Isn't the filibuster, and its perennial use in the Senate, a pillar of democracy? The republican's endless attempts to virtually eliminate the filibuster (reduce the necessary number of votes from sixty to fifty-one) is an imminent threat against our democracy. And doesn't this clearly demonstrate the sheer contempt the GOP has for the majority of Americans? The United States is roughly 50-50; that, I presume, is a relatively safe conclusion, judging from the results of the last two presidential elections. And these judges (10 out of 44) are extremists. And wouldn't it be better, as it has always been done with the confirmation of judges in the Senate, to have a necessary sixty-percent vote on controversial judges that will be making many critical decisions on the the constitutionality of abortion bans, euthanasia, gun control, and more.