the senate is actually doing something?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

I've turned on C? Spun 2 and to my surprise, one of three nominees to the federal bench was approved, by a huge majority.
Now, Nancy Rosenstengel in Illinois is rolling 84+ in favor, to nada against.
Problem is, she was nominated 7 months ago, and has been stewing and cooling her heels because of GOP obstruction.
My problem is that I know nothing about her, other than she was the clerk of the court for some time in Central Ill.

There is yet a 3d nominee up today. If they get three passed today, I will be amazed. Perhaps the GOP was reeling from the beatings in the polls about their obstructionism. More likely, some DINOs probably agreed to support them in secret on some dastardly decision.

[frazzled]

1. It's because they can't filibuster nominations anymore

The rules were changed by Harry Reid in November:

Under the change, the Senate will be able to cut off debate on executive and judicial branch nominees with a simple majority rather than rounding up a supermajority of 60 votes. The new precedent established by the Senate on Thursday does not apply to Supreme Court nominations or legislation itself.

It represented the culmination of years of frustration over what Democrats denounced as a Republican campaign to stall the machinery of Congress, stymie President Obama’s agenda and block his choices for cabinet posts and federal judgeships by insisting that virtually everything the Senate approves be done by a supermajority.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/22/us/politics/reid-sets-in-motion-steps-to-limit-use-of-filibuster.html