Posted on 07/22/2005 12:06:17 AM PDT by goldstategop
For weeks, Democratic leaders in the Senate practically begged Bush to avoid another Armageddon over judicial appointments. Consult with us the same way Clinton used to consult with Senate Republicans, they advised him. Appoint a woman. Pick someone in the tradition of Sandra Day O'Connor: a true conservative, but not an ideologue.
But Bush ended up stiffing Democrats on the court the same way he stiffed them on Social Security. Never responded to the names of acceptable conservatives they sent to the White House. Ignored their advice even his wife's! to name another woman. Appointed a white male instead, one who promises to be, not another Sandra Day O'Connor, but another Antonin Scalia or Clarence Thomas: an extreme right-wing zealot.
No doubt Roberts is a bright, qualified lawyer with extensive experience, both in private practice and government, including 39 cases argued before the Supreme Court. The problem is not his judicial qualifications, but his political ideology. His track record as deputy solicitor general and as member of the D.C. Court of Appeals for only two years proves how far out of step he is with mainstream America.
In 1990, as Ken Starr's deputy in the solicitor general's office, Roberts appeared before the Supreme Court to support legislation banning clinics that received federal funds from providing advice on abortion. Even though this was a limited-funding issue, Roberts tried to turn the case into a direct assault on Roe v. Wade. "We continue to believe," he told the court, "that Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided and should be overturned." No matter what conservatives say, that is not the position of most Americans. In the latest ABC News poll, 68 percent of Americans said that Roe v. Wade should remain untouched, the law of the land. Roberts is in the extreme minority.
On an important church-state issue, Roberts argued for the first Bush administration that formal prayer should be permitted at public high-school commencements. If students didn't like it, said Roberts, they could simply stay away from their own graduation. In another First Amendment case, Roberts argued that flag-burning was unconstitutional. Both positions were rejected by the Supreme Court. You know he's an extremist when even the Rehnquist court finds him too conservative.
As junior jurist on the D.C. appeals bench, Roberts' record is equally out of the mainstream. He was one of only two members to dissent from a court ruling upholding the constitutionality of the Endangered Species Act (so much for environmental protection). And he recently gave his OK to the Bush administration's plan to try suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay in top-secret military tribunals, without basic due-process protections guaranteed by international law.
Perhaps most troubling of all about Roberts's record is a little-known case involving a young girl and a single French fry. It happened on the Washington subway system, where eating and drinking are prohibited. A 12-year-old was spotted on the subway eating a French fry. She was arrested, handcuffed, frog-marched off to police headquarters, finger-printed and detained for three hours until her mother arrived to pick her up. The outraged mother filed suit against the Metro. The court ruled for the mother, but Roberts sided with the city a frightening insight into his lack of regard for individual rights and his excessive tolerance for the abuses of Big Brother.
Granted, Roberts doesn't have a long paper trail (which is why Bush picked him). In many ways, he's a "stealth candidate." But he has enough of a paper trail for us to know he's a member of the extreme right on economic and social issues. Which is why James Dobson, Tony Perkins and Pat Robertson are so ecstatic over his nomination.
The scariest part is: John Roberts is not only wrong on the issues, he's only 50 years old, which means that, if he's confirmed, he'll be in a position to undermine our civil liberties for the next 30 years or more.
We know what this is all about. George W. Bush wants to get Karl Rove off the front pages in the worst possible way. And he did so, by nominating John Roberts on the Supreme Court. But Democrats in the Senate can't let that happen. They must derail this train before it leaves the station.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Bill Press = Steaming turd.
Yeah, but did you really expect better than this from Bill Press?
Anything that Bill Press writes deserves it's own special barf alert.
Amen !
Bill Press writing for Worldnetdaily!!!
Maybe Bill Press can give us some facts to back up that scurrilous charge of "frog-marching Roberts right into jail". I've had root canals that were more sensational than Bill Press.
Has anyone asked why the lefties have such an unhealthy obsession with "frog-marching"?
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Either Bill Pissy-fit has been straight reading DUh,or they've already gotten their talking points,because this article reads almost exactly like a thread over there.
Either they are queers or steers.
We know what this is all about. George W. Bush wants to get Karl Rove off the front pages in the worst possible way. And he did so, by nominating John Roberts on the Supreme Court. But Democrats in the Senate can't let that happen. They must derail this train before it leaves the station.
Poor Bill... He forgot that 2006 is an election year for Nelson and Nelson, and both that Democratic Senators ARE NOT GOING TO COMMIT POLITICAL SUICIDE.
Poor Bill... He forgot that Susan Collins of Maine (Republican turn-coat at times) -- was informed that the largest base in Maine was added to the base closings list (on the day that the Roberts nomination was announced -- just to make a point with Susan to "play ball). This is a double humiliation for her -- she is on the Senate Armed Services Committee -- so if she cannot keep the base open, she also committs political suicide.
Then there are other RED STATE Democratic Senators that do not want to walk the plank like Tommy did in South Dakota...
