LET'S LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES

One of the great failings of the Obama candidacy was that no one questioned his associations, those who surrounded him and helped shape his political reason. Only after the fact did anyone care about the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Tony Rezko, William Ayers, Van Jones, Andy Stern, and of course, Ms. Elena Kagan.

Yes, the same Elena Kagan now being considered to replace Justice John Paul Stevens on the U.S. Supreme Court.

What of Kagan's associations? In her 1981 thesis entitled To the Final Conflict: Socialism in New York City, 1900-1933, she acknowledges, "Finally, I would like to thank my brother Marc, whose involvement in radical causes led me to explore the history of American radicalism in the hope of clarifying my own political ideas."

Of course, that does not explicitly declare that she herself is a radical, but identifies her sibling as one. How radical? How close are they? What part does he play in clarifying her own political ideas today? Do we want a radical that close to a member of the Supreme Court.

It's not damming evidence, but Barak Obama's associations were overlooked in his bid for a limited-term office in the White House. What about Elena Kagan's? Let's not repeat the same mistake on a lifetime appointment. That would lack political reason.

". . . American radicals cannot afford to become the own worst enemies. In unity lies their only hope." — Elena Kagan