To the Editor:
Re “Washington Prepares for Fight Over Any Nominee” (news article, May 2):
The battle lines are being drawn. The talking points are already being polished. We’re just waiting to fill in a blank. Another example of an unproductive, dysfunctional Congress.
Imagine another scenario: The president nominates and thoroughly vets an obviously qualified, moderately left-of-center woman of character, wit, empathy, imagination and curiosity. The votes are clearly there to approve the nomination.
The Republicans in the Senate say: “Well, she wouldn’t have been our choice, but she’s good. And besides, you folks won.” And everybody goes back to work.
No fund-raising letters. No tortured arguments. No righteous indignation. Just civility, competence and a healthy example of democracy that can make us proud and give us hope.
William P. Saum
Palisades, N.Y., May 2, 2009
Note from KBJ: Barack Obama voted against John Roberts and Samuel Alito, two of the most highly qualified Supreme Court nominees in American history. So much for "civility, competence and a healthy example of democracy."
Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D. 