Heck, let's just read the Constitution

They're talking judicial selection over in East Tennessee. (KnoxNews: "Process to pick judges may change")

From the article: ". . . Sen. Doug Overbey, a lawyer and Republican from Maryville who represents Blount and Sevier counties, said a state Supreme Court had ruled that the process is constitutional.

He said he had talked at length with former state Supreme Court Justice William Barker about it. Barker, a Republican from Chattanooga and now retired, said the framers of the state's constitution intended for the judicial branch not to be political, Overbey said.

"Running nonpartisan doesn't make it nonpolitical," he said.

He said he supports the Tennessee plan for choosing judges although he would consider changing the way members of the nominating commission are selected and the way of sending three names to the governor for his consideration."

With all due respect to former Supreme Court Justice Barker and State Senator Overbey, I don't see how the framers could have required that judges "be elected by the qualified voters" and at the same time have "intended for the judicial branch not to be political." Why purport to read minds when we can read words?

Kudos to McNally, Burchett, Haynes, and (Reps.) Brooks & Dunn (I couldn't resist).