Where is Gandalf when you need him?

I wouldn’t invite President Bush to my birthday party.

I’ll admit he got my vote the first time around (something about “compassionate conservatism”), but that was before he started wearing cowboy hats, blowing things up and using colloquialisms like “bring ’em on.”

Needless to say, my relationship with the President has been a bit strained ever since.

But I have to be honest. My soul feels a certain amount of peace knowing the President nominated John Roberts for the Supreme Court. Considering who could have been nominated (there are those who would like to see Al Sharpton wielding the gavel), something about Roberts makes me feel safe.

And, although he has been vague on the issue, I think it all comes down to his personal position on abortion.

I’m one of the many folks who feel decidedly “progressive” on a number of political and social issues, yet find myself taking a hard right when it comes to family, sexuality and the unborn. As one who believes Christians should be committed to social justice, I place the issue of abortion is at the top of my Micah 6:8 to-do list.

Unfortunately, none of the people who espouse similar views are running for president, or much of anything else (President Ron Sider has a nice ring to it, though). And the politicos who are staunchly pro-life seem equally pro-war, pro-big business and anti-environment.

So who gets my vote?

I typically enter the voting booth with a smirk and a cringe. I even consider writing in fictional characters who have shown strong leadership in their respective arenas: “King Edmund, democrat from Narnia,” or “Mr. Gandalf the Grey, independent from Middle Earth.” Now those were some balanced leaders.

But I believe democracy was hard won and I won’t squander it. I just want a president who remotely represents my views, or at least doesn’t say things like, “Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we” (Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004).

Indeed.

John Roberts is not perfect, but his personal interpretation of the Constitution seems to affirm the right to life of unborn children. I have hope that, like me, he sees abortion as a justice issue–one in which the truly helpless are being destroyed with startling frequency.

If only we had a president who would care for those children once they’re born by protecting the environment, working against poverty, keeping corporate greed in check and not sending our kids off to fight suspicious wars. We just might have a winning combination.

But until then, I’m glad the Supreme Court could have one more voice to speak loudly for those who have no voice at all.

And I’m glad he’s proven himself to be more articulate than the man who nominated him.