Bush to Nominate Roberts for Chief Justice

FoxNews ^ | Sept 5, 2005

[TomGuy]

Newsreaders on FoxNews just said a 'Senior administration spokesman' has said Bush plans to nominate Roberts for Chief Justice position.

[tsmith130]

Souter already had complimentary things to say about Justice Rehnquist, earlier.

If that's true, (have a link?), wouldn't the report by CNN have referred to it? Why would Souter not release his statement at the same time the others did or re-release his already stated "complimentary things"?

[Carolinamom]

Souter has said not to expect a statement concerning CJ Renhquist and/or his death from him. Disgraceful IMO.

[beyond the sea]

I said that the other day and people here ripped me for saying it.

He IS exhausted. He has looked and sounded pretty bad for a while now!

I'm sure he wishes all this would end.... and he could get back to private life.

[Born Conservative]

Chuckie Shumer ain't gonna like this...

[beyond the sea]

5. F. Lee Levin

;-)

[mware]

Who's you daddy, now????

[Dems_R_Losers]

CJ is the most important position to fill. Because Roberts is well along in the confirmation process and appears to be acceptable to the Gang of 14, it makes perfect sense to nominate him and then worry later about the new Associate Justice. It would be bad for the Court to start a new term without a Chief.

The question now is what Arlen Specter will do. Will he delay Roberts' hearing because it is now a confirmation hearing for the CJ? And if so, for how long? Will he reverse his stand on release of Roberts' Deputy Solicitor papers, and demand their release now?

And will the Dems use this opportunity to pile on the President for Katrina? Will there be a public backlash if they do?

[beyond the sea]

Schmuckie can eat ****!

[tiredoflaundry]

5. F. Lee Levin

lol... that'll work! ;-)

[LS]

Again, from what Justice Thomas told me and my students in a LONG talk in February, the CJ is purely symbolic. The decision process, he said, was remarkably quick: even on the most divisive cases, it took 15 minutes for the justices to all state their opinion and vote. He said there is no jawboning, buttonholing, or Hollywood theatrics where people try to "persuade" others in the hallway. Their opinions are set when they have a meeting about a case. So CJ is really just the person who calls the meeting to order and nothing else.

[dmw]

Good! His misery is my happiness! ;-)

[beyond the sea]

This is how Jack Lalane got started.

[va4me]

Choosing Scalia would have required another round of confirmation hearings, which I don't think Bush wanted. This makes a great deal more sense.

[newzjunkey]

There are many questions swirling around Roberts. He might be a Souter. Would you want Souter to be managing the court? I sure wouldn't!

We have to hope Bush's "instincts" are good and, quite honestly, I don't think we have any reason to believe it.

I think Bush is doing this for political expediency. Rove, or someone, is showing political cowardice when it comes to the nomination process and battles with the Senate. They Dems have *won* a battle. Bush has upped the stakes on Robert's being confirmed. This decisions seems based on the calendar and 'distractions' of Katrina, etc. and *not* on careful consideration of someone intended for the position of Chief Justice.

Does this mean Bush doesn't have a "short list" ready?

I would *hope* there was some 'sounding' out of the existing Justices before he pulled the trigger on this switch of Roberts from an Associate to Chief. I suppose, since O'Conner has offered to stay on until a replacement is found we will be able to have a "full court" in October *IF* the Senate confirms Roberts for Chief.

I think we're looking at a case of cowboy politics.

[Dems_R_Losers]

I meant to add that I have thought all along that Bush wanted Roberts as Chief, and would have moved to elevate him had Rehnquist lived until Roberts was confirmed as Associate Justice. This just messes up the timing a bit.

I don't think Scalia wanted to be Chief. I won't be surprised to see him retire after this term, and he would have been obligated to stay on for life if he had been made Chief. Plus he knew the confirmation process would have been bloody and exhausting for him.

[beyond the sea]

F. Lee is the man. I love his sense of humor, his intelligence, and his manly and righteous anger at times.

He's the best!

[Sandy]

chief supreme court justice

Ah! Btw, the correct title is Chief Justice of the United States, not Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Just fyi.

[hershey]

Wonder if he asked Thomas and Scalia in turn if they were interested in the job. Schumer and Fat Teddy won't be at all happy. This is not 'unity'.

[Dems_R_Losers]

I'd be willing to bet Rehnquist himself recommended Roberts to succeed him.

[Jet Jaguar]

Nodding.