Are you at all familiar with these hearings or just commenting from afar? First, not all of the current justices went through this process as it is conducted today. Secondly, politicians are not subject to this kind of direct, eye ball to eye ball questioning and have some control of their stages. Third, this isn't about the honor of the men and women who might be nominated, it's about the lack of honor in the process. Consider that before you make your military comparisons.
I am absolutely familiar with them.
"First, not all of the current justices went through this process as it is conducted today."
I believe that running from the vicious Democrats gives the other side exactly what they want, it's nothing more or less than liberal terrorism.
Which brings to mind some brave men like Clarence Thomas and the unflagging courage and conviction he summoned up to submit himself to partisan Senatorial questioning, including witnesses who impugned his character and slandered his name. Other patriots who placed the interest of our nation before their own fears include Justice Roberts and Robert Borke. Roberts faced down the vicious senators with fearlessness and class, and now he's more powerful than any one of them. Borke eventually got torpedoed, but he stepped up and faced what he knew were going to be brutal, partisan hearings. There were others who passed through the gauntlet as well.
"Secondly, politicians are not subject to this kind of direct, eye ball to eye ball questioning and have some control of their stages."
I think they are subject to it, by the hounding media. In fact, many politicians are subject to far more investigations, attacks and character assassinations, because there are huge political machines on the "other side" who have a whole lot of time and assets to dig up dirt on rival candidates. And the process lasts a whole lot longer than for judicial nominees.
"Third, this isn't about the honor of the men and women who might be nominated, it's about the lack of honor in the process. Consider that before you make your military comparisons."
I used a military analogy because they are such great examples of courageous people who put their very lives on the line for their country; whereas politicans and judicial nominees are merely subject to verbal assaults. So there is definately an element of honor involved, it's summed up by whether or not these nominees are grateful to the President who nominated them for this awesome role they would play in the destiny of America.
So I am staying with my original statement, that the President has apparently gotten some very bad advice, as he apparently considered only a handful of female candidates for SCOTUS nominees, who by-and-large were a group of selfish cowards. They were unwilling to put the welfare of their own country, (and maybe even the existence of America as we know it), before their own fears of facing a difficult hearing process. Where is their patriotism and personal conviction, and where was their gratitude and sense of duty?? Bush could have, and should have done better for those conservatives who supported him and helped get him elected.