* The mainstream media has had the story line: This Reuters article was originally titled "Bush Pick For High Court Outrages Conservatives". It’s been watered down a little (conservatives are now just "wary"). * Powerline speculates a deal with Dems: Check out the NARAL and PFAW web sites. Nothing but bland press releases adopting a wait-and-see attitude. What did happen … Read More
On Harriet Miers
I really don’t get it. Did Bush learn nothing from the Mike Brown/FEMA flap? I’m sure Harriet Miers is a nice person. But what is it with this administration appointing people to high positions just because they are nice people — people that you would want to have a beer with? Or, in Ms. Miers case, tea? This is the … Read More
Roberts and Roe v. Wade
I realize that I said I wasn’t going to blog about the Roberts confirmation hearings, but I was surprised that Roberts came out today and said this: Supreme Court nominee John Roberts said Tuesday that the landmark 1973 ruling legalizing abortion was "settled as a precedent," as he was immediately pressed to address the divisive issue on the second day … Read More
Roberts Confirmation FAQ
You’re a lawyer (the card-carrying ACLU kind) and a progressive… Yes. What’s your question? So why aren’t you writing about the Roberts confirmation hearings? Quite simply, it’s a non-event. Roberts is qualified to sit on the bench. That’s all there is to it. End of story. Do you like his apparent political views? No. Don’t you think his political … Read More
Bush Nominates Roberts For Chief Justice Slot
President Bush nominated Judge John Roberts to replace Chief Justice William Rehnquist, "whose death late Saturday opened a second vacancy on the Supreme Court and a new front in the ideological battle over the judiciary," the New York Times reports. The Washington Post focuses on the upcoming confirmation hearings, noting "the degree to which Roberts’s religious beliefs may inform his … Read More
Pat Robertson’s Prayers Answered – Rehnquist Dead
In a week of national nightmares, this is all we need. Saving grace is that Bush is so low in the polls that he really might be forced to nominate someone very moderate. But I’m not holding my breath. P.S.: If you don’t know what the Pat Robertson reference means, you can check out his prayer points here, e.g.: Pray … Read More
In Which I Blog About U.S. Supreme Court Nominee John Roberts’ Penis
I’ve always thought the half-joking "Is Roberts gay?" meme coming from the left was childish and even a little offensive. But, you know, how can it be avoided when pictures like this surface? Okay, maybe’s not gay. But "metrosexual"? Hel-LO? Lobster, quiche and a Hall-and-Oates wannabe?
Bush, Roberts and Government Secrecy
The Bush White House is once again play hide-and-seek, this time with memos written by Supreme Court nominee John Roberts. While they are turning over some documents from Roberts’ past, they are refusing to turn over documents from 1989 to 1993, when Roberts was deputy solicitor general. The stated reason? Attorney-client privilege. A-C privilege is a sticky wicket, but it … Read More
Lying As A Natural Habit
So Scottie sez that Supreme Court nominee John Roberts “doesn’t recall ever paying dues or being a member” of the conservative Federalist Society. But John Roberts himself said that participatws in Federalist Society events and gave speeches for the organization. And the Washington Post reported Monday that it had obtained from a liberal group a 1997-98 Federalist Society leadership directory … Read More
The Truth About John Roberts
He was “Otto”, the inflatable co-pilot in “Airplane”! [Hat tip: Crooks and Liars]
First (and Probably Last) Impressions of Supreme Court Nominee Roberts
I’ve purposely avoided listening to the blogosphere and the talking heads on TV. When I read the “leak” that he was the nominee, I checked out his record. His record as a judge is not very extensive, and his record as an attorney appears to be one in which he argued in favor of conservative causes (and/or conservative clients). The … Read More
Timing Is Everything
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Bush is close to a decision on his first nominee to the Supreme Court and could make his announcement as early as Tuesday, Republican sources said. Wow. Okay. "The time is now,” said a Republican strategist close to the White House of Bush’s announcement. Why is the time “now”, Mr. Republican-Strategist-Close-To-The-White-House? Sources said the timing of … Read More
Supreme Court Rules On Valerie Plame Journalists
The Supreme Court ruled today that journalists cannot avoid grand jury subpeonae asking them to reveal their sources (or, put another way, that journalists can face jail time for failing to reveal their sources in response to a grand jury subpoena). This puts the plaintiffs, Time magazine’s Matthew Cooper and The New York Times’ Judith Miller, in a precarious position. … Read More