As our first post, I thought I would talk about the pending John Roberts nomination process. Today’s Washington Post article is worth a read. Essentially, it boils down to the fact that in 2001 Bush signed an executive order that the current White House has the right to review and deny the release of all presidential papers from previous administrations. Now the White House is reviewing thousands of articles and memos Roberts wrote during the Reagan administration, the most damaging of which most likely won’t be released just as those from his time as Bush I’s time as deputy solicitor general weren’t. The delay is startling for its blatant disregard for any notion of fairness in the process. Republicans (it would be foolish to assume the White House is truly limiting the knowledge to themselves) are being given information far in advance to strategize and discuss the best was to minimize objections. This is not exactly the thoughtful process of equitable review we would all hope would exist. As quoted in the NY Times today:

Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, said he was “at a loss to understand why White House political aides may have had access to these vital documents” before senators, adding, the “time for such a partisan review of the documents was before” Roberts’ nomination.

On a better note, as summed up well by Richard Cohen, Roberts worked to strike down a law discriminating against gays and lesbians in Colorado. He also believes in an independent judiciary.

I am sure Gary and I will continue to blog on this subject, there are literally hundreds of news stories a day to be linked to.