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My personal musings about anything that gets on my radar screen--heavily dominated by politics.

2005-09-26

Colorado's Junior Senator Announces His Position

Ken Salazar has stated his intentions to vote to confirm John Roberts to be Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar said Sunday that he will support John Roberts for Supreme Court chief justice, in part because he believes the Republican nominee recognizes Roe vs. Wade as the law of the land.

Salazar said that Roberts, in a one-on-one meeting with him Friday, made assurances in five key areas, including the landmark 1973 decision on abortion.

"In the West, you take people on their word," Salazar said. "I don't think he will vote to overturn Roe vs. Wade."

This isn't the first time a Democratic Senator has said he received personal assurances in a private meeting that nobody anywhere is able to verify. So spake Pat Leahy:

"Judge Roberts is a man of integrity. I can only take him at his word that he does not have an ideological agenda."

He left me with the understanding that he would not seek to overrule or undercut the right of a woman to choose. I trust that he is a person of honor and integrity and that he will act accordingly. "

This seems to be the playbook: rely on unverifiable testimony, characterize it in a certain way that makes Roberts appear almost pro-life, and hope he'll try to live up to the way they've painted him. I'm fairly sure it won't work: I neither believe them that Roberts said he would leave precedent alone, nor do I think he would be so foolish as to commit himself to a certain vote years before a case comes before him.

What I do think is that this is part of a long-term strategy. It seems almost certain that there will be one, two, or even three more Supreme Court vacancies to fill in the next three years, and I think the Dems are trying to lay the groundwork for saying that they were betrayed by Judge Roberts, and are therefore justified in whatever tactic they choose to take for future nominations.

As for Salazar, again he efforts to straddle the line between Washington Democrats and his Colorado constituency. This particular action seems to be shrewd from that standpoint; but he will take a hit in support from the moonbat wing of the party--not his first--and it remains to be seen if he's left himself the flexibility to do this dance again.
Posted by: Michael / 9/26/2005 11:09:00 PM

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