Combination

Her open-mindedness may disappoint some who want a sure liberal vote on almost every issue. Her pragmatism may disappoint those who believe that mechanical logic can decide all cases. And her progressive personal values will not endear her to the hard right. But that is exactly the combination the president was seeking.

-- Walter Dellinger, an acting solicitor general in the Clinton administration who is close to Elena Kagan, President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, New York Times, 11 May 2010