The Stealth Nominee

Roberts? Who?

Exactly.

When I heard the news on CNN last night, I knew what was up... the Bushies chose a blank slate so they can more easily color him in moderate tones and hews as most folks have expected for the heir to O'Connor (although I don't know what they are going to do about the genitalia).

In the Big Issue, Roberts seems to be pro-life, but with some plausible refutation on that score. The Times editorial today said it pretty well:

Compared with many of the possible nominees whose names have been circulating, he has a thin record on controversial subjects. This may have helped him win the nomination because it gives the other side so little to work with. But it also puts a greater burden on the Senate to determine what kind of justice he would be.

Yeah, that Senate has been really prudent and deliberate over the past 5 years.

One thing for certain though: the religious base knows exactly what they are getting... you can put money on it. Calls were made to the Dobsons of that world, and the nominee was certainly vetted. They will take nothing less than a rock-solid vote to overturn Roe, and so if they are happy (and the early returns seem to say they are) then you should be afraid of this guy...