When is the loony-left going to stop being so predictable?

President Donald Trump has announced his nominee for the Supreme Court and right on cue, the left goes nuts. Problem is, their indignation was already carefully scripted days before the nominee was even selected. How is that for sincerity?

Liberal law professor Akhil Reed Amar writes in an op-ed piece for the New York Times, "The nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to be the next Supreme Court justice is President Trump's finest hour, his classiest move." Amar says Trump remained true to his promise to nominate “someone with impeccable credentials, great intellect, unbiased judgment, and deep reverence for the laws and Constitution of the United States.”

Trump Announces His Nominee To Succeed Anthony Kennedy On U.S. Supreme Court
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Amar, who supported Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Barrack Obama's failed SCOTUS nominee Merrick Garland, says "it is hard to name anyone with judicial credentials as strong as those of Judge Kavanaugh."

But that won't be enough to satisfy the left. The tweets have been flying since last night, insisting that a Kavanaugh appointment would mean an end to legal abortion, contraception and same-sex marriage, and the rights of minorities and women would be rolled back 50 years. How's that for rhetoric? And it hasn't even been 24 hours since the announcement.

Amar makes another point worth noting. The Democrats control neither the presidency nor the Senate, and have limited options other than to try to obstruct the nomination process, which he says would be a mistake. Had Hillary Clinton won the election, she would be making her second nomination to the Supreme Court and with few apologies to the right.

Judge Kavanaugh sits on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (the most influential circuit court) and is widely respected. He is an "originalist," someone who takes the Constitution literally as written and does not believe it to be open to interpretation. He is not an activist.

How refreshing.

The Senate owes Judge Kavanaugh and the American people a fair and honest hearing that explores the many decisions rendered over the years by Kavanaugh. To do so requires open minds and a willingness to put the nation ahead of partisan politics.

That too would be refreshing.

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

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