More on Roberts

Today is a day that will go down in history. After watching our nations fine political leaders our editorial staff (that’s me) has decided that we will shortly a announce the first recipient of the “PeeDee” award. These awards will be given out periodically as our political leaders earn them. The name PeeDee is a takeoff on the initials PD which other than Pirates Den also stands for “Political Dunce.” With all of the rhetoric and political posturing over the nomination of John G. Roberts there is no doubt that someone will distinguish themselves and take home the first of these prestigious awards.
NOW(W) is already speaking out against the presidents pick for the Supreme Court. Not surprisingly, the National Organization of Witless Wonders seems a little less than accurate in their assessment of the situation. In order to point out how “unqualified” Judge Roberts is, they begin by griping about he goals of the Reagan Administration. What Ronald Reagan’s policies have to do with John Roberts qualifications today are beyond my understanding. Granted, Mensa isn’t busting down my door to beg me to join but I am intelligent enough to know that what a man out of office for seventeen years and dead for one are not dictating the views of a Appeals Court judge today. Hopefully the leaders of NOW will come out of their coma soon and make an intelligent statement on the issue.
One of the lesser known but most bizarre groups speaking out against John Roberts is the Progressive Action Network for American Progress. This group is working hard to earn the record or the largest number of loopy statement on one website. They say that Judge Roberts views are “extremely extreme.” This sounds like they saying a person is tiredly tired or in this case stupidly stupid. They follow this by stating they are in favor of stem cell research and that they fear that Roberts will use the Patriot Act to “extend the draft to their unwanted fetuses.” I know our military is stretched thin right now, that recruitment quotas are not being met but I don’t think anyone is in favor of drafting anyone at such a young age. If this isn’t weird enough they also worry about someone raising “a Rush Limbaugh Jesus Army.” They don’t explain this fear but I am in hopes they will do so in a day or so. Who knows, maybe they had to quit posting to their web site because it was time for their medication.
Even the FindLaw web page is getting into the act. They carried an AP article today that claims that because Judge Roberts (rightly) decided that the constitution does not apply to non-Americans, arrested in another country and held in yet another country he is going “against 200 years of constitutional law.” I don’t recall a single passage in the constitution that gives rights the same rights of our citizens to our foreign enemies. Before it is said, no, the terrorist are not entitled to the Geneva Convention protection since they are not signatory’s of the document. Also, I’d be willing to bet the farm that the Geneva treaty does not include beheading as an acceptable practice.
Much of what I have spoken of the last few days is opinion, mine and others. The reality is that Judge Roberts is not a well known figure and there is more we don’t know that what we do at this point. All we can say right now with absolute certainty is that he does not seek the limelight, a strange quality for someone who has been in Washington for so long. What we all must do is wait and learn who Judge Roberts really is, what he really believes, how he understands his duties and responsibilities under the constitution. The only purpose this raucous hyperbole can do at this point is cloud the issue and make for the real possibility of missing the facts needed to make an informed decision.