This was inevitable. Voters gave Republicans significantly more power to stop the far-left agenda in the Senate, so now Senate Democrats will attempt to counter voters’ decisions by eliminating the filibuster. That would allow Democrats to ram through legislation without having to win approval from 60 senators.

At a caucus meeting this week attended only by Senators and no staff, Reid and fellow Dems devoted a significant chunk of time to a discussion about specific ideas on how to proceed, the aide says.

Word of Reid’s machinations comes after the National Journal reported yesterday that all the returning Democratic Senators have indicated support for efforts at reform, and are urging Reid to press forward at the start of the new year.

Though Reid has said in the past that he’s generally supportive of reform, it has been unclear whether he would support active measures to make it happen. But the senior Dem leadership aide says Reid is already working on specific steps forward.

“They are already talking it through and devising a plan,” the aide said of Reid and fellow Dems, adding that Reid is having “conversations” with other members of the caucus “about the best way to move forward.”

Democrats had no problem using the filibuster while in the minority, but now Republicans will need to be included in discussions for legislation to win approval in the Senate. So suddenly Democrats want to kill the filibuster. They’re a bunch of hypocrites but we knew that already.

I’d be careful I were Democrats. They should stop being short-sighted and look further into the future. They won’t remain in the majority forever, and eliminating the 60-vote threshold won’t be pleasant for them when Republicans regain the majority (likely in 2012).