Who IS This Guy?

If you want to hear John Roberts in action, go to the NPR website and listen to Nina Totenberg's exhaustive coverage on Morning Edition today. She features numerous audio clips that let you hear the man himself argue before the courts on multiple issues and he's very clear and forceful.

If you are still trying to figure out who Roberts is, read the AP story by Will Lester that explains how Roberts advised Governor Jeb Bush during the 2000 recount while the boys were trying to wrap up the "election" and how Roberts' wife is strongly pro-life, working and donating to Feminists for Life of America Inc., a small Washington-based group. I understand their children are adopted, so frankly, choice may not be an issue for her in real life and it's easy to oppose abortion when it remains theoretical.

The GOP wants to make sure you know he was confirmed unanimously for his 2001 D.C. Curcuit appointment and that he has done pro bono work on behalf of indigent clients. They are also using the talking points "nice", "decent", "smart", "consensus", and "team player" right now. It will be interesting to watch Ken Mehlman in hix next appearance -- he'll make it plain what they want us to know about him -- over and over and over again.

He's very telegenic and the Democrats will be fighting him for face time in the upcoming hearings, but since everyone seems to be hiding behind the fact that he has been a paid advocate rather than a judge for most of his career, it's difficult to know if there is any meat there to tear into.

I'm keeping my ears open.