Monday, September 26, 2005
Pattern of Politics
Although it is generally conceded by even the Democrats on the Judicial Committee that Chief Justice nominee John Roberts is supremely qualified for the job, not all of them voted for him and in the general vote among all the Senate this week not all of the Democrat Senators will vote for him either. These ones will:
Bill Nelson of Florida, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Max Baucus of Montana, Robert Byrd of West Virginia, Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, Herb Kohl of Wisconsin and Ken Salazar of Colorado.
With the exception of Leahy, which came as a surprise to nearly everyone, and the Wisconsin Senators (more surprises), there is a commonality among all these men. It's not, I believe, a desire to put the best, or one of the best persons for the job on the Supreme Court. It's that they are in red states--states that went for President Bush, usually in a big way, last election. The pattern, I believe, betrays any claim of principle.
UPDATE: Roberts was confirmed by the Senate 78 to 22, which means he received 8 more than I predicted. The bulk of his support from Democrat Senators came from red state Democrats, continuing the pattern noted above. I try to be as cynical as the next guy, but it's hard to keep up.
Bill Nelson of Florida, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Max Baucus of Montana, Robert Byrd of West Virginia, Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, Herb Kohl of Wisconsin and Ken Salazar of Colorado.
With the exception of Leahy, which came as a surprise to nearly everyone, and the Wisconsin Senators (more surprises), there is a commonality among all these men. It's not, I believe, a desire to put the best, or one of the best persons for the job on the Supreme Court. It's that they are in red states--states that went for President Bush, usually in a big way, last election. The pattern, I believe, betrays any claim of principle.
UPDATE: Roberts was confirmed by the Senate 78 to 22, which means he received 8 more than I predicted. The bulk of his support from Democrat Senators came from red state Democrats, continuing the pattern noted above. I try to be as cynical as the next guy, but it's hard to keep up.
# posted by Roger Fraley @ 6:43 AM 
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I'm not going to go that far. But, heck, I can't read these guys minds. I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and say they're voting for Roberts for the same reason the Republicans voted overwhelmingly for Justice Ginsberg
(sp?). However, because of the spread of red states I believe it is cynical and political self-interest.
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(sp?). However, because of the spread of red states I believe it is cynical and political self-interest.
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