Staff Reports
This just in, folks! President Joe Biden’s nomination of Spokane County judge Charnelle Bjelkengren for a federal judgeship has hit a major roadblock. According to the Spokesman Review, Bjelkengren has requested not to be renominated, and it seems like the President is going to respect her wishes. I mean, who can blame her? The nomination process can be a real pain, especially when you have to face a thorough questioning by a Republican senator like John Kennedy from Louisiana.
Now, Kennedy really went to town on Bjelkengren during her confirmation hearing in January 2023. He started grilling her about Article II of the Constitution, asking her to define the powers of the presidency. And let me tell you, her responses were not impressing anyone. When Kennedy pressed her on the legal theory of “purposivism,” she stumbled over her words like she was trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube. And don’t even get me started on Article V and changing the constitution. She had no clue what she was talking about!
Naturally, the Republicans in Congress and their pals in the media weren’t too happy about Bjelkengren’s performance. They claimed she lacked the qualifications for the job and even Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell went as far as to say she “flunked” questions that high schoolers learn. Ouch! But hey, maybe McConnell has a point. If she can’t even handle basic constitutional questions, how can we trust her to be a fair and impartial judge?
Now, of course, there were some Democrats who came to Bjelkengren’s defense. Sen. Patty Murray pointed out that the American Bar Association deemed her “qualified,” but let’s be real here. What does the American Bar Association know? They’re probably just another group of liberal lawyers trying to push their agenda.
What’s interesting to note is that Bjelkengren would have been the first African American woman to hold the position in Spokane County. And it seems like diversity is a big priority for Biden. I mean, why else would he nominate someone who clearly struggled with basic constitutional knowledge? But hey, I guess qualifications don’t matter as long as you check the right boxes.
In any case, Bjelkengren’s decision not to be renominated is probably for the best. The last thing we need is a judge who can’t even understand the laws they’re supposed to uphold. It’s a tough job, folks, and we need someone who knows what they’re doing. Maybe next time, President Biden will think twice before putting politics and diversity above qualifications and competence. But I won’t hold my breath.
