The One To Read On Roberts

Dana Milbank at WaPo continues to be the one to read on the Roberts hearing: erudite, witty, insightful. Here's one of many delightfully clear passages from today's report:

Even Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), conqueror of Robert H. Bork, drew little blood. Roberts brushed off Kennedy's complaints about his 1980s memos questioning voting rights laws. "This was 23 years ago," the judge replied. "It was the position of the Reagan administration."

When Kennedy accused him of opposing a civil rights act, Roberts gave no ground. "No, Senator," he said. "You have not accurately represented my position."

The confrontation over, Roberts stood up and exhaled deeply. Kennedy gritted his teeth.

I must say, Roberts' references to judge J. Henry Friendly,of whom he said approvingly: "He liked the fact that the editorialists of the day couldn't decide whether he was a liberal or a conservative," are a little troubling.

Is this Roberts the judge, or just Roberts the witness?