Our U.S. senators embarrass us once again

Five years ago, our pair of intrepid U.S. senators, John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison, enthusiasrically endorsed former President George W.'s nomination of Harriet Miers, whose qualifications exprience other than being a White House staff member was as chair of the Texas Lottery Commission and a stint on the Dallas City Council, to the U.S. Supreme Court, saying Miers would be a welcomed addition to a court filled with career judges. Now, in a move that defies any clear logic, they have both raised questions about President Obama's latest nominee, Elena Kagan, whose resume includes dean of Harvard Law School and solictor general, saying she lacks judicial experience.

Here's what Cornyn had to say about Harriet Miers:

"I mean, one reason I felt so strongly about Harriet Miers's qualifications is I thought she would fill some very important gaps in the Supreme Court. Because right now you have people who've been federal judges, circuit judges most of their lives, or academicians. And what you see is a lack of grounding in reality and common sense that I think would be very beneficial."

Now here's what Cornyn has to say about Elena Kagan:

"There is no doubt that Ms. Kagan possesses a first-rate intellect, but she is a surprising choice from a president who has emphasized the importance of understanding "how the world works and how ordinary people live." Ms. Kagan has spent her entire professional career in Harvard Square, Hyde Park, and the DC Beltway. These are not places where one learns "how ordinary people live." Ms. Kagan is likewise a surprising choice because she lacks judicial experience. Most Americans believe that prior judicial experience is a necessary credential for a Supreme Court Justice."

Hutchison, who called Miers a "wonderful choice" in 2005, said yesterday she "has some concerns over Elena Kagan's lack of judicial experience."

Talk about a double standard.