Speaking the Truth

They [religious conservatives] -- they want a political judge. They want a judicial activist.
This business about judicial conservatism and somebody who decides the law, that's baloney. I mean, that's what they should want. That -- that is what the judge should be, somebody who interprets the law and not makes it. But forget about that. I mean, these people are just as activist as the People For the American Way and all those organizations.

Former Republican Senator (and ordained Episcopal Priest) John Danforth.

There has been much ballyhooing on the far right about wanting someone who doesn't legislate from the bench and will simply interpret the law. Riiiiiiight. They got that person in John Roberts and they were pretty cool towards him. Of course this is all about conservative judicial activism which is no better than liberal judicial activism.

I don't feel bad that Harriet Miers withdrew her nomination. She was a pretty bad pick for a justice and wasn't worth fighting for. The fear though is that Bush will now pick someone so far off the mainstream that it will not only cause the Dems to go nuts, but will turn off centrists like me. I like Roberts because he has a moderate conservative judicial philosophy. He is willing to play umpire, which is the role of a judge. A friend is betting that Bush will pick a Janice Rogers Brown type and I tend to believe that's a safe bet.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.