Now that the Senate has agreed to Majority Leader Harry Reid's “ nuclear option” rule change, ending filibusters of judicial nominations by allowing 51 Senators to confirm judges, it's a good time to look at how his position has evolved since the Nevada Democrat was in the minority and leading filibusters of his own in 2005:

Harry Reid then: “My Republican colleagues claim that nominees are entitled to an up-down vote. That claim ignores history, including recent history.” (floor speech, April 26, 2005)

Harry Reid now: “These nominees deserve at least an up-or-down vote. But Republican filibusters deny them a fair vote and deny the president his team.”

Harry Reid then: “Some in this chamber want to throw out 214 years of Senate history in the quest for absolute power … They think they’re wiser than our founding fathers. I doubt that that’s true.” (floor speech, May 18, 2005)

Harry Reid now: "This is not about Democrats versus Republicans. This is about making Washington work – regardless of who’s in the White House or who controls the Senate. To remain relevant and effective as an institution, the Senate must evolve to meet the challenges of a modern era.”

Harry Reid, later: The nuclear option, “simply put, would be the end of the United States Senate.” (from the book The Good Fight: Hard Lessons from Searchlight to Washington, 2008)

Harry Reid now: “It’s time to change the Senate before this institution becomes obsolete.”