Letter Of The Day

Cal Thomas' Oct. 5 column, "Trust, but Verify," contains a remark that an earlier Supreme Court appointee (David Souter) is viewed as "a squandered opportunity to end liberal judicial activism." It would be easier to take such complaints seriously if they showed an equal concern about ending conservative judicial activism, but that kind of judicial activism is apparently OK.

Judicial activism is fine as long as it allows the Supreme Court to decide state election results in Florida, providing the result is election of a conservative president. Judicial activism is fine when it allows the Justice Department to attack a state decision by Oregon to decide so-called right-to-die issues.

States' rights used to be a conservative value; no more. Judicial activism is great when it allows the Patriot Act to deny constitutionally guaranteed rights to a speedy trial, due process, etc.

In short, judicial activism is acceptable only insofar as Thomas agrees with its results. Perhaps President Bush should have considered appointing Thomas to the Supreme Court.

-Charles L. Johnson, Fort Dodge.

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