Rove to Kerry: You Must Define the Supreme Court Issue Before They Do

John,

This campaign tip preempts other tips I have in the hopper because this is a classic Rovian opportunity that needs to be addressed now.

The Real Rove will jump on the news of Justice Rehnquist's cancer like, well, cancer. Rove will invade and infect the debate about Supreme Court replacements and transform it into a cultural debate defined by issues in which the Conservatives currently have the popular advantage. In addition, he will try to paint you as a born-again hippy that will adhere to a litmus test for "radical liberal judges like the ones from the Senator's home state of Massachusetts."

The thing is, John, it's not their advantage. It's our advantage, and we need to ensure it's our advantage by defining the issue first, and then preemptively attacking their ability to be trusted to appoint new justices.

You must ask the rhetorical questions that bring all of the trust issues to the forefront:

"Can we really trust an administration that mislead America into war with the responsibility for appointing new Supreme Court justices?

Can we really trust an administration that cannot admit to mistakes with the responsibility for appointing new Supreme Court justices?

Can we really trust an administration that hides behind lawsuits to cover up secret meetings with the energy industry to appoint new Supreme Court justices?

Can we really trust an administration that has leaked information about two CIA operatives -- and are currently under investigation for these petrifying lapses in judgment -- to appoint new Supreme Court justices?

Can we really trust an administration that has had its policies struck down by the current Supreme Court multiple times to be the people responsible for appointing new Supreme Court justices?

This administration made a long-lasting decision to invade and take over Iraq. Now we can all see how good they are at making long-lasting decisions. Do we really want them making any more long-lasting decisions? And this time, on our soil, with our laws?

Americans that are still undecided about who to vote for next week should think long and hard about giving the current administration any more opportunities to make more long-lasting decisions for America. I know they've done their best, but I think they've proven that their best just isn't good enough.

I have dedicated my entire working life to America, from soldier to senator. I want you to know that you can put your trust in me to pick justices from the highest standard to serve our nation with pride, honor, and dignity."