Courageous Democrats
An excellent Washington Post editorial today discussed the need for Democrats to do the right thing and vote for the confirmation of John Roberts as Chief Justice. As I discussed in Yes on Roberts, this would go a long way toward restoring a much-needed sense of integrity and seriousness in the Senate. The Washington Post said:
Supporting overwhelmingly qualified members of the opposite party for the Supreme Court used to be the norm, not an act of courage. Yet, set against the general opposition from Democrats to the nomination, and truly intense pressure from interest groups, the votes cast by ranking Democrat Patrick J. Leahy (Vt.) and Wisconsin's Herb Kohl and Russell Feingold took guts. Their votes ensure that Judge Roberts will not take the helm of the judiciary perceived as the representative of only one party, and they guarantee that at least some Democrats -- albeit sadly few -- will have the moral authority to demand Republican support for qualified liberal nominees in the future.
The larger Democratic opposition to Judge Roberts represents a disturbing departure from longtime Senate practice. ... In refusing to support an indisputably qualified conservative, Democrats send a message that there is a strongly partisan component of the task of judging -- something those who believe in independent, apolitical courts must reject.
The three senators who voted yes are taking a beating from liberal groups for it. ... The liberal groups have made clear that they will oppose any nominee from this administration, regardless of qualifications.... Never mind waiting to find out who the nominee is or what he or she happens to believe.... In opposing Judge Roberts, some Democrats are following these groups off a cliff. The Judiciary Committee Democrats who refused to jump deserve credit for showing backbone.
No doubt there are diehard partisans in the Senate who can't bring themselves to act in the best interests of the country. For them, ideology is the absolute first priority. But I don't think many of them are that extreme. If Roberts is confirmed by at least 80 votes, it will mean that the majority of Democrats in the Senate had the courage to do the right thing, despite intense pressure from the far left. We'll see.
Supporting overwhelmingly qualified members of the opposite party for the Supreme Court used to be the norm, not an act of courage. Yet, set against the general opposition from Democrats to the nomination, and truly intense pressure from interest groups, the votes cast by ranking Democrat Patrick J. Leahy (Vt.) and Wisconsin's Herb Kohl and Russell Feingold took guts. Their votes ensure that Judge Roberts will not take the helm of the judiciary perceived as the representative of only one party, and they guarantee that at least some Democrats -- albeit sadly few -- will have the moral authority to demand Republican support for qualified liberal nominees in the future.
The larger Democratic opposition to Judge Roberts represents a disturbing departure from longtime Senate practice. ... In refusing to support an indisputably qualified conservative, Democrats send a message that there is a strongly partisan component of the task of judging -- something those who believe in independent, apolitical courts must reject.
The three senators who voted yes are taking a beating from liberal groups for it. ... The liberal groups have made clear that they will oppose any nominee from this administration, regardless of qualifications.... Never mind waiting to find out who the nominee is or what he or she happens to believe.... In opposing Judge Roberts, some Democrats are following these groups off a cliff. The Judiciary Committee Democrats who refused to jump deserve credit for showing backbone.
No doubt there are diehard partisans in the Senate who can't bring themselves to act in the best interests of the country. For them, ideology is the absolute first priority. But I don't think many of them are that extreme. If Roberts is confirmed by at least 80 votes, it will mean that the majority of Democrats in the Senate had the courage to do the right thing, despite intense pressure from the far left. We'll see.
27 Comments:
In the comment thread of your previous post on this issue you said:
You'll note that for Ginsburg and Breyer (97-3 and 87-9), both Clinton nominees, Republicans suspended their partisan hackery long enough to show some class.
The Breyer confirmation was the most recent Senate confirmation of a USSC nomination. Of the 44 GOP Senators eligible to vote in the affirmative 9 voted against confirmation and 2 declined to vote at all (as did 2 Democrats). That's a full 25% of Senate GOPers who declined to "show some class" or "do the right thing" as the Post's editorial puts it.
Just to put that into perspective... In the Breyer case, the most recent presidential election revealed that more than 62% of Americans had declined to put a GOPer into the White House where he could nominate USSC Justices. Yet fully 25% of Senate GOPers declined to rubberstamp Clinton's nominee.
So where is the "moral authority" to demand opposition support of which the Post's editorial staff speaks?
Given the history and the relevant numbers, isn't it stunningly self-evident that the Post's editorial is itself partisan?
Regardless of who is in oval office, who is in the Senate... if a person is extremely qualified, didn't that used to matter? How frustrating.
Kevin, there's something stunningly self-evident here, but it isn't the Post's editorial.
Indeed, what is self evident is the fuzzy logic and hypocrisy of the right. You can't get as partisan as the GOP.
I agree with the blog. They did their job as the opposition party by grilling the nominee. Now its time to be realistic and vote for the most mainstream candidate Bush is ever going to submit.
Hey Tom, I hope you are all right.
I've been missing your posts.
MOM, thanks for asking! I've been in Texas for a few weeks dealing with some time-consuming problems. I'll be back soon!
Good grief. You left wing nut jobs are so holding out hope for some unqualified lacky to come along and reverse Roe V Wade. Four words...Never Going To Happen.
Democrates could you get an MBNA investigation for deceptive advertising. And why is it that the companies that are governed by agenencies to address and stop thier unethical behaviors and practices the same companies those agencise are controled by?????????
why should a democrate vote to confirm if he doesn't think he will be a good judge? why do you want the senators to just stop thinking and vote yes to confirm on whom ever is in front of them?
I just had to tell you. My sister Donna's got a NEW ASS!
It's sure been quiet here lately. What would you think about having Larry Wilkerson join the Supremes?
Tom, hope those problems clear up soon. Miss your posts.
Just wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving.
Tom, I hope everything's okay with you and that you had a good Thanksgiving.
Oh yasss....nothing beats killing a half dozen babies before breakfast. You see, it's part of a satanic ritual that puts a curse on rightwingnuts and makes their brains turn into tapioca.
Seems to be working just great.
Where are you? Hope you're OK.
It seems to me that the "confirmation process" makes it impossible for anyone to do the right thing. A really good candidate would never make it through the process or more likely would tell all politicians to take a long walk off of a short pier within the first two hours.
If we want to better America we need to limit government and politicians.
Happy Holidays, Tom. Hope everything is OK and we miss you.
Hope you and Cat are okay, Tom.
Miss reading your wonderful posts (even if I don't agree with all of them ;-))
Just wanted to drop in and say Hi
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