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Contrary to your Feb. 10 editorial "Judging picks," it is President Bush who is abusing the Senate's "advise and consent" role in judicial selections.
Two Virginia 4th Circuit Court of Appeals seats lack nominees because Bush refuses even to discuss joint recommendations by Sens. John Warner and Jim Webb of a Bush district-court judge and four others.
Bush chose pending 4th Circuit nominees to create artificial vacancies that inflame his right-wing base.
Bush nominee Steve Matthews was an officer and director of Landmark Legal Foundation when it tried to nominate Rush Limbaugh for a Nobel Peace Prize. Landmark is headed by Mark Levin, who called global warming "nonsense" and "phony," and condemned Sens. John McCain and Joe Lieberman as "liberal idiots."
In "Men in Black: How the Supreme Court is Destroying America," Levin thanked Matthews for having "supported me in all
Robert Conrad Jr. denounced Sister Helen Prejean as a "church-hating nun" and her book, "Dead Man Walking," as "liberal drivel." He allowed streams to be buried with mine waste--which three dissenting judges said "eviscerates" key Clean Water Act language.
President Bush should withdraw controversial nominees and start at least listening to the Senate's "advice and consent."
Glenn Sugameli
Washington
The writer is senior legislative counsel with Earthjustice.
