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The Editorial Page

Scum along the Potomac

Obama added a "signing statement" to that bill, declaring his intent to revoke that provision. But, as Holder explained, that process would have added years onto what has already been an unacceptably long delay in prosecuting, and punishing, Mohammed and other alleged terrorists.

Many on the left see this as another in a line of ways that Obama has failed them. But it is more accurate to call this a defeat for Obama — and human rights — at the hands of Republican demagogues.

LENK: A SMART CHOICE

There was, however, one victory for the side of progress this week: the nomination by Governor Deval Patrick of Barbara Lenk to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. If confirmed, Lenk will be the first openly gay SJC justice — and, according to reports, the first on any state supreme court.

Lenk has a PhD from Yale and a JD from Harvard Law School; she worked her way up to partner at Brown Rudnick; was appointed Superior Court judge, and then Appeals Court judge, by Republican governor William Weld; and has served on a variety of boards and councils.

She also happens to be married to someone of her own gender. Thank goodness we live in a state where that only matters to the two of them.