9.14.2005

My Two Favorite Moments During . . .

. . . the John Roberts confirmation hearings today: #1 John Biden: "With all due respect, you've not -- look, it's kind of interesting, this Kabuki dance we have in these hearings here, as if the public doesn't have a right to know what you think about fundamental issues facing them." #2 And then, frustrated that Roberts would not give an opinion on anything, Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma finally resorted to this: COBURN: Right. I'm not asking you about legal significance. Would you agree that the opposite of being dead is being alive? ROBERTS: (Pause) Yes. (LAUGHTER) I don't mean to be overly cautious in answering it. (LAUGHTER)