Thinking things through

It certainly has been no secret. During the 2000 election, everyone knew the Supreme Court sweepstakes that were in play. And it was widely known that Sandra Day O'Connor was upset at initial calls of a Gore victory, because a Democrat in office would force her to delay her planned retirement.

The point is, the Cheney administration has had five years to vet candidates for the Supreme Court. They've had all summer to do even more due diligence. But in typical, "I'll crack the book the night before the exam, and hope I can look over someone's shoulder during the test," they apparently didn't bother to prepare for the inevitable. And now they have nominated a candidate about whom they're now not so sure of.

Thrown on the defensive by recent revelations about Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr.'s legal work, White House aides are delaying the release of tens of thousands of documents from the Reagan administration to give themselves time to find any new surprises before they are turned into political ammunition by Democrats.

Before Roberts's July 19 selection by President Bush, there was no comprehensive effort to examine the voluminous paper trail from his previous tours as an important legal and political hand under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, administration officials said.

Three weeks later, these officials say they recognize that Roberts's record is going to be central to Senate confirmation hearings scheduled to begin Sept. 6, and lawyers and political aides are urgently reviewing more than 50,000 pages -- at the same time denying requests from Democrats for an immediate release.

Hmmm. Though, I wonder. It seems they're more stung by the true believers who grow less enamored of the plaid panted one with each new document. Or with the Bush administration's stumbling response to criticism.

Sean Rushton, director of the conservative Committee for Justice, said in the days after the nomination "there was a drop-off of message and focus."

"Merely saying 'He's a lawyer's lawyer' isn't enough," Rushton said. "This is the moment to explain why so many of us feel so strongly about the judicial system in ways that can change hearts and minds of swing voters who could be added to the Republican column."

While Rushton said the White House has belatedly begun to "ramp up" its campaign, his complaint was echoed by several other conservative activists. They think Bush aides have reacted defensively about revelations highlighting Roberts's role as an advocate for conservative causes rather than making an unapologetic argument that he was on the right side of these issues.

UPDATE: Kevin Drums wonders about this, too.