U.S. Chief Justice Rehnquist dead at 80 (Kennedy demands that Roberts hearing being postponed)

Reuters ^ | 9/4

[BruceS]

I am so proud of myself. Two days ago, I predicted to my wife that the Demonrats would use Katrina to try and delay the Roberts nomination. Now it happens. Maybe I shouldn't be proud if I am thinking like a Demonrat?

The idea that they cannot do more than one thing at a time is ridiculous. Teddy, Chuckie, etc are not going to be down in LA throwing water and food to people or cleaning up the Super Dome.

For those who don't know, there was a SC justice nominated by FDR who took his seat in Feb 1943 - so any nomination or hearings took place during WWII. I am not sure, but I think WWII was a bigger distraction than Katrina.

[tom paine 2]

Unfortunately Teddy cannot walk and chew bubble gum at the same time.

[upchuck]

Seems pretty simple and obvious to me: Schmimma doesn't want anything (Katrina, et al) to possibly upstage his histrionics at the SCOTUS hearing.

And, deep inside, he knows Roberts will be confirmed. So why not try and use Katrina as a foil to delay the inevitable?

[TennTuxedo]

May God bless his soul and help his family find comfort. May God also help the citizens of the United States of American find comfort. We lost a great man and a great leader in our nation.

[Jim Noble]

I do not think it would be right or fair to advance Clarence Thomas over Scalia.

Scalia is not only the most-well qualified serving AJ, he also has bled for us and for the Constitution for years and deserves the job.

That having been said, what a total BALL-BUSTING MIND FU*K it would be to nominate Thomas for CJ and Janice Rogers Brown as his replacement, on the same day.

Sometimes fairness has to take a back seat to crushing your enemies, seeing them driven before you, and listening to the lamentations of their women.

[ncountylee]

Edith Clement may have a lock on the job. She is of course a female.. but she's also from Louisiana.

She is also a friend of Mary Landrieu. Enough said.

Could she hold uo as chief?

[newzjunkey]

This administration seems to have a knack for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

That's the Republican Party today. Sure, it can win elections but can't *accomplish* anything. Makes me feel like barking like a moon-bat some nights.

[ncountylee]

"Kennedy's liver just went Code Red."

Lets go! Liver, in this tragic time of need, do your patriotic duty.

[newzjunkey]

They must do this because they need full access to the Media for their smear campaign against Roberts. Katrina will dilute their message and make it extremely challenging to get enough sheeple and activists fired up to give them cover while they make up ridiculous charges and work like hell to keep him off the court or at least seriously damage his credibility with the American People.

[Vaduz]

Why work when you can receive a under the table money.

[crz]

Rehnquist wasnt even a judge when appointed to the USSC.

I believe..that one does not have to be a lawyer to be appointed to a judgeship or run for such an office. I stand corrected if I am worng.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

If I am not mistaken last night FOX reported a statement was issued by ?dems (forget exactly who), hearing will proceed as scheduled.

The dems risk much if making a choice to obstruct.

This is not a situation where people will go back in 2-3 weeks and start the cleanup of their homes & neighborhoods, the MSM will move on & we will all go back to our own lives.

IMHO, given the enormous number of people suddenly without a life (job, clothes, cars, etc), many will see this a what it is---the ultimate in dem self-interest.

[NutCrackerBoy]

... [Democrats] need full access to the Media for their smear campaign against Roberts. Katrina will dilute their message and make it extremely challenging to get enough sheeple and activists fired up to give them cover while they make up ridiculous charges and work like hell to keep him off the court or at least seriously damage his credibility with the American People.

Great point that the liberals want to delay hearings until the media can focus on being their bitch.

[Bernard]

But maybe if they dropped Teddy from a height into the city, the splash would displace a large volume of water back over the walls. It's worth a try, and a live pay-per-view broadcast could raise money for the relief effort!

[silent_jonny]

Sen. Edward Kennedy (news, bio, voting record), a Massachusetts Democrat, said the consideration of successors to Rehnquist and O'Connor should be held off to allow the Bush administration and Congress to focus on the Katrina disaster

Teddy, you're just as transparent as you are fat.

[silent_jonny]

Kennedy's liver just went Code Red.

LOL!

[GEC]

Teddy needs to stuff it.

It will be great to see him lose this one, and many others in the future.

[jwpjr]

re: Makes me feel like barking like a moon-bat some nights

But, on the other hand, they always say that when someone is doing the right thing no one on either side is happy with them. Maybe he's right on with his approach. I love him enough to give him the benefit of the doubt, but just once in a while I'd like to see him unload on someone.

[mthom]

Remember all the Dems that said O'Connor should be replaced by someone with the same exact judicial philosophy? Think theyll make that same argument this time?

[LS]

I spent two hours with Justice Thomas, me and my students, last Feb. He took a great deal of time to explain how court matters really work. When he discussed the role of the CJ, it is truly a figurehead position. He gets one vote; the way the court makes up its mind, according to Thomas, was that everyone did their own work, completely out of touch with anyone else. There was, he said, NO "buttonholing" people in the halls---"that's all TV stuff." Each justice comes to his or her own conclusion on every case. Then they sit and go around the table and each person gives an opinion. Then they vote.

HE SAID EVEN THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL DECISIONS TOOK NO MORE THAN 15 MINUTES TO RENDER!!! The Chief Justice had no extra "weight," no special influence, nothing. My point is that it is far, far more important to get a conservative vote rather than a symbolic chief justice. Gonzolez must not be that new justice. I'd rather have Brown and make GINSBERG CJ!