[Torie]

Don't make the mistake of conflating what a guy writes as a hired gun to what he will write as a judge. In any event, a lot of stare decisis questions will be asked by the usual suspects in his confirmation hearings. It will be interesting to see how the swiss watch brain who was first in his class at Harvard law school, and has argued 29 cases before SCOTUS responds), because if one believes Roe is wrongly decided, if there is any decision which has less of a case for stare decisis, I don't know what it is. But then you already knew that.

Roberts is the single most qualified person on this planet to serve on SCOTUS. He is just off the charts in every way imaginable. And that is what bothers me about this choice. If I were Bush, I would have saved him for the Ginsburg or Stevens seat, when the Dems will really be in the trenches, along with a few "RINO's" maybe. His nomination could not be defeated. He was Bush's ultimate teflon coated silver bullet, and now he has "wasted" it.

Roberts will be confirmed easily, (maybe something like 75-25, although it should be unanimous, but those days are gone), and there will be no filibuster. The Dems won't have the votes, and if they did, then the nuke would come down in a hurry.

I am going to take time off if I can to watch the hearings. It should be fascinating, and I want to see Roberts in action.

[hoosierham]

Maybe President Bush didn't want to chance there not being another opening soon.

[Torie]

Bush alas isn't following the Torie game plan.

[NeoCaveman]

Torie wrote "I am going to take time off if I can to watch the hearings. It should be fascinating, and I want to see Roberts in action."


I'll save you the time.

Schumer "What do you think about Roe?"
Answer "I'd love to answer that, but it might come before more, therefor I can not answer that according to the cannons of legal ethics

Schumer "Death penalty, any opinion?"
Answer "I'd love to answer that, but it might come before more, therefor I can not answer that according to the cannons of legal ethics

Schumer "Endgangered species act?"
Answer "I'd love to answer that, but it might come before more, therefor I can not answer that according to the cannons of legal ethics

Schumer "What is your favorite color?"
Answer "Red"

Schumer "Thanks for your time"

[Pukin Dog]

If I were Bush, I would have saved him for the Ginsburg or Stevens seat, when the Dems will really be in the trenches, along with a few "RINO's" maybe.

I see your point, but I don't agree with it.

This is the best time for Roberts, because there is no possibility that will Bush will lose. Bush does not want problems with his first nominee, and the precedent set by an easy confirmation will put more pressure on the Democrats the second time around to get on with it.

Also, this pick will have a demoralizing effect on the Liberals. They have been preparing for this for 5 years now, and it will all go down the tubes in a couple months. If (when) the Liberals lose this one, they will either be more crazy the next time around; losing more support, or they will throw in the towel and give up.

Having Roberts go first will set the template for future nominees, and the confirmation process against Liberal opposition. 1 - 0 versus liberals is better than 0 - 1.

[A CA Guy]

I think Bush could be replaceing as many as 3 more and he will find the Judges as needed.

[jwalsh07]

Don't make the mistake of conflating what a guy writes as a hired gun to what he will write as a judge.

I won't. I made that clear further down in the thread. To be honest, I don't know enough about Roberts to say the court has moved somewhat to the right.

I'd have preferred somebody with a written record, Schumer be damned. It does appeal to me that his wife is Chairman of Feminists for Life though.:-} But you know that.

Dubya has a plan. Rehnquist will be replaced as Chief Justice by a woman or an hispanic who will be a rock ribbed conservative with a record. He has a plan methinks.

I just hope he had jusged Roberst correctly when he says Robert's is a judge "who will not legislate from the bebch".

Lord I hope he has judged correctly.

[NeoCaveman]

He was Bush's ultimate teflon coated silver bullet, and now he has "wasted" it.

There is always McConnell.

[Dales]

Was it post 1209?

If so, I think the logic might be that the left groups, who the Dems are so unbelievably tied up with right now but America is not yet fully aware of the degree of entanglement, will demand a fight.

Which will serve to highlight the degree of entanglement.

But that's just a swag. I really can't argue with your logic. It sounds like Roberts is close to being the bulletproof monk here. He might have been the better Stevens pick.

[Charles Henrickson]

Roberts is the single most qualified person on this planet to serve on SCOTUS. He is just off the charts in every way imaginable.

Agreed.

And that is what bothers me about this choice.

Disagreed. I think the President did the right thing. Find the best person available, and then back him.

When another opening comes up, repeat.

The future is too unpredictable to say, "save him for later."

And the scenario could turn out differently from what you suggest, anyhow. This nomination could prepare the way nicely for the next couple, in terms of confirmation. I'm thinking along the same lines as Pukin Dog in post 1288.