Editor, Gazette-Journal:

The tumultuous events in Washington last week, ending in the Senate rule change to make the confirmation of Judge Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, have brought the matter of partisan bickering to national attention. The Democratic leadership, aware that they did not have the votes to defeat Judge Gorsuch, attempted a filibuster to usurp control from the elected majority in the Senate.

The origin of the term filibuster may itself be an indication of the mindset of the Democratic leadership. Filibuster derives from the French “filibustier,” which is a corruption of the Dutch “vrijbutier,” meaning freebooter or simply a pirate. The parliamentary term means to sabotage the proceedings or to steal control of the process.

Sen. Schumer, when the Democrats controlled the Senate in 2008, decried such actions by Republicans, calling them “the party of No.” Now in the minority, Democrats see nothing wrong in acting in the same manner.

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