A Stunning Concession on Roberts From the Radical Bloggers at Powerline [View All]

A couple days ago I started a somewhat contentious thread entitled, "In Defense of Roberts..."

Despite the heading, the thread was actually just an attempt to chastise certain 527s for the way they're conducting the anti-Roberts campaign, not the fact of that campaign (which I support).

But I also speculated on my blog that Roberts might not have been the worst candidate Bush could have nominated, all things considered (see: the fact that he can get anyone through that he wants, given the nuclear option which still remains ready and waiting for his signal). Then three things happened:

1) Progressive Yale Law Professor Robert Gordon speculated that Roberts would not vote to overturn Roe.

2) U.S. Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), a radical conservative, left his first meeting with Roberts saying something to the effect of, "I like him, I just wish the President had nominated someone who would overturn Roe."

And now this:

3) The most radical trio of do-nothing lawyers in America, the Three Stooges at Powerline, have posted this little chestnut to their website (this specific post was written by fringe wingnut Scott Johnson): "I'm not aware of any one thing (for example, a ten-year judicial track record) that conclusively demonstrates Roberts' conservatism." (Find that comment here).

Now, I'm not saying Roberts isn't ultraconservative; I'm not saying we shouldn't oppose him; but, that said, Democrats in Washington have been curiously silent on his nomination, and I don't think it's because they've got cold feet: in fact, they've been gearing up for this fight for years.

My speculation is this: they're not going to hit Roberts hard because he's the man they want, all things considered--meaning, they think they've dodged a bullet here, could have gotten a much worse nominee out of Bush and, internally, believe that they WILL get a much worse nominee if they scuttle Roberts' bid for the Court.

So, am I dreaming here or what? Oh yeah, I forgot to mention:

4) Uber-facist Ann Coulter says Roberts is not a true-blue conservative.

5) Uber-facist Charles Krauthammer (of Fox News infamy) says Roberts is not a true-blue conservative.

So is that what's going on here?