An old adage called “Miles’ Law” reads: Where you stand depends on where you sit. That’s a mild way of saying that politicians are often hypocrites. They profess to be acting on principle, but their perspective has a way of changing when they shift roles.

As Democrats solidify their power on Capitol Hill, after 12 years in purgatory, the wisdom of Miles’ Law is being demonstrated daily. Both parties have adopted tactics they condemned just a few months ago when employed by their rivals. And both have expressed shock – shock! – that the other side could be so perfidious.

Start with the decision of Senate Republicans to use a filibuster to block debate on a resolution criticizing the president’s Iraq policies. Last year, those very same Republicans were outraged at Democrats who filibustered several of President Bush’s nominees to the federal bench.

Republicans claim that nominations are a special case, that Democrats were abusing the Constitution and undermining the right of a duly elected president to shape the courts.

But Democrats rode to power last fall on rising disenchantment with the disaster in Iraq. By preventing debate on that issue, Republicans were doing exactly what they accused Democrats of doing – thwarting the will of the majority.