No to O'Neill

Intellectual integrity requires that when we conservatives repeatedly say that what matters for a judicial nominee is qualifications and integrity, we should be willing to put our money where our mouths are by refusing to support nominees who don't pass the smell test. I am sorry to say that district court nominee Michael O'Neill just doesn't cut it. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/04/washington/04judges.html?ei=5124&en=23...)Plagiarism is a big deal. One bit of "confusion" might be understandable, but when it happens repeatedly, it looks more than a little suspicious. And if it is NOT proof of a lack of intellectual integrity, then it MUST by definition be proof of a horrendous lack of competence. I mean, Lord knows there are those of us who are far more organized in our minds than on our messy desks, and I would never argue that a lack of paper organization is a disqualifier for office. But if you can't even keep track of what work is yours and what is somebody else's -- more than once! -- then you shouldn't be a judge.read more