VoxOp

SUPREME COURT
"The court, so far at least, has steered clear of most of the hot-button social issues. But the justices are still slated to resolve a variety of compelling questions, from drug company immunity to penalties levied against broadcasters for dirty words on radio and TV.

"Abortion and gay rights may ring people's chimes and fuel political campaigns. But the fact is that Supreme Court decisions determining whether individuals have the right to sue and on what grounds actually affect the lives of far more people and shape the conduct of business in America."
NINA TOTENBERG, www.npr.org

"As the court begins its work anew, public attention is focused less on the cases at hand than on the court's future. It is a future entirely dependent on whether Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama prevails in November . . .

"Replacing one of the liberal justices with a consistent conservative such as Roberts and Alito - the two McCain has said would serve as models for his picks - could have far-reaching consequences on issues such as abortion, church-state separation, racial preferences and executive privilege.

"But, as other presidents have found, justices take seriously their lifetime appointments and their legacies."
ROBERT BARNES, www.washingtonpost.com

"According to the mainstream media elite, the McCain campaign will increasingly try to raise the issue of judicial nominations in the last 30 days of the election.

"The strategy is based on reminding swing voters about the hot-button issues that often end up in the hands of judges: abortion, gay rights, flag-burning, etc.

"This issue is crucial, because as many as three current Supreme Court justices are considered likely to retire in the next four years. The next president will most likely have an opportunity to shape the makeup of the Court for years to come."
ETAN RIS, Blog.indecision2008.com

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE #2
"John McCain will be on his home turf. McCain's been described as the 'master of the town hall,' and Nashville may present his last, best hope of wresting the momentum from Barack Obama. Rest assured, he'll be in fighting form.

"Obama, who has been criticized by opponents for being 'aloof' and 'professorial,' may have his work cut out for him. But his laid-back, unflappable demeanor and his down-to-earth lifestyle create an excellent opportunity to connect with the voters in the room and those watching on television."
ERIC MORSE, www.huffingtonpost.com

""Because of McCain's opposition to politicians who feed from the public trough, there is a road open to him Tuesday. It's the Chicago Way.

"Obama definitely does not want to go there. It would be a forced march for him. Obama's gauzy references to Chicago involve baseball and where he met Michelle and those blissful hours he spent as a community organizer. What he doesn't want discussed is his evolution from independent Democrat to potential White House enabler of the corrupt Chicago Democratic machine.

"The Chicago Way is a road the Beltway media establishment dare not travel. It must frighten them. It conflicts with their fairy tale about Obama as reformer, and they're much too busy rummaging through garbage cans in Alaska to bother about Chicago's political alleys."
JOHN KASS, www.chicagotribune.com