Friday, July 22, 2005

John Roberts to replace Sandra Day O'Connor?

As everyone who hasn't been hiding under a rock (or on a remote island in the Pacific) knows by now, John Roberts has been nominated for appointment by President Bush to the Supreme Court, replacing the increasingly liberal Sandra Day O'Connor.

At first I was very nervous, since he doesn't really have enough of a paper trail to prove he's as much a strict constructionist conservative as he should be (in the mold of Clarence Thomas & Antonin Scalia, as President Bush has promised in two presidential campaigns)...

Ann Coulter@anncoulter.com: Souter in Roberts' Clothing
Ben Shapiro@townhall: President Bush's...pick disappoints
Fred Barnes@weeklystandard.com: The Safe Pick
Charles Krauthammer@townhall: What kind of Justice will we get?

To be honest, I felt the same way: Roberts is a safe pick, but the chatter we're hearing about John Roberts seems uncomfortably similar to the chatter surrounding the Souter confirmation way back when I was a kid.

But the more I think about it, the more I think I am just being paranoid. And it helps to read the multitude of conservative viewpoints which sound the familiar refrain: "All is well. (or, at least it is going to be better than it was with Sandra)"

Cal Thomas@townhall.com
Larry Kudlow@townhall.com: A 'supreme' pick for business
The Editors@nationalreview.com: Trading Up
Shannen W. Coffin@nationalreview.com: Meet John Roberts
humaneventsonline.com: Conservatives Rush to Support Roberts
Terry Eastland@weeklystandard.com: Reading Roberts's Mind
Fred Barnes@weeklystandard.com: Souter-phobia

While I am not completely sold on John Roberts, he certainly seems to be the real deal...without much of a paper trail, of course. President Bush sure pulled a smooth one with the Introduction of John Roberts:

1) He took his case directly to the American People...a young, handsome, family man who has incredibly good credentials, on live television cannot be borked by a raging Ted Kennedy.

2) The speculation centered upon anybody but Roberts in the days and hours preceding the announcement: Excellent leak control. Well done, Mr. President!

3) Many conservatives are really talking Roberts up. He's being burnished to a bright glow.

The way Bush has handled this has driven the likelihood of a filibuster down to the single digits, IMHO. The Democrats would look incredibly mean and bitter to violently oppose him with the President's smooth introduction. Here's to hoping Roberts is the Strict Constructionist Conservative we're all praying he is. Have a great weekend!

posted by American Patriot at 9:28 PM