State of the Union

The annual State of the Union Address is often written in a way that goes against all of the rules of good speech-writing. Several, sometimes dozens, of people have a hand in its development. Every President feels a great deal of pressure to mollify numerous government officials, members of Congress and advocates, all of whom want their issue or agenda mentioned. In the end, some subjects must be dropped in favor of those with higher priority.

Knowing this, I was happy last night to hear the President use part of his address to reassert his commitment both to appointing constitutionalist judges and to his nominees who have been denied a fair up-or-down vote on the Senate floor. From the CNN transcript of the speech:

“On matters of justice, we must trust in the wisdom of our founders and empower judges who understand that the Constitution means what it says.

(APPLAUSE)

I've submitted judicial nominees who will rule by the letter of the law, not the whim of the gavel. Many of these nominees are being unfairly delayed. They are worthy of confirmation, and the Senate should give each of them a prompt up-or-down vote.”