Senatorial Perogative

At first glance Senator Pat Leahy, ranking minority member of the Judiciary Committee, might cause you to do a double take with his conciliatory comments vis-a-vie the hard-left's reflexive opposition to SCOTUS nominee John Roberts. But I think I can see the message "between the lines":

The Senate Judiciary Committee's top Democrat assailed advocacy-group commercials for and against Supreme Court nominee John Roberts, suggesting they won't sway senators weighing his confirmation.

Translation: Dems are already lined up against him.

In an interview with The Associated Press this week, Leahy said he regretted the presidential campaign-style broadcast advertisements and said he didn't think anybody should take a hard line - either way - until Roberts has been heard at confirmation hearings beginning September 6.

"These outside lobbying groups, whether on the right or the left, have become, for me anyway, basically irrelevant," said Leahy, D-Vt. "They will probably be offended by that and I am not saying they shouldn't do what they do. I just wish they didn't."

Translation: You guys stop smearing Roberts - that's our privilege!

Not all that subtley exhibiting a modicum of cleverness, "Leaky" went on to slyly stoke doubts about Judge Roberts among the GOP faithful:

Leahy, who has met privately with Roberts, called him extremely bright, very pleasant and "definitely somebody who has a very clear philosophical legal view."

"There are two kinds of very clear philosophical legal view," Leahy said. "One that totally shuts out the possibility that you can even consider anybody else's view. The other says I have a clear view, convince me of yours; that says I have my own philosophy but I will listen to arguments."

Leahy said Sandra Day O'Connor, the retiring justice who Roberts was picked to replace by President Bush, falls into the latter category, as do Justices David Souter and Stephen Breyer. [emphasis added]

Oh, no! Shields up! Load torpedo bays, ready on main phaser banks! Engage!

On the other hand, whose judgment ought conservatives to trust more: Senator Depends' or the President's?

Secure from general-quarters.

Except for Judge Roberts himself, though - his ordeal by fire is just beginning.