I think it’s fair to say that Samuel Alito was more impressive than John Roberts was. The Roberts lovefest was, you’ll recall, not only due to his amazing cool and easy temperament, but also because Democrats had basically come to the conclusion that the Rhenquist-for-Roberts trade wasn’t hard to take. Roberts didn’t have to spend three days having his Vanguard recusal questioned 50 times, being accused of bigotry, and being called a liar (“I am troubled by the inconsistencies”). The Judiciary Committee Democrats worked hard to bait him and he would not be baited. He maintained a temperament that seemed not only appropriately judicial but positively superhuman in its forbearance. Picking him was another example of how George W. Bush, when he gets his focus back, has stunning political instincts.