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BODY POLITIC by Jack Archibald, Atlantic Highlands Councilman

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SENATE CONFIRMATIONS SHOULD NOT BE TURNED INTO SIDE SHOW

Everyone knows that politics abounds in Washington. At the current pace, though, our country may never get another justice confirmed to the Supreme Court. As the hearings for Judge John Roberts get underway, politics is stepping to the fore.

When he nominated Judge Roberts, President George Bush selected a candidate that wasn’t overtly controversial. Two years ago, Roberts sailed through his Senate confirmation with relative ease. Now, with his nomination to the nations highest bench, the same Senators that voted for him the last around are demanding that Roberts change his judicial philosophy.

So far, the Judge has not taken the bait. It is pretty apparent that Senators Biden and Schumer are grandstanding for their liberal constituencies. These Senators seem to have forgotten that President Bush won the election, and like it or not, that America has drifted to the right. As for Senator Kennedy, no one would expect him to vote for any nominee of President Bush anyway.

The Judiciary committee could be heading down a slippery slope. If the Senate goes to battle over a judge that is not perceived to be a right wing idealogue, what happens to Bush’s next nominee in a few weeks? Is there anyone acceptable to the Democrats and if so, they had best identify that person to the rest of the country. It is certainly proper for Senators to question a nominee to the Supreme Court, but no reason to share it with a lunatic left wing fringe that wants to turn the entire process into a side show.