No delay on next court pick, please!

Arlen Specter says Sandra Day O'Connor will be willing to stay through June. Arlen thinks it's a good deal. But he says the president, while not actually saying anything, gave him body language suggesting the senator is barking up the wrong tree.

Good for the president.

O'Connor submitted her resignation. It was effective at the end of the last term of the Supreme Court. She can't just "un-resign" on her own say-so, or Arlen's, for that matter.

Specter said the delay would give Congress and the rest of America more time to know John Roberts as chief justice. ``When we know a little more about Judge Roberts it's going to be easier with the next'' nomination, Specter said.

Nonsense. Specter knows that Roberts is his worst nightmare, but for good political reasons he had no choice but to support him. He's looking for evidence that would arouse the pro-abortion (culture of death) advocates to a frenzy so that he (Specter) can look like a moderate peace-maker and suggest a squishy ninth judge.

The Roberts nomination sailed through because he is an excellent pick, and if President Bush can deliver a second knock-out punch with a nominee who is polished AND conservative, there isn't much that Specter or that lefty bunch of Democrat fellow travelers can do about it.

There is also a humanitarian reason to get on with replacing O'Connor. She has stated that she wishes to be at home in Arizona to take care of her husband, John, who is suffering with Alzheimers. Both deserve that opportunity while there are yet memories to share.

A whole bunch of us voted for Dubya in 2000 and 2004 in large part because we wanted, and still desire, to see a shift in ideology on the Court. It's time to get on with it.

Now, Mr. President, is the time to make that second announcement.