Recently Senator Al Franken, the liberal, former comedian from Minnesota, made waves when he decided to withhold his “blue slip” on Justice David Stras, who has been nominated for the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. In Senate tradition, they can’t move forward on a nominee unless both senators from that person’s home state return their blue slips as a gesture of solidarity. This tradition, however quaint, is also archaic and currently being wielded as a passive-aggressive weapon. It needs to be done away with entirely.

According to the most reliable of sources, Wikipedia, “In the Senate, a blue slip is an opinion written by a Senator from the state where a federal judicial nominee resides. Both senators from a nominee’s state are sent a blue slip in which they may submit a favorable or unfavorable opinion of a nominee. They may also choose not to return a blue slip.”