In the latest escalation of a hyperpartisan struggle over nominations, Republicans would dearly like to abbreviate the confirmation timetable and deprive Democrats of one of their last remaining weapons to register opposition to Trump nominees they consider objectionable.

There is another beat-the-clock aspect at work, as well. With both parties now seeing at least a possibility that Democrats could recapture the Senate in the midterm elections in November, Senate Republicans know that time could be running short on their ability to force through Trump nominees. They would like to take full advantage while they are certain to maintain control.

If Democrats were to rule the Senate next year, they would no doubt be very deliberate — to say the least — about bringing to the floor Trump administration candidates for the bench and top federal agency jobs. At the same time, they would face tremendous pressure from liberal advocacy groups and constituents to stall Trump picks as payback for Republican stonewalling in 2016 of the Supreme Court nomination of Merrick B. Garland by President Barack Obama as well as their deep discontent with the quality and ideology of many nominees from this White House so far.