Salazar and the filibuster temptation

Published May 4, 2006 at midnight

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The "f" word - filibuster - is back, and again, Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar refuses to act on an unambiguous statement he made in September 2004: Every judicial nominee deserves an up-or-down vote in the Senate.

A new test comes from Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, who has threatened to block two pending appeals court selections - Brett Kavanaugh (nominated July 2003) and Terrence Boyle (nominated May 2001).

On Wednesday, Salazar said he would vote against Boyle - now a federal district judge in North Carolina - but remained wishy-washy when asked if he would join a filibuster. Salazar said he hopes to "work through the issue" with colleagues on the Gang of 14 senators who united to make filibusters less likely.

From what we know, Boyle may have earned a no vote. An article published this week in Salon.com found that he has presided over nine cases since his appeals-court nomination that involve corporations in which he has financial holdings. That violates the most basic notions of fairness.

Meantime, we guess Salazar and the gang hope Reid is bluffing. But if he isn't, Salazar should stick with what he said as a candidate.

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