Ready? Cue the Sun...

[Proletariat]

This might be funny only to those who have listened to a bit of the confirmation hearings over the last couple days for Judge Roberts, but here it is anyway.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/15/op...brooks.html?hp

John Roberts Jr. Aw, shucks. This has been a humbling experience, Mr. Chairman. To think that a boy from an exclusive prep school and Harvard Law could grow up and be nominated for the Supreme Court - it shows how in America it's possible to rise from privilege to power! That's the hallmark of our great nation.

So while, of course, I can't talk about specific cases, or any emotions, weather patterns or sandwich meats that may come before the Supreme Court at any time between now and my death in 2048, I do want to reiterate that I feel humbled by this experience. I feel humbled that my wife is dozing off behind me. I feel humbled by this committee's inability to lay a glove on me. And I feel modest. You see this suit? I skinny-dip in this suit. That's how modest I feel.

Tom Coburn Well put, Judge Roberts. Yet when I think of the polarization that still divides this great nation ... waaaahhhh ... waaaahhhh. (Senator Coburn breaks down weeping.)

Jeff Sessions This may be a good moment to remind my colleagues on the other side of the aisle that in this country unelected judges don't write the laws. We have unelected lobbyists to do that. Under our system, judges merely interpret the law and decide presidential elections.

Specter Senator Sessions, let me interrupt you right there. We're not here to argue among ourselves and ignore the nominee. We're here to deliver 30-minute speeches disguised as questions and ignore the nominee. So let me turn to Senator Bid - -

[Kanamori]

The New York Times isn't all bad

I like this part best

Roberts Mr. Chairman, I certainly don't mean to draw attention to myself, for, as I have said, judges are like umpires - not home plate umpires, but those umpires stuck way out by the right-field foul pole. Nobody ever went to a game to watch the umpires.

But as you know, Judge Ginsburg, during her confirmation hearing, had herself wrapped in duct tape for fear that any involuntary reflex gestures she might make would mar her impartiality in deciding cases later on. Following her example, I have decided to spend the rest of these hearings in a soundproof booth, sunk in a tank of ravenous sharks and accompanied only by the illusionist David Copperfield. But before I go into isolation, I would like to mention the intense modesty I feel at this moment, notwithstanding the fact that not a single one of you slobs could have charged $700 an hour the way I did in private practice.

Oh, the satire.

[Adrian II]

It is not my country, but the more silly accusations are levelled against Roberts (such as his deliberately misunderstood joke about women becoming lawyers) the more I think he might make a decent Justice and (because of his 'diplomatic' skill) perhaps even a rather good Chief Justice.

Any American member actually thinks Roberts is Judge Dredd?

[Kanamori]

Any American member actually thinks Roberts is Judge Dredd?

Isn't that a little harsh, I mean, be fair.

[Adrian II]

Isn't that a little harsh, I mean, be fair.

Eh?

[Kanamori]

[Adrian II]

[Proletariat]

It is not my country, but the more silly accusations are levelled against Roberts (such as his deliberately misunderstood joke about women becoming lawyers) the more I think he might make a decent Justice and (because of his 'diplomatic' skill) perhaps even a rather good Chief Justice.

I'm curious if the Democrat senators are just throwing anything out there now, since Roberts is up to replace Rehnquist. Sort of testing the waters since the stakes aren't quite as big here. (They don't lose very much with this nomination)

Then when O'Connor's replacement comes up (representing the swing vote on the Court), I believe they will have a good idea of what sort of attacks will fly and which will be detrimental to their effort. That's when I expect a much more coherent and partisan attack.