Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, the ranking democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, has offered President Bush a deal. He will accept it only if he has taken leave of his senses.
Leahy wants the president to consult with him before nominating anyone to the Supreme Court. This, he says, will help avoid a traumatic national battle. Now who do you suppose would launch such a battle? Why people of Patrick Leahy's persuasion, of course.
The democrat's litmus test, of course, is abortion. They don't want any justice who will vote to overturn Roe vs. Wade. In fact, they don't want any justice who believes in and judges solely by the constitution.
For nearly fifty years, liberal judges have read things into the constitution that aren't there. They have enacted a liberal agenda they never could have gotten through any congress. Now their greatest fear is that a new generation of judges, committed to the constitution, will be named to the highest court and will undo the mess they have created.
That's what this battle will be about and the president should welcome it.
I'm Cal Thomas in Washington.
