Free Republic

Possibly I've become far too cynical as regards the Dems and politics, but the recent comments by Justices Ginsburg and Stevens, both of whom essentially said that Roberts was absolutelty correct NOT to answer question about matters that may come before the Court, leave me flabbergasted, scratching my head, and wondering both why? and why NOW?

Democratic senators claim not to have learned much from the recent confirmation hearings for (now) Chief Justice John Roberts. I, on the other hand, learned a lot by listening to those senators. An analysis of their rhetoric reveals trends in constitutional interpretation and evolution that are sure to influence the looming battle over the president's second Supreme Court nominee. Observation #1: Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery Judicial activism” has long been a label conservatives use to describe liberal court decisions that seemingly elevate judges’ personal views above statutory and constitutional law. The Roberts hearings confirm that the term...

WASHINGTON – This much is known for sure: His favorite movie is "Doctor Zhivago." After that, surprisingly little is known about John Roberts, who is about to take up the reins of one of the most powerful institutions in American government as the 17th chief justice of the United States. Will he vote to overturn the abortion precedent Roe v. Wade? Some legal analysts say yes, others no.Will he favor states' power over Congress's efforts to pass federal laws under the Commerce Clause?Does he have a long-term strategy to move the court to the right, or will he gravitate to...

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT 22 Democratic senators voted to confirm John G. Roberts Jr. as the 17th chief justice of the United States. That's more than anyone would have imagined just a few months ago, when the talk in Washington was all about filibusters and nuclear options. The bad news is that 22 Democratic senators voted against Roberts. That's far more than the handful of Republicans who voted against Bill Clinton's two Supreme Court appointees, Stephen G. Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Washington's recent polarization suggests things could have been worse. But it is still alarming that 22 Democrats...

WASHINGTON, September 29, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - John Roberts was sworn in as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court this afternoon after being approved in a 78-22 Senate vote this morning. All 55 Senate Republicans voted for Roberts and were joined by 22 Democrats and Jim Jeffords (I-Vermont). 22 Democrats voted "No," following the lead of Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada). Addressing the gathered guests for the swearing in ceremony, President George W. Bush stressed the importance of the event saying, "The nomination power is one of the most serious responsibilities of a President. When a President chooses a Supreme...

Glug, Glug, Glug . . . Well, as usual, we guessed wrong. Two weeks ago we confidently predicted that Sen. Hillary Clinton would vote with the majority of the Democrats on the confirmation of Chief Justice John Roberts. The red-blue divide was clear. Democrats from states where George W. Bush beat John Kerry* favored Roberts 13-3, while Kerry-carry-staters opposed him 19-10. As for Mrs. Clinton, her vote shows her to be an extremist, to the left even of the Democratic Party. As New York's other senator might say, she has drifted far outside the mainstream and is headed for an...

Final count 78 - Yeas, 22 - Nays http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9503382/

Live from the White House at 3:00 P.M. EDT!

Vote to occur at 11:30 Eastern Time today. Confirmation is expected.

Dianne Feinstein's thoughts on the nomination of John Roberts as chief justice of the United States should be read with a soulful violin solo playing, or perhaps accompanied by the theme song of "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Those thoughts are about pinning one's heart on one's sleeve, sharing one's feelings and letting one's inner Oprah come out for a stroll. Feinstein, like many Democrats, has interesting ideas about what Supreme Court justices do, or should do. In her statement explaining to fellow members of the Judiciary Committee why she opposes confirmation of Roberts, she began with a cascade of encomiums,...

Updated Vote Count for Judge John Roberts Updated 7:16 am 9/27/05 From various MSM sources, and including the Judiciary Committee votes from September 22: Out of 44 Democratic Senators, here’s how our side plans to vote on the confirmation of Judge John Roberts. No Votes (17): Senator Harry Reid (NV) Senator Edward Kennedy (MA) Senator John Kerry (MA) Senator Jon Corzine (NJ) Senator Frank Lautenberg (NJ) Senator Barbara Boxer (CA) Senator Edward Kennedy (MA) Senator Joseph Biden (DE) Senator Dianne Feinstein (CA) Senator Chuck Schumer (NY) Senator Dick Durbin (IL) Senator Barack Obama (IL) Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY) Senator...

