WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF ANDREW CARD: "We'd like to see the constitutional option such that all of our nominees have a chance to vote...we'd like to see all of these nominees have a chance to get an up or down vote on the floor of the Senate."

He also wasn't too keen on any compromise that might be made with Senate Democrats such that only a few of the nominees would get a vote.

With the White House making its position unambiguously clear, and Senator Bill Frist rejecting anything less than 100 percent of the nominees getting a vote, its seems clear that we are soon going to see the constitutional option invoked. That is, unless the Democrats back down. That is not likely, as they have been in clear denial about the results of last November's election, and have sought to act as if they are the majority party in the Senate with their threat to filibuster the president's judicial nominees.

It appears as if this strong reminder to the Democrats that they are not - in fact - the majority party in the Senate will soon be justifiably issued.

(Mr. Card made his remarks on Fox News Sunday.)