I don't think Roe will be reversed with a single blow. I think it will be eviscerated by multiple decisions that leave no inherent federal right to abortion other than situations where the mother's life is in danger, and return the rest to the states. That way SCOTUS can overturn the case while pretending to respect precedent.
Well, we will find out in short order when the Court addresses the partial-birth abortion case that headlines its calender next year. Most likely the law will be upheld with O'Connor gone and Robert in. But will Roberts join with Rehnquist, Thomas and Scalia with regard to criticizing Roe, Casey and "mother's health" exception? Or will he join Kennedy in writing up some separate concurring opinion which will uphold the law but do nothing to weaken Casey? You might be right but...
I think you are right.
You can't take away a 'right' that a substantial minority of the country approves of without civil disobedience and a possible backlash unless you sneak up on it.
SO9
I think John Roberts will be an outstanding jurist for conservative America.
Roe could be overturned instantly by simply recognizing that Roe erred in calling the fetus a 'potential life' instead of what it was: human life.
There are other ways to overturn Roe. Maybe 50 ways to do so. Incremental chipping away is not the way to go with Roe.
It is scary indeed that we aren't even sure that Roberts would overturn the worst Supreme Court decision since Plessy v Ferguson. But not as scary as the fact that - EVEN IF HE JOINED SCALIA, THOMAS AND REHNQUIST - there is a court majority left to uphold it.