Understanding before disagreeing

President Obama used a great phrase today in introducing Elena Kagan as his Supreme Court nominee - "understanding before disagreeing".

It's a great approach - listen, gather facts, understand the arguments, and then and only then make up your mind.

Certainly hope this comment truly reflects her approach. Now we just have to hope that the nomination review and confirmation processes are conducted in a civil and thoughtful fashion and not in the court of "outraged sound bites".