Speaking of Cement

My nightmare scenario has come true. Rehnquist died and Bush, the Supreme Idiot of the Land, gets to nominate TWO Supreme Court Justices, including Chief Justice. This almost makes me believe in gods; pure, random chance could not possibly be this cruel. I know it was foolish; he was, after all, a very sick, quite old man, but I was so hoping… just a few more years. My newest dream is that O’Connor will withdraw her resignation (not gonna happen, I know, but we can dream). So what to do about the hand we’ve been dealt.

I get a couple of email action alerts each day from various organizations asking me to write to my senators opposing Bush’s nominee, John Roberts, for Supreme Court Justice. The problem is that I’m not sure we can expect anything better from the Little Weasel and I don’t know enough about Roberts to voice opposition. I mean, I know what NARAL tells me, and I know what Earth Justice tells me and I know what HRC tells me, but I also heard that he worked pro bono on a civil rights case for a GLBT organization. I don’t trust Bush, not the tiniest bit, and the fact that he nominated Roberts is actually enough for me to oppose him. I just think it would be self defeating to seem like I would automatically oppose anyone he nominated. I would, but I don’t think it’s good to let them know that. Hence, I finally sent a letter, not opposing, just asking my senators (both Republicans, one a real Republican Party lap dog) to be careful and thorough when they debate the nomination. I hope if there is anything wrong with this guy they will be tenacious enough to find it and honest enough to vote him down.

September 6, 2005
sent email via Act for Change

I am writing to request that you take the time to ask some important questions when debating the nomination of John Roberts as Supreme Court Chief Justice.

I don’t know yet how I feel about him. On the surface, he seems bright and personable and like he may be a good choice, but there are some things I find disturbing and I hope you won’t allow him your vote until those things have been fully investigated.

If nothing else, the fact that the White House is refusing to hand over all his papers should at least be a big red flag. I don’t trust the secrecy of this administration in general, and this is too important for them to be hiding things from the American people.

Also, it is my understanding that as Roberts was deliberating the Hamdan case in the D.C. Court of Appeals, a case in which President Bush was one of the defendants, he was also meeting secretly with Bush for the purpose of interviewing for the job of Supreme Court Justice. If that’s true, it’s pretty troubling, don’t you think? Should he not have recused himself from that case? Is there a reason why he didn’t?

The other thing I find troubling is his attitude toward issues of personal freedoms. His statement about a “so-called right to privacy” makes me wonder about how far he’d be willing to go to divest the American people of the “so-called” rights that most of us do not hold so lightly.

His stance on environmental issues should be examined closely. Bush has done enough damage in that area already.

You might also want to check out what he has to say about his membership in the Federalist Society and why he couldn’t seem to remember it until he couldn’t hide it.

I hope you are willing to ask those questions and demand that he answer them fully and honestly before you would consider confirming him. I ask that you stringently examine Roberts before making your decision about his nomination to the Supreme Court.

I trust you take seriously the grave responsibility that falls to you in this matter. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court will hold great sway in determining the course of this nation for many years to come. The person who holds that position should be beyond reproach ethically and should never put his or her personal interests above those of this country and its citizens.

This is your job. Please don’t give President Bush a blank check on this. The last time Congress did that, he got us in one hell of a mess. Use any available means, including the use of a filibuster if necessary, to ensure that if Roberts is confirmed, it is because he really should be, not because you didn’t do your job. It will be my children and my grandchildren who will have to live with the consequences of your actions.

Please let me know your views on this matter as soon as possible.