Harry Reid, Senate Democrats and Republicrats (like Sens. McCain and Snowe), and liberal pundits have made noise recently regarding the need for checks and balances in the U.S. Senate in order to stifle President Bush’s choice of judicial nominees.

I offer a word of advice to my friends on the left. Next election, try running on a winning platform for a change, instead of the same old, tired socialist agenda.

The will of the people was clear in 2004. We re-elected a president who campaigned on a promise to see to it that his judicial nominees received an up-or-down vote in the Senate, and we increased the Republican majority in the Senate. Winning an election is the ultimate check and balance.

The left should stop whining about checks and balances and attempting to thwart the will of the people, and proceed with the business of the Senate.

Conversely, Sens. Snowe, Collins, et al. should not listen to the elites in the media and should move forward on this constitutional responsibility.

Doug Merrill

Verona Island