Either Roberts is who he appeared in these two rulings, and we’re stuck with a narcissist who thinks he’s the knower and purveryor of all, or he’s a liberal, or they have something on him.
I’m afraid of all 3 of those. I think, though, that Obama might prefer a chief justice he had dirt on to a Hillary who has her own avenues of power.
I think Roberts was compromised and someone has some dirt on him. He was probably told that if Kennedy didn't swing left that he was going to have to do it himself... or else! Or else what? We will probably never know.
My prediction is that he will decide to resign this summer because of some medical or family problem and that Obama will name Kagan as the Chief Justice and will nominate Hillary Clinton to replace Roberts. She will get 50 votes and Biden will cast the deciding vote to put her on the bench. It has all been pre-determined.
Occam's Razor.