For 3 days this week, Judge John Roberts fielded questions from Senators conducting public hearings on his nomination to become the next Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. And, by acclamation, Roberts gave a tour de force during which he displayed promethean jurisprudential skills with Zen-like humility.
By contrast, no doubt due to the partisan nature of such hearings, Republican Senators came off as craven enablers by gratuitously “clarifying” some of Roberts’ answers that I suspect were vague by intelligent design. And Democrats fared no better as Roberts made them look like jackasses as they tried in vain to entrap him – as much on political policy as on points of law. (A spectacle, incidentally, which even yellow dog Democrats would now concede was rather like watching keystone cops trying to trap the great Houdini.)
Therefore, barring an act of God, Judge John Roberts will be confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a floor vote scheduled for next Thursday. And deservedly so!
Note: Will women NOW be forced into dark alleys for abortions? No! Will blacks be forced to sit in the back of the bus again? No! And all who sounded such polarizing alarms at the hearings revealed more about their own ignorance than about any prejudice Judge Roberts might harbour.
Frankly, I would have preferred a nominee for this position more in the judicial mold of Thurgood Marshall than William Rehnquist (Roberts’ mentor). Nevertheless, President Bush nominated a man who even rabid Democrat Sen. Chuck Schumer admits is probably the most qualified person ever nominated to the Supreme Court. And for this Bush should be commended.
Meanwhile, it is a curious thing that those who protest loudest about almost anything Bush does are often the ones who did not even bother to vote. So here’s a shout out to haters and naysayers like Kanye West and Cindy Sheehan: organize and mobilize your people to vote in ’08. Then maybe your candidate (Hillary Clinton?) will be where Bush is today with the prerogative to appoint Judges and pursue policies that are more to your liking.
Until then, please shut up!
News and Politics
Anonymous says
i watched almost every minute of the hearings and you hit the nail right on the head. he made all of the senators look like fools. i’m still concerned though that he may reverse roe. and i’m a republican.
Anonymous says
I tuned in and out. You seem really sure of what he will and won’t do. Why was he so vague when asked about Roe?
The democrats have really been turned into a group of buffoons. At every turn they attempt a Monica Lewinsky type coop and are always dwarted by the other side. I agree; they should have just kept their yaps shut.
Noel
Anonymous says
Shut up? Are we no longer entitled to express how we feel even if it does not meet your intellectual standard?
Les
Anonymous says
get over yourself les –
i doubt ipinions was referring to you; unless you’re one one of those celebrity airheads polluting public discourse with ignorant and unhelpful accusations on tv.