All 55 Senate Republicans are expected to vote to confirm John Roberts as chief justice of the United States. The 44 Senate Democrats are less unified, and independent James Jeffords of Vermont has not announced his position. Democrats who have announced their support for Roberts (17):Max Baucus of Montana, Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, Robert Byrd of West Virginia, Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Herb Kohl of Wisconsin, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, Carl Levin...

WASHINGTON - John Roberts' ascension to chief justice is so assured that senators debating the nomination this week may spend as much time talking about President Bush's upcoming nomination to fill a second vacancy on the Supreme Court. Two-thirds of the 100 senators — Republican and Democrats alike — had already announced their support of the conservative federal appeals court judge as the successor to the late William H. Rehnquist before the Senate even started its final debate Monday afternoon.

WASHINGTON -- John Roberts, hailed by supporters as "the brightest of the bright," cruised Monday toward easy confirmation as chief justice while President Bush hinted that his next pick to the Supreme Court could be a minority or a woman. "Diversity is one of the strengths of the country," the president said. Roberts, a 50-year-old federal appellate judge and the president's first pick for the Supreme Court, is assured of getting an overwhelming confirmation vote by the Senate later this week, making him the nation's 17th chief justice. Roberts is "the brightest of the bright," declared Majority Leader Bill Frist,...

The Democrats' deepening division over the Supreme Court nomination of Judge John G. Roberts Jr. has angered many of their party's political allies on the left, some of whom warn that a vote for the conservative jurist will not soon be forgotten. No sooner had the nomination sailed through the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday -- with yes votes from three of the panel's Democrats -- than several of the most influential liberal groups were openly chastising them in a rare public display of intraparty infighting. "We are disappointed that the Roberts nomination has moved forward and saddened that some Democrats...

WASHINGTON — John Roberts, hailed by supporters as "the brightest of the bright," cruised Monday toward easy confirmation as chief justice while President Bush hinted that his next pick to the Supreme Court could be a minority or a woman. "Diversity is one of the strengths of the country," the president said. Roberts, a 50-year-old federal appellate judge and the president's first pick for the Supreme Court, is assured of getting an overwhelming confirmation vote by the Senate later this week, making him the nation's 17th chief justice. Roberts is "the brightest of the bright," declared Majority Leader Bill Frist,...

All 55 Senate Republicans are expected to vote to confirm John Roberts as chief justice of the United States. The 44 Senate Democrats are less unified, and independent James Jeffords of Vermont has not announced his position. Democrats who have announced their support for Roberts (13): Max Baucus of Montana, Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, Robert Byrd of West Virginia, Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Herb Kohl of Wisconsin, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Bill Nelson of Florida, Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Ken...

U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton announced Friday that he would vote against confirming John Roberts as chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, but he predicted that the Senate will approve the appointment next week by a vote of about 70 to 30. At a State Capitol news conference, Dayton, a DFLer who is not seeking reelection in 2006, listed three reasons for his decision: •Roberts' refusal to answer even basic questions about his judicial philosophy and social views in Senate hearings. •The White House's refusal to release information on Roberts' record as a deputy solicitor general under President George H.W....

The vote by Sen. Patrick Leahy, ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, to confirm Judge John G. Roberts Jr. as chief justice surprised Bush administration officials. But it fit Democrats' Supreme Court grand strategy. Leahy is not really at odds with Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, who came out against confirmation. Leahy opened the door for yes votes by Democratic senators (including two Judiciary Committee colleagues) who believe Roberts is going to be confirmed anyway. Reid's position puts the party formally in opposition to Roberts, satisfying People for the American Way and other anti- Roberts liberal activist groups.

If President Bush wants to make a "diversity" pick for a Supreme Court nomination, must he swim shallow or deep in the pool of conservative minority and female possibilities? Conventional wisdom last week suggested that Bush, after tapping Judge John Roberts, a white male, for the position of chief justice, was unlikely to name another white male for the remaining high court vacancy, the seat currently held by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first female justice. Of course, conventional wisdom immediately after O'Connor announced her impending retirement held that Bush would maintain or increase diversity on the high court in...