On Roberts

We pride ourselves on living in the reality based community. Facts are important to us. It is a fact that the President must select and nominate candidates for Surpreme Court Justices. Bush has fulfilled this duty with the nomination of John Roberts.

In making his decision, he could have kept true to form and selected a right wing idealogue and jammed him or her down the throats of the nation. As far as I can tell, He didn't. There isn't much to consider on the opinions of Mr. Roberts - he has not published that many. The arguments he advanced in the service of his largely Republican or Conservative Business paymasters aren't really valid. They are opinions for hire. He seems to have garnered a large degree of respect and admiration from a wide range of people.

It has been demonstrated over time that Supreme Court Justices wander off the ideological range once they are confirmed. Roberts does not have the air, academic record, references, or legislative record of a radical. He is a conservative, but did anybody expect a conservative president to nominate a liberal judge? Bush did the country a favor - possibly the only thing I can point to in his two terms that I consider vaguely positive. I believe that Bush should be impeached. That doesn't change the fact that Roberts is a substantial intellect and a substantial human being.

NARAL, MoveOn, Planned Parenthood, are all putting resources into protesting Roberts' nomination. I wish they wouldn't. Don't get me wrong. Roberts should be subjected to a rigorous, thorough, nomination process. He should be examined at the molecular level. If a judicial red flag emerges, then legislators should vote against him. But my guess is that one won't, and he will pass. He will pass because of the balance of power is in GOP hands, for sure, but he may also pass because he is an acceptable candidate.

Democrats have limited political capital and power at the moment. We would do well to acknowledge a compromise when it is staring us in the face. I would rather conserve resources and energy in anticipation of a larger fight later this year.