by TChris

Since his nomination, TalkLeft has cautioned that Brent Kavanaugh, a former aide to Ken Starr, should not be appointed to a judgeship on the influential D.C. Circuit. (TalkLeft background here here here.)

Clay Risen argues that Kavanaugh is driven by political ambition, not by ideology. According to Risen, "Kavanaugh's only consistent guiding principle seems to be an abiding dedication to the Republican Party--and to his own career." Whether a judge advances a right wing ideology or a right wing political agenda might be academically interesting, but the viewpoints will intersect in most cases. Whether driven by ideology or politics, we don't need more judges who will further the more extreme interests of the right wing. Kavanaugh will be one of those judges, and for that reason, his nomination must be blocked.