I think that Don'tTread means that Roberts would have been the replacement for O'Conner if Bush had not switched him to a replacement Rhenquist when he died.
Many feel that it was a mistake as Roberts is probably more conservative than O'Conner but probably less conservative than Rhenquist. Roberts would probably have been an easy confirmation even for O'Conner's seat.
Now, the democrats are now claiming that Roberts is a hardcore conservative so O'Conner's replacement should be more moderate. This is the case that they will try to get to the MSM to broadcast 24/7.
The Supreme Court has been too long enamored of foreign socialism and atheism.We need someone to rightly rule that the husband and parents have rights as well as the responsibility to just pay for everything.Women should be forced to see the results of the "procedure" and given time to think of real consequences of abortion. We need a gov't that doesnt throw people out of their homes simply so others can get rich.We need judges who won't foolishly rule against the religous beliefs that seek to better man here and hereafter in favor of cults that want only to pull down and destroy.
The whole "who replaces who" debate is aimed at preservation of status quo.
Personally, I think it's a distracting argument. Conservatives should be striving for a SCOTUS with 9 Scalia/Thomas/Rhenquist style Justices.
Pretty much that way.
Roberts was named to replace O'Connor. Since Roberts is an unknown and possibly a moderate, this is somewhat more digestible, although it still outrages many of us Bush did not choose a well known conservative. When Rehnquist died AFTER Roberts was nominated, that created a second opening now filled by the Alito nomination.
Just because Bush cowardly avoided a fight by not promoting Scalia to Chief Justice and took the easy way out by promoting Roberts to Chief Justice does not take away from the fact that ROBERTS WAS INITIALLY nominated to REPLACE O'CONNOR.
O'Connor was a liberal so Roberts may "possibly be more to the right" than O'Connor, but until we know, we have to assume he will be "O'Connor like".
The MSM is throwing fuel on the fire by saying that Alito is replacing O'Connor, just because she is hanging around a while longer. If they would accurately say that Alito is replacing Rehnquist, their fight would have less steam.
Like a true liberal, O'Connor has done the nation a bad service by not retiring as she had planned to. If she would have retired as announced, then Alito would more clearly be replacing Rehnquist, as he actually is anyway.
Roberts for O'Connor.........pretty equal. No change on the court.
Alito for Rehnquist..........pretty equal. No change on the court.
In truth, the court is not be changed. However, this false notion that the press and Bush is giving that "Alito is replacing O'Connor" gives the FALSE IMPRESSION that the court would shift to the right, when the TRUTH is the court is not being changed at all. Alito is the 2nd nominee to replace the 2nd opening (Rehnquist).