Contrasting Views

This week, both the Washington Times and Vermont’s Rutland Herald discussed how the role of the Judiciary Committee will change if the Democrats take over the Senate and Patrick Leahy becomes the committee chair. The Times, unsurprisingly, is using this possibility -- which it fears will mean less rubberstamping of judicial nominees -- to fire up the Republican base. At the same time, the Rutland Herald is pleased with the prospect because the Judiciary Committee under Leahy promises to scrutinize the president’s nominees. The hope is that a Chairman Leahy-led Committee will help put the country back on the course to restoring and preserving the core values of the Constitution.