A Specter Hangs Over the Confirmation Hearings

None of us know what a Justice John Roberts would be like. We live with the memory of Souter in our minds. We have a different deal in that Roberts is more of a known than Souter. He has gained conservative credentials with prior service in Republican administrations and has shown good poise and judgement in his two years on the appellate bench.

The idea though, that the Dem's will give him a free ride is fantasy. The left wing organizations have their knives sharpened for his castration. Kennedy, Shumer et al are salivating. No one that Bush could nominate could avoid this. First, because the only thing the left has going for it is to get what they want through the courts, avoiding the legislative process. Second, as with every thing else, this is about George Bush and the conservatives of this country. This is another way to vent their wrath at the fact they are in control.

All in all, you still would think his chances of confirmation are good. He doesn't seem to have visible baggage that could be dragged before the public. He was only two years ago confirmed for the Appellate bench with a 16-3 committee vote and a voice vote in the Senate. He knowingly hasn't been controversial since. Because of these facts, it would seem that the seven Dem's who thwarted the nuclear effort would look rather bad if they reneged and declared Roberts an extremist in order to block his confirmation.

Still a "Specter" hangs over the proceedings. Arlen Specter is about as dependable as a long range weather forecast. A closet Democrat, he could be the fly in the ointment by conducting a hearing which allowed the Kennedy-Schumer smear to drag on and by not standing up for his party and his President's nominee. If he lets this turn into another Clarence Thomas freak show or Robert Bork lynching he should be at least relieved of his committee chair, if not drummed out of the Republican party.