[T]he vast regulatory structure the federal government has erected in the name of the commerce power cannot be ended overnight, in many cases, but the pretense that such programs are constitutional can be ended, even as the programs themselves are phased out over time.

Property is the foundation of every right we have, including the right to be free. Every legal claim, after all, is a claim to something-either a defensive claim to keep what one is holding or an offensive claim to something someone else is holding.

Government today, far from protecting property, is its main threat.

Madison understood that if you want to protect rights from government abuse, you would be wise not to give government the power in the first place that can be used to abuse rights. That is a lesson we have forgotten. As we have asked government to do more and more for us, we have forgotten that a government big enough to give us everything we want will be powerful enough to take everything we have.

The hope is that the president -- or more likely someone on his staff who is more familiar with these issues will prevail upon him to select someone of the highest caliber.

These hearings are going to be a stark contrast to the Roberts hearings. Can you picture her answering some of the questions that Roberts was asked?

I hope he won't be swayed by any concern for diversity, but this time will seek the best nominee. There is no shortage of such nominees on the appellate courts.

It's deeper than one mistake. There have been far too many mistakes.

It's just a simple hunting accident. It's a striking example of the media obsession with any peccadillo that may come from the White House.

The Bush administration was trying to get O'Connor's replacement up there as quickly as possible, ... because of this botched nomination, the potential now is even greater that they'll have a court that reflects the O'Connor view.