Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy has made a proposal to President Bush: consult democratic leaders before nominating a replacement for any retiring Supreme Court Justice. The President would be wise to agree--otherwise, as Leahy warns, there will be a political war.

"Though the landscape ahead is sown with the potential for controversy and contention over vacancies that may arise on the court, contention is avoidable, and consensus should be our goal," Mr. Leahy wrote on Wednesday. "I would hope your objective will not be to send the Senate nominees so polarizing that their confirmations are eked out in narrow margins."

Consultation with the minority party in the Senate would not be a first.

Mr. Leahy and Mr. Schumer noted that the chairman of the committee, Senator Orrin G. Hatch, Republican of Utah, had taken some credit for advising President Bill Clinton in his selection of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer for the Supreme Court.

Bush has not responded. Nor is he likely to. We hope his arrogance results in all Democrats getting so angry they demand their senators filibuster all his candidates, not just the most objectionable ones. This is a democracy, not a dictatorship, and we should not allow Bush unlimited rein to pack our courts with right wing ideologues.

Supreme Court Justices serve for decades. Anyone Bush appoints will be shaping the law not just for our lifetimes, but for those of our children. Make yourself heard on this issue. It's really that important. Demand Bush respond to Leahy's reasonable request for consultation with Democratic leaders and consensus-building prior to committing to a Supreme Court replacement Justice.

Call your senators --bookmark the number--1-800-839-5276