Roberts Rising

Lets take a deep breath.  There's no way to know what John Roberts will be or do once he is on the high court.  The example of Anthony Kennedy should chasten all prognosticators.  But he sure looks to be the kind of fellow who knows what he thinks and will stick to it.  If that's true, and if the Bush folks have done their homework, we will get a very good conservative on the court.  Justice O'Connor was hardly the worst robe on the bench, from a conservative point of view.  But she was fond of mushy, problem-creating decisions.  We should not ask ourselves how Roberts will vote on Roe, or other specific issues, but ask whether he will bring reason and a solid constitutional perspective to the court.  Above all, will he view himself as an umpire or a player?  All indications suggest that the answers to these questions will please conservatives.