The truly remarkable thing about the recent announcement that Judge John Roberts is Bush's pick to serve a lifetime appointment on the highest court of the land was this -- how incredibly shallow the coverage of it was. It was as though all the television channels had become E! Entertainment and all of the publications had become People magazine, only in some twisted Republican universe where Ozzie & Harriet's America had never "disappeared". Oh the cultural buttons that were pounded on by the infobots on the "news" shows:

Nominee's Son Shows Family's Playful Side

Steps away as the president introduced John Roberts as a choice for the Supreme Court, the nominee's young son danced the heart out of his saddle shoes.

The boy's mother had a less-than-approving look on her face as she watched. At one point, she even held 4-year-old Jack by the arm of his light blue short-pants suit.

Judge Roberts did not seem to flinch.

"It was classic and it showed John being able to maintain his composure while his son was dancing in front of the president," said David Leitch, a former deputy White House counsel to Bush who worked with Roberts at the law firm of Hogan & Hartson.

Roberts and his wife, Jane, also have a daughter, 5-year-old Josie.

With the children, Roberts "has this real element of playfulness in his life," Leitch said.

Judging by the coverage, and the all-out media enabled charm offensive, one must wonder if this was an important appointment, or a casting announcement for a new Dobson-pandering made-for-tv movie.

The culture war proceeds apace, and even fulfilling some idealized image is more important than actually having a proven record. In fact, we heard over and over that this nominee is a really "nice guy" with a "great sense of humor." Several Democratic "leaders" were quick to announce that a filibuster is unlikely:

"This is a credible nominee, and not one that '