Our Christmas congratulations to all

We have been more than a little tough lately on Louisiana’s junior senator, John Kennedy. But credit should be given where credit is due. And while we are still uncomfortable with what we have seen as too dogmatic and partisan an approach to the job, the most recent news associated with Kennedy should be shouted from the mountain tops.

Matthew Spencer Petersen, a Trump administration federal court nominee, has withdrawn his name from consideration as a direct result of a grilling given to him by Kennedy, when he appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee, on which the Louisiana senator sits.

Judiciary Committee members are allowed five minutes each to ask questions of and draw answers from multiple judicial picks which is in and of itself a bad way to do business. But it appears from video of the session with Petersen that Kennedy made the most of the time allotted. He showed Petersen up to be the fraud he would have been had he continued through.

Kennedy, sensing something was not right with Petersen, asked questions that at each turn drew Petersen deeper into the judicial mire.

The United States was saved from having an incompetent person on the federal bench because Petersen was just too embarrassed by the pounding he took from Kennedy. He was unable to name certain basic evidentiary procedures, struggling through sheepish grins and time-stalling answers.

The Washington D.C. bench Petersen could have sat upon has been saved from his presence, and the Senate will go on to pick more Trump nominees. Wherein lies some difficulty. The president has acknowledged that he has not personally spoken with them. We realize that the president is a busy man but would be more comfortable knowing that he made the time to speak with judicial nominees, who are appointed for life, rather than let “his guys” do the selecting, with hopes that someone as sharp as Kennedy was in this case deliver the coup de grace. We congratulate Sen. Kennedy on his accomplishment.

We also note that the Senator accomplished this without rancor and in the most courteous of ways.

A lesson could be taken for several of our local officials, who have of late found themselves acting toward each other and members of the public in a bullying, discourteous manner.

Now, during this blessed holiday season, would be a good time for those guilty of such behavior to offer olive leaves, so that the year can start fresh. Points can be made without personal insults and slights. And if they cannot be made without the personal insults and slights, perhaps they should not be attempted at all.

As for the Christmas season itself, congratulations are due all those who made magic happen in Houma and in Thibodaux, whose parades were flawless. Downtown streets in our communities are beautifully decorated and show fine Christmas spirit.

They are the reminders of what makes Christmas most important, which is the ability of this commemoration of a baby’s birth to bring joy to the youngest, most precious among us.

Speaking of the importance that young people have in our communities, we would be remiss if we did not offer congratulations to the Nicholls State University students who graduated Saturday.

It was the university’s 101st commencement exercise — they do two each year. An emotional first-person account of graduation appears in this issue, written by Times contributor Colin Campo.

Held under beautiful skies and a perfect temperature, the commencement went on as planned in open air. We are proud of Times Senior Staff Writer Dr. John DeSantis D.L.H.C., who delivered an inspiring address after being conferred his honorary degree. But we are most of all proud that more than 600 students have stepped out into the world, ready to take their places as degreed men and women.

They are a credit to our community, and even more so a credit to themselves.

To them we wish congratulations and to them as well as all of you, wishes for a Merry and Happy Christmas. •