NELSON SAYS HE WILL VOTE FOR ROBERTS

A spokesman for U.S. Senator Bill Nelson says that Florida's senior senator will vote to approve Judge John G. Roberts, Jr. as the next Chief Justice of the United States.

Dan McLaughlin said Thursday that Nelson was impressed with Roberts' answers on several issues, including privacy and eminent domain, and described him as a man who "clearly had a reverence for both the courts and the rule of law."

Nelson is joining a growing number of Democrats who have stated they would vote in favour of Roberts. While some may not approve of the decision, it's really the smart move. Roberts and the man he's replacing, the late William Rhenquist, are cut from the same cloth in idelogical terms.

Democrats should work together and prepare themselves for the real battle ahead, replacing retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. While she is basically conservative, O'Connor was by no means an ideologue and often was the swing vote for moderates. If President Bush tries to nominate another right winger to the Supreme Court, which he likely will, we need to be ready.