Hold On

Kudos to the Wall Street Journal editorial page today (as usual, no link--I'm reading the dead-tree edition because I don't have access to the subscription-only online version), for casting a spotlight on the widespread--and highly undemocratic--tradition under which senators can place "holds" on presidential nominees, delaying or preventing confirmation votes. While all of the fuss lately has been over filibusters and whether GOP senators will use the "nuclear option" to end their use for judicial nominations, little attention has been paid to this other, even more pernicious, practice. At least with filibusters, senators can be made to stand up and state their reasons for opposing a nominee. But they can use holds to indefinitely block nominations for any reason--or no reason--and anonymously, to boot.