Alaska\'s Gov. Sarah PalinWhen I see the absurd GOP defenses of Sarah Palin, I’m reminded of the words of Senator Roman Hruska of Nebraska.

In 1970 President Nixon tried to foist G. Harrold Carswell onto the Supreme Court. Critics noted that he had been a mediocre judge and was not at all qualified for this high office.

Responding to the criticism, Sen. Hruska, a far-right Republican, put it this way:

“Even if he were mediocre, there are a lot of mediocre judges and people and lawyers. They are entitled to a little representation, aren’t they, and a little chance?”

Apparently not. The Senate in 1970 had the good sense to deny Carswell a seat on the High Court. (The seat went instead to the far more qualified Harry Blackmun, who went on to write the opinion in Roe v. Wade legalizing abortion.)

Let’s hope the voters see mediocrity for what it is in 2008.