Poor Bill -- he just doesn't understand that if the Democrats lose 7 seats in the Senate in the next election, Northeast Republicans will not even be able to aid them...
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
That hits it right on the head... Well, so to speak of in this matter.
The math seems right to me, too!
The very idea that Dems would send the names of a couple of "acceptable conservatives" for SCOTUS to the President is very strange.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Is he one of the same libs that are always carrying on about getting the most qualified person,regardless of race/religion/etc(I already know what they really mean-quotas)?
'Rats are amusing,the way they actually expect a duly elected conservative Republican President to choose a liberal(their "moderate")candidate as the next Supreme Court justice,JUST FOR THEM! It's so CUTE of them!
GAG! CHOKE! WHAAAA?????
What PLANET is Press living on? Clinton picks Ruth Bader Ginsberg and to Press that proves he "consulted" with Republicans????
The crack must be plentiful where he lives!
Which has zero to do with the senate's duty to determine if he is competent to be on the SC.
Press is like all libs--who cares what the rules are, they will fight to control the courts because it's the only way they can control the American people.
This is the only time I wish I could use profanity on this board. What a Durbin Press is!

"I don't see no horns, boy!"
Lou Gosset Jr CARRIED that movie - lol!
What is Press saying? That it was the kid's "right" to break the law?
Roberts' ruling simply upheld good law, even though Roberts said the issue could have been handled in a better manner by the police. Personally, I think the police did the right thing. Police are not supposed to water down the law with their own judgement--they are supposed to uphold the law.
The RATs continue to show they are enemies of our founding principles and of law and order.
Bill Press and the moveon.org crowd have already lost this battle. To use his own words against him, Press is the one who "proves how far out of step he is with mainstream America" with this drivel.
Bill Press sounds like a 12 yo that is not getting their way. Just yelling for the sake of hearing their own noise, not making one bit of sense.
Bill Press is either a mental midget or mentally deranged
Probably both
that whole french fry case is a FRAUD....roberts was in a position to reaffirm the written law, however ridiculous, that supported the police who arrested the girl. what a dope bill press is. you'd think at SOME point, he would feel compelled to at least be honest about this stuff. he's such a baby.
If you ask me, the libs are playing the game correctly and the GOP are the flipping morons. Why they vote FOR unfit nominees like Ginsburg is beyond me.
But he has enough of a paper trail for us to know he's a member of the extreme right on economic and social issues.
bump for later
The Reps. voted to approve Ginsberg because they
were following the precedent of a couple hundred
years...the elected President gets to proffer
whomever he wants to the USSC when there's a
vacancy. Clinton had that privilege and selected
Ginsberg. Sure, they had reservations about this
former UCLA lawyer; but they played it by the book.
Democrats throw the book to the winds and insist on
creating new rules...like the President MUST consult
the minority in Congress, "according to the Constitution!"
And see where it's gotten us in 200 years.
Press sure does parrot those Dem talking points well.....
You're right on both counts. After all he is a liberal.
Most Americans say that abortion should be regulated. That requires overturning Roe.
The more I hear Dems saying he's to extreme.... the more I like the nomination. Of course they could know that and be just saying that to make me like the nominee. :)
I am very sorry,but who cares what Bill Press thinks?
It must have been included in the most recent talking points.
Bill press and mega barf are redundant
This french fry case is a beautiful example of the difference between a "strict constructionist" and an "activist judge".
The liberals who disagree with Roberts' position claim that he should have shown compassion for the "child", regardless of the law.
Roberts' position is that the law is the law. If the people don't like the law, make your legislatures change the law. By the way, the city did change the law.
Also, Press got his "facts" wrong. The lower court judge did not side with the mother. The lower court sided with the city. Roberts and two other appeals court judges agreed with the lower court in a unanimous decision.
I have notices that a lot of things are beyond you.
Republicans have always played by the rules. For one hundred sixty years presidents appointed and Senates confimred. The Senate didn't even have the nominees testify before the judiciary committee until 1955. Prior to that nominees just had an up or down vote.
Appointments were never challenged on ideology. It was that way for nearly 180 years. Then the Democrats unilaterally changed the rules.
The Republicans have refused to stoop to the Demcorats level on nominees, obstructionism, or name calling. In the last 20 years Republicans have refused to use the mean spirited Democratic tactics. And what has been the result? The Republicans now have total control of the House, they have the majority in the Senate, they control a majority of state goverments and they have the presidency. And President Bush is in the process of taking control of the judiciary for the right...including the Supreme Court.
During the same period those Democrats you so admire have gone from the majority party controlling all levels of government to the minority party losing elections at an increasing rate at every level of government.
The most telling thing about you Huck is you are an ardent admirer of losers. Why do I get the impression that you are a loser too?
Wonder if this dipstip realizes the solicitor general argues the Presidents views not his own?
Ah, yes. Setting up the "extraordinary circumstance" cover for the 14 Dopey Dwarves...
I don't believe these numbers but according to Press, nearly ONE THIRD of the country are right wing extremists...
Says more about Press than it does about America, doesn't it?
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