Bush Nominates Roberts as Chief Justice
Posted on September 5, 2005
I hate it when news happens while I’m sleeping! Hat tip to TMH Bacon Bits.
The president made the announcement in the Oval Office before leaving for another trip to the hurricane-battered Gulf Coast.
Roberts, who once clerked for Rehnquist, said he would be honored “to succeed a man I deeply respect and admire.”
“I am honored and humbled by the confidence the president has shown in me,” Roberts said, standing alongside Bush in the Oval Office.
Bush called on the Senate to confirm him before the Supreme Court opens its fall term on Oct. 3. Congress has already been weighing whether to delay Roberts’ confirmation hearings because of the Hurricane Katrina
disaster.“He’s a man of integrity and fairness and throughout his life he’s inspired the respect and loyalty of others,” Bush said of his pick. “John Roberts built a record of excellence and achievement and reputation for goodwill and decency toward others in his extraordinary career.”
The move would promote to the Supreme Court’s top job a newcomer who currently is being considered as one of eight associate justices.
Democrats said Roberts will now be held to a higher standard, although they had found little in his record to suggest they would thwart his nomination as associate justice.
“Now that the president has said he will nominate Judge Roberts as chief justice, the stakes are higher and the Senate’s advice and consent responsibility is even more important,” Democratic leader Harry Reid said Monday in a statement. “The Senate must be vigilant.”source
I just have to say…when will people stop underestimating the political skills of President Bush. This was a smooth move by far. Although NARAL, NOW, People For The American Way, and ACLU have all had their criticisms…none have stuck. The selection helps Bush avoid more ugly political fights while dealing with the hurricane mess. By nominating Roberts, Bush cuts the number of fights from three down to two. If he would have chose to bump someone else up, there would have been the fight for their confirmation, the fight to replace the vacant position they left, and Robert’s nomination. I do think Bush has made an intelligent choice here, and that Roberts would not only qualify, but make a great Chief Justice.
But don’t doubt it…it’s still gonna get ugly.
Already some are saying that Bush used this to divert attention away from his failure to react to Katrina. What more can be said than…loony!
Michelle Malkin has a great roundup.
Other coverage: Wizbang and Indepundit and My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
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15 Responses to “Bush Nominates Roberts as Chief Justice”
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Hey Jay – just wanted to update you, I’ve added you to my site and I’d appreciate it if you’d replace http://www.conservativerant.blogspot.com with http://www.mytruthmachine.blogspot.com. Thanks again!
Done, thanks.
I would of rather had him appoint Scalia. Roberts is good, but Scalia and Thomas, are the only “true conservatives” left on the Bench. Bush picked Roberts, because he fit’s into the whole “neo-con” thing. Meaning bigger Government, less states rights. Pretty much a liberal in my eyes.
RR
I disagree Ron. I think it was a wise move because this makes it only two fights instead of three. If he would have bumped someone else up there would have been that fight, then the fight to replace that one, and John Roberts. This cuts the fights down to two.
Jay, I lost track of time and was very late posting this weeks Question Of The Week. It is about the next nominee, so imagine how much I hated it when I figured out I was a day behind and then a decision was made while I was sleeping. I do think President Bush made a good choice but I’m concerned about what could happen next.
God Bless America, God Save The Republic.
Just wondering if you are celebrating this socialist holiday….or if you are forgoing all that to work.
I assume you work.
That may be a stretch. Let’s just pretend you do.
Jay, at least you got to sleep some! I was up too goggone early for a holiday, LOL
I like your analysis. It’s still going to get the goat of many conservatives like Ann Coulter, who feel Roberts is far too much an unknown quantity. Though, in the papers that have kept dribbling out over the August recess, it sure is sounding like Roberts is our conservative dude. Time will tell…
Also Bergbikr reminded me that Scalia (who I’d have thought was an obvious Chief J) has written and spoken in rather inflamatory diatribes against the activist judiciary… perhaps even directing some ire at the Dems. He’d get a lot of flack for that in the confirmation process.
What the hey, I’d take two battles instead of three any day. Now if he’d only elevate Janice Rogers Brown… haven’t seen her name on any short lists yet.
Jay, We will have to agree to disagree on this one: I thought this spot had Scalia’s name on it. I am with Coulter here: Scalia is THE legal giant of our age, in my (non-legal, if not illegal) opinion. I shall earnestly pray that Roberts turns out to be a (pleasant) surprise, however. Question: Why are you (and Bush) so eager to avoid a fight with the corrupt Senate Dems and their MSM shills? I say: Let’s take it to them — again and again and again. Anyway, thanks for your usual plethora of superb links, posts, etc.
I don’t know, I just sick of hearing their whining I guess. You bring up a good point however. There are however many other great reasons Roberts would make a good Chief Justice. One, is that being an outsider he could more likely sway opinions in favor of not legislating from the bench. Another is his age. If, and from all evidence I’ve seen he is, a strict consitutionalist…then he will probably be in the position for a while. Scalia’s opinions are already known, and however comforting this is to us conservatives, it makes him less likely to sway opinion amongst the other Justices.
It isn’t so much being afraid of a fight, but knowing the right way to fight. We shouldn’t want a conservative judge anymore than a liberal one. Judges are not supposed to be labled that way anyway. Both sides SHOULD want someone that has the qualifications, and does their job…which is interpretation of the Constitution. Of course the far left want someone to write laws for them. We shouldn’t go in that same ditch with them.
No matter who he appoints we will not know for sure what their positions are until they start doing their job. The exception would be bumping up someone we have already seen perform, such as Scalia. I would have been happy with that choice as well. But, don’t be weary about this. I think Roberts has great qualifications too.
I’m with you on this one – this was a VERY smooth move by President Bush. He knows EXACTLY what they have to throw at Roberts, and it ain’t much! Besides, being Chief Justice does not mean that he gets any more votes…it’s still just one. Roberts, being the sharp, humorous and laid back fella that he seems to be (and is reputed to be) would be perfect as Chief Justice.
Great post brother!
Great work, Jay. I too think this was a very shrewd move on Bush’s part; I just hope Roberts is the conservative he appears to be.
I don’t care what his politics are Deborah, as long he doesn’t allow them to interfere with doing his job.
Ann Coulter has serious doubts about Roberts. She thinks he could be another David Souter for all we really know about him.
What do all you Roberts boosters know that Coulter doesn’t?
I ask because the post doesn’t tell me anything about why Roberts would make a good Supreme Court judge, let alone a good Chief Justice.
And who the hell cares about cutting three confirmation hearings down to two? If he had nominated Scalia to be Chief Justice, do you really think the Senate would have said no?
Please let me add this to me post above:
If anyone can supply me with good reasons why he knows with certainty that John Roberts will be a properly restrained jurist while on the Supreme Court, please e-mail them to me through my web site.
David C… Could find your contact info on your site.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_G._Roberts_Jr.#The_Commerce_Clause