The Washington Post takes President Bush to task today on his judicial nominations in an editorial today:

Since taking office, though, Mr. Bush has behaved in a way that makes it harder for Democratic senators to act responsibly. He has largely failed to acknowledge their legitimate grievances about how a Republican-controlled Senate treated President Bill Clinton's nominees for six years. Instead, he bullheadedly sought to fill appeals court judgeships left vacant because of the recalcitrance of his own party, and he did so with scant consultation. What's more, he sometimes rubbed salt in the wound by nominating people to those seats who have staked out highly controversial and provocative ground, thereby apparently rewarding the misbehavior of his own party.

Bush the manipulator. Maybe it's Rove the manipulator, but same difference. The President rules only one branch. Checks and balances have never been more important. Because his appointees will serve for life, it's critical that the Senate remains vigilant. It will, if you do your part and email or telephone your Senator whenever a critcal judicial nominee is up for hearing. We'll keep you posted. Then you need to do your part.