Fred Barnes: The Safe Pick

The Weekly Standard ^ | July 20, 2005 | Fred Barnes

[Ol' Sparky]

I sure hope you're right. Not being willing to overturn Roe would certainly not qualify Roberts as the Scalia-like justice Bush promised to appoint.

[RWR8189]

Her leaving while Bush is president is a pipe dream.

She may not leave under her own volition.

I have heard she is not in very good health.

Keep in mind that Stevens is 85 years old as well.

[Dont Mention the War]

I notice that the only issue Fred mentions in this piece is abortion. Nothing personal Fred, but there are other matters out there.

I don't want a right-wing mirror image of Ginsberg. I want a constructionist, which is what SCOTUS justices are supposed to be. That's what Bush promised, that's what Bush delivered. I'm quite happy.

[Ol' Sparky]

Operation Rescue, a hardcore pro-life group, seems content with Roberts:

"A culture of life can never be built as long as Roe v. Wade is the law of the land," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.

"We appreciate President Bush being a man of his word by appointing a judge that will respect the Right to Life acknowledged by our nation's founding documents," said Newman. "We pray that Roberts will be swiftly confirmed."

"Our nation has suffered enough under decades of liberal activist judges legislating from the bench," said OR spokesperson Cheryl Sullenger. "After 45 million dead children, we are guardedly optimistic that the confirmation of Judge Roberts will be a step toward restoring protections for the pre-born that were stolen from them in 1973."

[GoodWithBarbarians JustForKaos]

Ginsberg is 85 and sick. She'll cling on by her nails if she has to, to avoid letting Bush replace her. Most likely though she'll have no choice but to retire soon.

[goldstategop]

We can dream of that day. Judge Roberts was an excellent pick and I doubt the President could have done better. Bush may get one or two more chances before the end of his term to decisively reshape the Supreme Court. If he picks young conservative justices, the result is a legacy that will matter a lot more than whether any of his legislative initiatives fare well in Congress. The President's appointment power is his most important one and it underlines how dispirited the Democrats and the Left are. It'll be decades before they can name any one to the Supreme Court. They bet a lot on the election last year and lost the whole enchilada.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[goldstategop]

Both Stevens and Ginsburg may retire along with Rehnquist for health reasons. Replacing both liberals with conservatives along with a conservative pick for Rehnquist's position would give conservatives a solid 5-4 majority on the Supreme Court. Judge Kennedy votes on some occasions with conservatives so it could go 6-3. You can tell the Left is not thrilled with the end of an era of judicial activism when they could count on the courts to save them even when they lose elections. The feeling of complete powerlessness will take awhile to seep in on the other side. You ain't seen nuthin' yet.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[nopardons]

bttt

[beyond the sea]

I could have lived with Ann Coulter as a choice though. She has the great legs for the court, that is for sure...

pin legs

Annie'a an excellent and sardonic writer, but she needs an anchor to hold her down in the breeze. She's scrawny and hasn't a decently developed muscle in her body. Her thighs are nonexistent. Give her a few bacon cheeseburgers.

p.s. I'd think you would know "great legs" when you saw them, being a tennis player and all. Check out Maria Sharapova's some day........... or almost any other female tennis player, swimmer or diver. Those are legs!

;-)

[RightFighter]

Thank you! Finally someone said what I've wanted to for so long. I love the girl, don't get me wrong, but have never understood the Ann Coulter rule, because I just don't find her to be that attractive. Those legs are far too skinny. She reminds me of the girl that used to star in all of Clint Eastwood's movies - Sandra Locke.

Flame away.

[leprechaun9]

Fred, this is BS! You know the many hours that most of the media told the public that this seat belonged to a minority, a woman and possible Black!

Look again Fred, John Roberts is neither!

[leprechaun9]

She was ill (mental) before she went on the Supreme Court!

[beyond the sea]

She reminds me of the girl that used to star in all of Clint Eastwood's movies - Sandra Locke.

That's a great comparison! Sondra Locke was hot in a weird sort of way. Clint liked her for a long time. I liked her a great deal in "Bronco Billy"...... a quirky, funny movie.

On Annie, GAIN WEIGHT!

;-)

[cyborg]

He is right. Roberts is a safe choice. It's going to do wonders for his ratings amongst his traditional base.

[Aquinasfan]

Is Roberts likely to join a anti-Roe bloc on the court? Probably not.

What's Fred basing this opinion on? I'm not going to dismiss Fred's opinion here because the left is eerily silent.

[Aquinasfan]

I notice that the only issue Fred mentions in this piece is abortion. Nothing personal Fred, but there are other matters out there.

Yes, but there's abortion, and then there's everything else. Each year two million unborn children are denied the most basic right, the right to life. No other public policy issue comes close in importance.

[cyborg]

Amen brother!

[Aquinasfan]

Those legs are far too skinny.

Skinny is OK, but it's the nervous energy that unnerves me. She always looks like she just drank three cans of Jolt.

[rogue yam]

How safe was the pick? The answer is very. This is partly because of his impressive credentials as a brilliant legal scholar and man of solid temperament and character. More important, he's already been tested in the Senate and passed muster.

So basically, Fred Barnes' objection is that Judge Roberts is profoundly qualified and that this has been previously recognized by the Senate. Got it!

[raybbr]

Judge Roberts is far more Conservative than everyone on the list...

How do you know this???