Ideologues

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The senior Democrat on the Judiciary Committee announced Wednesday he will vote to confirm John Roberts for chief justice of the United States after leading lawmakers met with President Bush to discuss candidates for the other high court vacancy.

...Leahy said he still has some concerns about Roberts. "But in my judgment, in my experience, but especially in my conscience I find it is better to vote yes than no," he said. "Judge Roberts is a man of integrity. I can only take him at his word that he does not have an ideological agenda."

...Moments after Leahy spoke, Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, who also serves on the Judiciary Committee, announced he would vote against Roberts.

"There is clear and convincing evidence that John Roberts is the wrong choice for chief justice," Kennedy said. "I oppose the nomination, and I urge my colleagues to do the same."

Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, who lost the presidential election to Bush last year, also planned to announce his opposition to Roberts' confirmation on Wednesday.

Leahy was the first of the Judiciary Democrats to announce his decision and only the fourth of the 44 Senate Democrats to do so. Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada announced Tuesday that he would vote against Roberts, but said he would not support an attempt by Democrats to filibuster the nominee.

Any member of the Senate who fails to vote to confirm Judge John Roberts to be the next chief justice of the Supreme Court of the United States is unfit to serve.

There is no reason to stand in the way of Roberts. No rational argument can be made to block him.

By buckling under the pressure from fringe extremists and special interest groups, Reid, Kennedy, and Kerry, as well as the others that are sure to follow their lead, are derelict in their duty.

Nothing has surfaced that would indicate John Roberts is an unacceptable nominee. He has a brilliant mind and a commendable demeanor.

In voting against Roberts, these senators are refusing to carry out the will of the people.

Americans gave President Bush a second term. Voters did so knowing that in all likelihood Bush would be making nominations to the Supreme Court. In effect, these Dems would like to disenfranchise the Americans that voted Bush into office.

To block a Bush judicial nominee on purely ideological grounds is politics at its worst.

The Democrats are the best at politics at its worst.