Sep 16 2005
Reporting on J. G. Roberts Confirmation
How and when a New Political Phenomenon Defined?
JGR’s nomination was a surprise to the powers that be. So it is interesting to disect how his public image being shaped up in the media.
Nina Totenberg declared his confirmation “slam-dunk-KEE” (the surffix was added to avoid sounding biased) when first heard the news on air.
There was a period of seesaw efforts to pin him down (his membership in Federalists, wify’s role in Fem. for Life, then his role in Colorado gay case, liberal lawyers fond memories, etc.) More confusions to follow. Teddy Kennedy declared “Wife’s life out of question” (does he have a soft spot for Catholics? he also passed on Scalia) Ann Coulter, like Cassandra, heard an echo when she knocked on wood.
Under currents: rift among the liberals, the enormous trust conservatives had in GWB, the unspeakable hope of a Disney-nisque ending: another Breyer or Kennedy, etc.
Only recently, NYT and WP start to sound more judgemental:
WP: A Conservative, Yes, but Not a Scalia (title of a news analysis)
NYT: Nominee Reveals Pragmatic Approach to Constitution (title of a news analysis)
For those who don’t really read the op-ed pages, those articles sound like a summary conclusion. Manufacturing Consensus? “Common sense” in the making?
My 2 cents: Before JGR, I never thought the Court as a political institute, which has an independent identity shaped mainly by historical precendents. I always viewed the Court as a political instrument, or just another outlet for contemporary political struggle. Maybe it is a bit of both.
I will be very happy if JGR turns out to be an Edmund Burke.
Related:
Bill Clinton: My Life (Media destroys left and right/really power hungry)
Noam Chomsky: Manufacturing Consent
Steven D. Levitt: Freakonomics (Listerine/marketing = manufacturing new “common sense”/how hard to over come once c.s. is established)