Did Bush Derail the Unhinged Left?

Although the shrill left is sure to oppose John Roberts on grounds real and imagined, the President refused their bait (give us a "moderate" and we'll love you forever) and remained true to his word, given during each campaign, that he would appoint a conservative to the Court. Taking on Roberts's jurisprudential philosophy won't be easy for a party accustomed to slander rather than debate, hyperbole in lieu of reason. "He lied," "there's no there, there," "he'll kill all of us," or the like won't wash with this cerebral, well-educated, even-tempered man who appears to live the type of life many bitter liberals envy.

We're sure to hear that Roberts is evasive, but only after liberals on the Judiciary Committee pepper him with questions no candidate for the Court could answer, and that Ruth Bader Ginzberg rightly refused to address during her own hearings. Given that the Senate confirmed Roberts unanimously to the D.C. Circuit Court, we'll see what "newfound evidence" the likes of Ted Kennedy, Dick Durban, Charles Schumer, and the other leading intellects of the left can unearth to provide cover for voting against him this round. They'll be joined and supported by an array of pseudo-intellectuals and camp followers, i.e., "the groups" and their email recipients.

But it'll all be for naught, as it's virtually certain that Roberts will join the Court in time for its fall session. And whether or not Bush appoints a woman or an ethnic minority to fill future seats, it's an added bonus that he ignored the newly developed doctrine of succession, by which each retiring candidate must be replaced by one of the same sex, race, or ethnicity. While I can't imagine that he won't appoint a woman or minority if he gets another opportunity, the Republic will survive quite nicely without media and Democratic-sponsored racial and gender quotas for the Supreme Court.

Excellent commentary may be found by John Hinderaker at Power Line, Hugh Hewitt, Fred Barnes (who thinks Roberts is a safe pick), and Bill Kristol (who says he's a courageous pick). From where I stand, he is simply a smart choice.