Informed Speculation

How big a bust is the Democratic attack machine’s plan to go after John Roberts? The biggest stories out of day one were Katrina, Schumer, and the Crying Game:

Yesterday’s opening of the John Roberts confirmation hearings was a time for historic firsts.

Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) made 49 first-person references in a 10-minute statement that was, ostensibly, not about himself.

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) showed exceptional emotional versatility, working a crossword puzzle during the hearing and then choking back a sob while making a prosaic statement about partisanship.

Roberts delivered what may have been the shortest opening statement by a modern Supreme Court nominee — less than seven minutes, including the thank-yous and two baseball metaphors.

…Outside the Russell Senate Office Building at 11 a.m., a grand total of 21 people demonstrated against Roberts, chanting: “Two-four-six-eight, separation of church and state!”

Even inside the storied Senate Caucus Room — scene of the Teapot Dome, McCarthy and Watergate hearings — some were preoccupied with Katrina.

Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (Vt.), the committee’s ranking Democrat, led off with an observation that the hurricane was “a tragic reminder of why we have a federal government.” Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) said, in one of three references, “Katrina tore away the mask that has hidden from public view the many Americans who are left out and left behind.”

Today’s big story is that, yes, believe it or not, Roberts was questioned about abortion (gasp!):

John G. Roberts Jr., appearing before a Senate panel considering his nomination to be the new chief justice, immediately ran into questioning today about the Supreme Court’s landmark decision on abortion and said he considers it not only “settled law” but a precedent worthy of respect.

Answering questions from Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Roberts also said he believes the U.S. Constitution protects a right to privacy and repudiated a view expressed more than two decades ago in a memo in which he referred to a “so-called” right to privacy in the charter.

Deprived of their most productive line of attack, NARAL immediately announced plans to release television ads claiming Roberts was once observed changing lanes without the proper use of his turning signal.