Why vote for Mike DeWine?

Some conservatives have decided it doesn't matter who wins so why bother voting. Whether it is dissatisfaction with votes on various issues (ANWR, immigration reform, etc), or concern about excessive government spending or anger over misbehavior of politicians from both parties some have declared a pox on both parties. While I understand the frustration, not voting doesn't make sense. Why should you vote for Mike DeWine (or the Republican running in your state)? There are several reasons. The most important reasons are judges, judges and justices.

Over the next 2 years President Bush will nominate people to fill dozens of federal judicial vacancies. Additionally, it isn't unreasonable to expect another opening or two on the Supreme Court. Democratic control of the Senate would mean decent and honorable judges like Chief Justice Roberts or Associate Justice Alito would have no chance of confirmation. The president would have to nominate moderate (ie: liberal) judges if he wants them confirmed by a Democratic senate.

Do you think judges don't matter? Consider yesterday's travesty of justice. U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl reduced the prison sentence of a lawyer who assisted a terrorist client from 30 years to 28 months. Last week, this same judge sentenced an Air Force captain to 17 and a half years in prison for smuggling drugs into the country. I'm not saying the drug smuggler should have gotten off easy, but common sense says a crook helping terrorists plan mass murder is at least as bad as a crook smuggling drugs. However, Judge Koeltl feels the one crook deserves 8 times the punishment. If you want more judges like Koeltl stay home in November and let Democrats like Joe Biden, Ted Kennedy and Dick Durbin run the Senate Judiciary Committee.