Judge Edith Clement

The Supreme Court speculation centers on Judge Edith Clement of the Eighth [FIFTH] (see correction below) Circuit.
AP says the following:

Known as a conservative and a strict constructionist in legal circles, Clement also has eased fears among abortion-rights advocates. She has stated that the Supreme Court "has clearly held that the right to privacy guaranteed by the Constitution includes the right to have an abortion" and that "the law is settled in that regard."

A belief in Constitutional protection for abortion is incompatible with strict constructionism. If you still are unsure, she was confirmed 99-0 to the Eighth [5th] Circuit in 2001. I don't know who was absent, but out of the group that includes Chuck Schumer, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Dick Durbin, Barbara Boxer, John Kerry and Ted Kennedy, all but one (and possibly all) voted FOR Judge Clement.

I think I will sit this "battle" out and let the moderates carry the day for us.

If President Bush nominates Clement, it is quite possible that the vote will be nearly unanimous again.

When the next Kelo-type decision is handed down (or some decision supporting affirmative action in universities or some other leftist/moderate doctrine) I do not want to have been on record as having supported Judge Clement's nomination.

Where are all of the pundits who claim to have been early supporters of Souter or Kennedy?
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update - Judge Clement is with the 5th Circuit, not the Eighth Circuit. Sorry.

update - Michelle Malkin posts a roundup.
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Michelle Malkin posts another roundup - this one specifically for Clement.