[pmiller2]

> Since the Constitution expressly places the approval of judges into the hands of the senate....

> [...] if the voters had chosen Hilary there is a very good chance she would have nominated a more leftist judge than Obama had.

Under your logic, they could have just waited for a Republican to become president before they voted to confirm any judges. Granted, that would have been an even bigger gamble (what if they lose the majority in the Senate in the meantime?), and even more justices could die or retire in the meantime.

How many seats need to be open before you would say the Senate must confirm someone? (1? 2? 5? 9?) How long are they allowed to wait? (6 months? a year? 4 years? 8 years?) . How dysfunctional could our government become before your logic implies the need to act?