Republican Senate leaders are touting a deal they struck with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., to avoid the “nuclear option,” a procedural maneuver that would have allowed Reid to eliminate the filibuster on presidential nominations. Next time, they should just let Reid pull the trigger.

Partisan attitudes toward the filibuster typically vary based on which party is in control of the Senate. In 2005, when they were in the minority, Democrats thought the filibuster was sacred, while Republicans supported changing the rules. Now the situation is reversed.