Daily Archives: July 14, 2009

Graham has correct view on Supreme Court nominations

July 14, 200912:06 p.m.

Sotomayor ConfirmationThe Eagle editorial board shares the view of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on U.S. Supreme Court nominations — that presidential elections matter, and that as long as a president’s nominees are highly qualified and don’t have some clear problem, they should be confirmed. That’s why the editorial board supported Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito and why, absent some new revelation, it supports nominee Sonia Sotomayor. As Graham noted during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Monday, the arguing over judicial nominations is mostly “about liberal and conservative politics” — not about qualifications and judicial record, which in Sotomayor’s case are both stellar. But it’s worth noting that this view was not shared by President Obama, who voted against Roberts and Alito when he was a U.S. senator.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Congress, Supreme Court | Comments (42)

Noonan glad Palin is resigning

July 14, 20096:04 a.m.

McCain Palin 2008Wall Street Journal columnist and former Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan didn’t pull any punches in expressing her opinion that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is bad for conservatives and was disastrous as a national candidate. Though she credited Palin for being a gifted retail politician, Noonan said Palin “was limited in her ability to explain and defend her positions, and sometimes in knowing them. . . . She wasn’t thoughtful enough to know she wasn’t thoughtful enough. Her presentation up to the end has been scattered, illogical, manipulative and self-referential to the point of self-reverence. ‘I’m not wired that way,’ ‘I’m not a quitter,’ ‘I’m standing up for our values.’ I’m, I’m, I’m. In another age it might not have been terrible, but here and now it was actually rather horrifying.”

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under U.S. politics | Comments (69)

Open thread 7/14

July 14, 20096:03 a.m.

thread418

By The Editors | Filed under Open thread | Comments (221)

No quizzing Kansans this time

July 14, 20096:02 a.m.

APTOPIX Obama Supreme CourtSen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., was a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee for the past two confirmation hearings for the U.S. Supreme Court, for Chief Justice John Roberts in 2005 and Justice Samuel Alito in 2006. But this time, for the hearing of nominee Sonia Sotomayor (in photo), Kansas is unrepresented on the committee (unless you count Kansas native Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa.). Yet two states have two members each: Wisconsin and Minnesota.

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Kansas delegation, Supreme Court | Comments (16)

Goyle will make race interesting

July 14, 20096:01 a.m.

goyleraj2The race for the 4th Congressional District seat in 2010 got a lot more interesting with the announcement Saturday that state Rep. Raj Goyle, D-Wichita, is running. It had been looking as if it might be a cakewalk for the Republican contenders, which so far include GOP national committeeman Mike Pompeo of Wichita and state Sen. Dick Kelsey, R-Goddard.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Kansas delegation | Comments (61)

Six takes a personal win into 2010 attorney general race

July 14, 20096:00 a.m.

New AGWith the recent trial and conviction of Kenneth Wilson for the March 2008 shooting death of farmer Scott Noel in Osborne County, Attorney General Steve Six became the first sitting attorney general to personally prosecute a criminal case in Kansas in 34 years. Even with that success, Kansans may wonder whether Six’s time is better spent managing his staff. But in a new commentary, Six wrote that to be a good leader he needs to be active in court, “setting an example for other attorneys in my office. I can do that by prosecuting criminal cases and arguing before the United States Supreme Court on behalf of Kansas farmers who desperately need precious water for their crops and livestock.”
That courtroom win also won’t hurt the Democrat’s campaign next year. But against whom? Perhaps Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, R-Independence, will challenge Six. Schmidt has said he will announce his plans soon; beyond the attorney general job, Schmidt’s options include the 4th Congressional District seat and secretary of state.

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Kansas courts, Kansas government | Comments (17)