Peace Like A River


It was a wide river, mistakable for a lake or even an ocean unless you'd been wading and knew its current. Somehow I'd crossed it... Now I saw the stream regrouped below, flowing on through what might've been vineyards, pastures, orhards... It flowed between and alongside the rivers of people; from here it was no more than a silver wire winding toward the city. - Leif Enger, Peace Like A River

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

Chief Justice

Sequestered as I was over the holiday weekend from the real world, I was rather surprised to hear upon my return that Chief Justice Rehnquist had passed away, and that President Bush had nominated John Roberts to be CJ.

To me, it would seem more natural to make the Chief Justice someone who has been on the Court for awhile. While Roberts is quite familiar with the Court, having argued a number of cases there, he hasn't been in on the many closed door meetings over the years, where the business of deciding cases is done.

My choice for CJ would be Justice Thomas. Never mind having the chance to nominate the first black chief justice, Bush missed an opportunity to make a safe choice. Thomas is a confirmed, proven conservative, an originalist.

With Roberts, we just don't know for sure, do we. (Every conservative hears the name "Souter" whispered in his nightmares.)

Roberts was a bold choice to replace O'Conner. Now, Roberts is going to take a reliably conservative seat, and Bush still needs to replace the O'Conner seat. We're back to square one with all the arguments about how a moderate must be nominated to replace the moderate O'Conner.

All indications were that Robert would get through the nomination process to replace O'Conner. Now, the pro-abortion Left will get to reload all of its vitriol and unload at whoever the next nominee will be.

As a P.S., let me say Rehnquist has served admirably over the years, but I am disappointed that he did not resign from the Court, especially as his illness progressed.

Does it really serve the country well when you're carried out feet first, still wearing your robe?

As I wrote about here, there is nothing sacred about being a Justice. It is one of the functions of our system of government.

Where is the honor in hanging on long enough to die in office?

3 Comments:

  • At Tue Sep 06, 04:28:00 PM, Technomage said…

    Better to die being somewhat useful instead of being in a home with oatmeal dribbling donw your chin.

    For most of Human history, dieing while working (doing your profession) was quite common.

     
  • At Tue Sep 06, 04:55:00 PM, Blunderford said…

    What else are you going to do at 80 years old, take up table tennis?

     
  • At Tue Sep 06, 07:36:00 PM, Jeff said…

    This is rather my point. If you're 80, and suffering from cancer, perhaps the place to be is not the most important court of law in the land. If you're not up to that task, step down.

     

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