Posted on 03/04/2010 2:45:18 PM PST by OldDeckHand
Everyone is wondering: Where did that erroneous rumor of an imminent retirement by Chief Justice John Roberts come from? The gossip spread like wildfire, triggering thousands of texts, blog posts, and emails — a few hundred of them to the ATL tips line — before Radar, which first published the rumor, retracted its report.
We were skeptical, which is one reason why we didn’t write about the gossip as quickly as some other outlets. We reached out to the Supreme Court’s Public Information Office after we heard the rumor, and we didn’t want to write about it until we heard back from the PIO (or at least gave them a little time to respond).
Of course, we have many Supreme Court sources other than the official ones — and they reacted with extreme skepticism when we ran the Radar report by them. One of our SCOTUS experts actually laughed out loud after we (sheepishly) asked, “Have you heard anything about a possible Roberts retirement?” This source noted that JGR would sooner die — literally — than give Obama the chance to appoint his successor.
Like many a promising legal career, the Roberts resignation rumor traces its origins to a 1L class at Georgetown University Law Center….
Here’s an account of what went down in Professor Peter Tague’s criminal law class this morning, from a 1L at Georgetown Law:
(Excerpt) Read more at abovethelaw.com ...
Rumors like this are a puny price to pay for this wonderous blessing. Rapid communication, the din of small voices [as Drudge put it], is REAL HOPE for REAL CHANGE.
Doesn't that corrected RADAR headline read EXACTLY like a parody. It's hysterical, except for the fact that is the actual corrected headline.
To which Dan Rather was seen running about, wearing only his bathrobe, and screaming, “Fake, but accurate! Fake, but accurate!”
So what? Big deal. It’s not like Drudge covered it up like the drive-bys. I know he doesn’t deserve the FR’s loyalty, but he’s a Godsend overall.
Give us a break after all, Drudge took it seriously.
The professor was attempting to teach a lesson on rumors and reliable sources to his first year law class, i.e., just because you heard it from what you consider to be a reliable source doesn’t mean it is accurate, so check it out before you run with it.
Looks like he succeeded in spades! If they didn’t learn from this, they will never learn. Perhaps the professor learned his own lesson as well!
I think he’s a good professor who’d like his students to think. He is, however, guilty of (1) underestimating the technology used by his students, and (2) overestimating his students’ ability to sort out facts.
God, I would have loved to be in that classroom at 9:30.
— FRegards ....
He’s an idiot because he capitalized on his position of authority over the L1 idiots to get the rumor going.
It’s not a close call.
I was sure he was going to elope with Justice Ginsburg and run off to a remote South Pacific island.
He taught his 1Ls a lesson - evidently a desperately-needed one. That’s what teachers are supposed to do.
“I’m just surprised Obama didn’t try to accept his resignation on the rumor.”
No I don’t care who you are,...that’s funny!
Thank you for the summary.
I’m putting this in the “Loony Left” thread:
Close Encounters with the Loony Left [link-list]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2464035/posts?page=2
Is that smoke coming from out of his nose? Sideways?
Perhaps he could learn how to stop smoking from nobama.
Since this is not true and can not be rationally explained as a mistake, then one must wonder if this was not some kind of trial balloon.
1. A threat to the Chief Justice
2. Groundwork for the media to discuss the NATURE of this court and the need for Obama to pack it. Which would lead to —>
3. An attempt to refire the leftist base regarding Obama’s great value to them
4. If challenged in court, there are a number of constitutional weaknesses in the HealthCare Bill that would eventually work their way to SCOTUS. This could be the beginning of that battle.
I loved the comment [not sourced - ; ) ] that Chief Justice Roberts would rather die, literally, than give Obama the opportunity of replacing him. LOL.
That’s my impression of the Chief Justice too, and I don’t know him personally, so I’m hoping that unsourced comment is accurate!
I particularly enjoyed this from the piece:
This source noted that JGR would sooner die — literally — than give Obama the chance to appoint his successor.
There is no single retirement, bar Obama himself, that would have the national repercussions of this story had it been true.
The soul of any great rumor is the magnitude of it's import, in that respect this was a gem. Blame only those that perpetuated it and not those that were initially concerned.
Amazing how rumors can spread.
parsy
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