas. Thomas himself referred to his "Borking" by the Democrats as a "high-tech lynching". Indeed it was. Fortunately, the Democrats' attempt to destroy Thomas failed and he was ultimately confirmed. It was also fortunate that the Democrats had not yet "progressed" to where they are today.
Fast forward a few years and today we see that the Democrats are filibustering any Republican nominee who appears to take the United States Constitution seriously. And they are doing so routinely!
* * * * * * *
As for the soon-to-be-outraged Democrats? Well, is there really any doubt that the party that invented "Borking" and has beaten the process down to the disgraceful low-point that we now have would "go nuclear" if the shoes were on the other feet? Please.... OF COURSE they would.
Is there really any doubt what the Democrats would do if the shoes were on the other feet?
When it comes to judicial nominations and filibusters, George Will should just stick to Baseball.