Asking Questions = Obstructionism?

Somehow, the Bushies have re-framed the debate over Supreme Court nominee John Roberts such that asking questions about how his judicial philosophies and how he might function in a role as a Supreme Court Justice is seen as obstructing the confirmation process. This battle was fought and won by the Republicans before any of the serious grilling could take place. Folks, someone has to stand up and bring this country to its senses. Senators would not be doing their jobs properly if they didn't get a reasonably complete picture of Roberts. I understand Dianne Feinstein says she needs to have answers to a few critical questions before moving forward with a decision - that's how the issue needs to be re-framed by the Democrats. The burden of proof with respect to Roberts' worthiness for this position lies with John Roberts, not with those participating in the confirmation process. And if Roberts stonewalls and refuses to answer critical questions, the Democratic response should be that he failed to prove his worthiness and that he deserves a "No" vote.

How could it be any other way? I resent the implication that senators should simply rubber-stamp Bush's nomination and that asking questions amounts to obstruction. O'Connor's replacement will represent a critical vote, and if we don't know where that vote will fall, whether Roberts will be a judicial activist or a strict intepreter of the laws, or whether his philosophy is compatible with the notion of interpreting the law rather than making it, how can senators make an informed decision?

Instead of asking these very basic questions about how we'll get to know John Roberts, we're instead looking at the issue through a lens foisted on us by administration Republicans that involves thinking of the Roberts confirmation as an "us vs. them" issue, where any sort of challenge to Roberts' suitability for this post is seen as partisan politics. That's a load of crap. We need to re-frame this such that everybody is on board with getting enough information to make an educated decision.