Opening Day Quotes From Judge Roberts Confirmation Hearings

Click on the title for the complete transcripts from today's opening hearing on the confirmation of Judge Roberts, for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. They are located about halfway down the page.


Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT):

Federal judges aren't elected, they serve for life if they're confirmed. The people never have the opportunity for effective oversight of their work.

The judiciary is the most isolated branch of our government from public accountability, so this is the only opportunity to examine what kind of justice John Roberts will dispense if promoted to the Supreme Court, the direction he'd lead the federal judiciary.

This hearing is the only chance that we, the people, have to hear from and reflect on the suitability of the nominee to be a final arbiter of the meaning of the Constitution.

He's right. They are not elected. They are not accountable to anyone after they are confirmed and sworn in, unless they do something like knock off a convenience store. For that reason, I am not opposed to being questioned on things that are pertinent to his qualifications, but not anything that may come before the Court, in the form of a case.

Two hundred and eighty million Americans -- the president's made his choice. Now there's only 100 Americans standing in the shoes of all other Americans. And on behalf of the American people, it's the job of the 100 of us in the Senate to do all we can to make sure we get it right.

You bet there are, and the majority of them are behind him. So it would be in each senator's best interest to get it right, to stay within reason, and not to make an ass of himself/herself. But, who am I kidding?


Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY):

But before you can assume that responsibility, we senators, on behalf of the people, have to exercise our own responsibility. Fundamental to that responsibility is our obligation to ascertain your legal philosophy and judicial ideology.

Absolutely false. Nowhere does the U.S. Constitution state that it is the Senate's job to ascertain any nominee's ideology. Advice and consent of the Senate does not imply that the minority party can obstruct, just because they do not agree with a candidate's ideology.

To those who say ideology doesn't matter, they should take their quarrels to President Bush. I began to argue that a nominee's judicial ideology was crucial four years ago. Then, I was almost alone. Today, there is a growing and gathering consensus on the left and on the right that these questions are legitimate, important and awful crucial.

Take our quarrels to Bush? How laughable is this? It's not Bush's fault that the Dems have made such an issue of every little thing they could. They have nothing of any value to stall this process with any further, and it's killing them.

Bush bashing has really reached an all-time low for a lot of reasons and this kind of attitude and philosophy, is one of them. Get ready to see Schumer be the big schmuck of these hearings, like Boxer was at the Rice hearings.


Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN):

There isn't nearly enough civility in Washington today. And so when I was asked to uphold long-standing and bipartisan traditions to introduce someone from my state, I did not hesitate to accept.

He's got that right. Civility is a dying art-form in Washington, and the left has helped create a more angry, hateful, and bitter atmosphere, with their mean spiritedness. But what follows is very complimentary, genuine, and true. At least until he gets to this:

I look forward to a full and clarifying discussion of his views on these important topics and others because, for this nominee and for anyone who aspires to our nation's highest court, it is ultimately their beliefs, even more than their biography, which should determine the result of the confirmation process.

There's that irresistable urge to play partisan politics, albeit in a more subtle way. Here is that nasty ideology card, again. It will be interesting to see just how Sen. Bayh will vote in this committee and on the floor. He is a moderate and plans to run for President. Actually, if the truth be known, I feel he is the Democrats' best chance of regaining the White House, in 08. But with all of the bellicose leftists that will run, I seriously doubt he will get the nomination.

At any rate, get ready for the fireworks to begin.