...And Then There Were Nine

This mornings news is centered on the confirmation hearing of Neil Gorsuch for the position of Supreme Court Justice. Mr. Gorsuch, who during his exchange with Sen. Patrick Leahy, when questioned about the issue of torture, offered both charm and pedestrian flattery to the aged Senator, but did not directly answer each question without equivocation.

Mr. Gorsuch defended torture and wiretapping during the George W. Bush Presidential Administration. His position on abortion remained unclear.

The problem of torture arises out of several associated issues. One issue is religious and moral beliefs and another issue is upholding the Geneva Convention. As a nation, it should behoove us to remember that when we are once again engaged in another war that sends our sons and daughters to the front and they are captured by enemy forces, they may end up being tortured. Can we, as parents and American citizens who support fair rules of law, be justified to stand perched upon moral high ground condemning our enemies for torture, if we approve and allow our own use of torture upon captured enemy soldiers? It is a fact that torture does not produce valid and truthful information from prisoners because people will say anything they think you want to hear in order to stop their torture and pain. The only reason torture would be approved after knowing it does not work, would be indifference and lack of moral conscience of the person who orders it. The person who carries out the order could not do it, unless they enjoy their own emotionally damaged gratification and sadistic personal sense of complete power that gives them pleasure from committing what should be illegal to a captive prisoner.

Mr. Gorsuch defended former Pres. bush's wiretapping and torture policies. I believe I see Mr. Gorsuch for what his character truly is and not for his superficial middle aged, "eagle scout" appearance. To quote my favorite "Sage of the Stage", Mr. W. C. Fields said:

"You can fool some of the people,  some of the time -- and that's enough to make a decent living.”

― W.C. Fields

So, is Neil Gorsuch a bonafide, genuine imitation "eagle scout", who when he is installed into the elite rank of the Supreme Court Justices, be trusted to make far-reaching legal decisions without being a "respecter of persons" and with honest impartiality based upon the rule of law? Will the grand position of being appointed/installed as a Supreme Court Justice for a lifetime, knowing he can never be removed or dismissed, color his personal judgments to reflect true justice?  Or will his sense of "Absolute Power", corrupt absolutely?