The power of the President to use customary bullying from the bully pulpit is pretty weak. Even the mainstream media have no real impact on the justices.
BUT the Obamabastard MAY have suggested very strongly that he would attempt to PACK the SCOTUS a la FDR if they didn’t capitulate on this one issue.
In the event that did occur, the Justice effected by this threat has more to be ashamed of than the person threatening him.
When the Executive bullies the Judiciary, you third world government - and Barck Hussein Obama is ALL about third world government.
Imposing it HERE and bringing the third world to America.
That would have been an idle threat, as you can't create additional judgeships without an act of Congress, which requires House approval. You could not get something like that through Harry Reid's Senate, as too many of them are up for election, and it could be filibustered. So, that is not it.
Roberts just caved. It takes a special kind of bull-headed stubbornness to not give in eventually to the DC establishment. Thank God for people like Scalia, Thomas and (so far) Alito. What's interesting is that Kennedy is getting MORE conservative. I think O'Connor was the main reason he kept turning, and with her gone, Scalia has more influence with him.