A page one story by Dan Balz in Friday’s Washington Post says a small group of Senators “working to avert a historic showdown over President Bush’s judicial nominees” are attempting to “codify the principles of trust.”

“Trust” is not a principle; it is a belief. If the Senators have justifiable trust in one another, it need not be codified. If they don’t, it can’t be codified.

As the article continues, it seems that Balz agrees. These Senators aren’t getting anywhere, says Balz: “…trust, rather than language, is at the heart of the impasse.”

Uh huh.