Too Many Indians, One Too Many Chiefs

It's not hard to imagine why New York's senators voted against Roberts' confirmation as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. But could they have been seriously attacked from the Left if they'd voted to confirm? With confirmation a foregone conclusion, there was an opportunity to give him a full pass and then at least claim that W owes them greater consideration on the next nomination -- with the unveiled threat that they'll really go after the nominee if the Democrats' cooperation in the Roberts confirmation goes unrewarded.

As it is, everyone knows that whoever Bush II nominates will be opposed by the Democrats just out of mindless reflex unless it is someone the Democrats propose. Given that laughable idea, the Democrats should have recognized that Roberts is absolutely the best they could have ever hoped for as the nominee for chief justice from this administration. At the very least, he has proven willing to give uncredited advice to a cause he does not relish, and he talks consistently and passionately about the integrity of the legal process and the roles therein. There is a very good chance that as chief justice he won't be strong-arming anyone toward his views. That he emphasized the importance of precedent was a signal that he was not Clarence Thomas. For that matter, you've got to allow the possibility that the decisions he makes will be mostly determined by the facts in the cases as they are presented instead of his views on larger issues.

Now all the senators get is the right to say they fought the good fight and opposed the right-wing assault on women's rights and liberalism in general. They achieved nothing except to prove their causes more irrelevant. Perhaps they can reflect on the experience and muster enough backbone and savvy to do what they were supposed to do in the first place.

Next time, try winning the fucking election so you determine the short list.

"They hate us for our freedom..." This is no time for the Lame Game.