Alzheimer's Disease Rampant Among Republicans

Dada, in his Odds and Ends section, noted that there seems to be an epidemic of Alzheimer's Disease among Republicans with the latest being John Roberts' inability to remember his membership in the Federalist Society although he held a leadership position with the group.

We all know how Ronald Reagan suffered from the disease. Although his diagnosis hadn't been made public yet, it was obvious to us that he was suffering from a cognitive disorder when he made the following statement with a straight face:

March 3, 1987 (from a televised address in which he admitted to the findings of the Tower Commission)

"A few months ago, I told the American people I did not trade arms for hostages. My heart and my best intentions still tell me that's true, but the facts and evidence tell me it is not."

From The Boston Globe we learn:

"Last week, White House aides contacted news organizations that had reported that Roberts was a member of The Federalist Society and declared that he was not a member, even though he had occasionally delivered speeches at group events. Many media outlets, including the Globe, published corrections.

But over the weekend, a liberal group unearthed a Federalist Society leadership directory from 1997-98. It lists Roberts, then a partner in a Washington law firm, as having served on a steering committee for the group's District of Columbia chapter. Nonetheless, the White House insisted yesterday that there is no proof that Roberts ever paid the $50 annual dues that would technically make him a member. The society keeps its membership list confidential.

''He certainly had given speeches and had participated in events, but he certainly had no recollection of being a member, and that is still the case today,' Dana Perrino, a spokeswoman for the White House, said yesterday."

But on Monday, presidential press secretary Scott McClellan said, "He doesn't recall ever paying dues or being a member."

Apparently Roberts and the Bushites are hiding something more than his association with The Federalist Society because they've decided to block the release of his papers from work in the solicitor general's office from 1989-93.

The White House intends to deny the Senate Judiciary Committee documents from Supreme Court nominee John Roberts' work in the solicitor general's office from 1989-93, a senior Bush administration official said Monday.

"They will not be released," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the decision has not been made public.

That kind of secrecy has delayed the Bolton nomination, so perhaps the Democrats will decide to filibuster Roberts too?