Justice Roberts

A colleague who generally shares my centrism and knows Judge Roberts personally says he is a "classy guy and a first-rate intellect" and that this is a "great choice." All in all, I have to agree.

Whatever political or constitutional views one holds, I think it was unrealistic and unfair to expect the President not to nominate a conservative justice. It is a president's pregorative to nominate who he wants, subject only to the advice and consent power granted to the Senate (which I think should be exercised robustly, but not obstructively).

Republicans won the White House and the Senate, and there are some spoils that go with it. There were a lot of names being thrown around the past few weeks (and today in particular). Some of them were probably on the list based more on reasons of partisanship, loyalty, or electoral machinations than on finding the most qualified possible individual.

In the end, worthier considerations prevailed. To my mind, an intellectually rigorous and honest conservative is the best case scenario for everyone.

Well done, Mr. President.