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A Clash Over Roberts Papers - Justice Dept. Balks at Senate Democrats' Demands.
Washington Post ^ | 8/6/05 | Mike Allen and Jo Becker

Posted on 08/06/2005 7:56:00 PM PDT by Crackingham

The Justice Department refused yesterday to turn over documents about Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr. that Senate Democrats have demanded, escalating the most serious conflict in a confirmation process that has been more placid than either side had predicted.

The attorney general's office said in four-page letters to each of the eight Democrats on the Judiciary Committee that it is "simply contrary to the public interest" to release certain records from Roberts's service in the solicitor general's office, which argues cases before the Supreme Court on behalf of the executive branch.

"For the Solicitor General's office to perform its public service effectively, the internal deliberations of the office must remain confidential," each letter said. It added that "the public interest in the office's zealous representation of the interests of the United States would be compromised by a breach of that confidentiality."

Democrats reacted angrily, accusing President Bush and his subordinates of "stonewalling" legitimate demands for information that would help them understand the nominee's legal philosophy. But they acknowledged that they see no immediate avenue of appeal, even as they vowed to find other ways to illuminate Roberts's tenure at the Justice Department from 1989 to 1993.

SNIP

Roberts has said his personal views cannot fairly be inferred from a position he argued on behalf of an administration. This prodded Democrats to seek documents that might have revealed his opinions about the positions he took in internal deliberations about the merits of different arguments, and whether the government should intervene.

Strategists in both parties predicted that Democrats now will try to make the documents a central issue in the Judiciary Committee's televised confirmation hearings for Roberts, which are scheduled to begin Sept. 6, the day after Labor Day.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: 109th; doj; johnroberts; scotus

1 posted on 08/06/2005 7:56:00 PM PDT by Crackingham
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To: Crackingham
What crap. Even most Democrats don't want these memos made available as it would make it tougher for the Administrations to to conduct normal communication with its attorneys.

These scum have no shame. And I don't toss the term "slime" around lightly.

2 posted on 08/06/2005 8:01:11 PM PDT by Darkwolf377 ("The dumber people think you are, the more surprised they'll be when you kill them."-Wm. Clayton)
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To: Crackingham

Democrat eight:

Patrick J. Leahy
RANKING DEMOCRATIC MEMBER, VERMONT
Edward M. Kennedy
MASSACHUSETTS
Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
DELAWARE
Herbert Kohl
WISCONSIN
Dianne Feinstein
CALIFORNIA
Russell D. Feingold
WISCONSIN
Charles E. Schumer
NEW YORK
Richard J. Durbin
ILLINOIS


3 posted on 08/06/2005 8:03:58 PM PDT by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
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To: Crackingham

Oh no! Now the Democrats are going to become angry and uncooperative. [wringing hands]


4 posted on 08/06/2005 8:07:17 PM PDT by Coop (www.heroesandtraitors.org)
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To: Crackingham

Justice Dept. Balks ...

Balk my eye. It sounds like they threw them a bean ball and told them to stuff it...


5 posted on 08/06/2005 8:18:31 PM PDT by LRS
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To: Crackingham

just following the script


6 posted on 08/06/2005 8:19:26 PM PDT by digger48
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To: ncountylee
The scum on the SINate Judiciary Committee:

Edward M. Kennedy = Murderer
Patrick J. Leahy = Leaker
Richard J. Durbin = Traitor

Very nice. I wouldn't give these swine anything but a boot.

7 posted on 08/06/2005 11:05:55 PM PDT by Just A Nobody (I - LOVE - my attitude problem!)
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To: Justanobody
Hey...Schumer (gutter snipe) and Biden (Plagiarist) are just as scummy
8 posted on 08/06/2005 11:12:14 PM PDT by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
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To: ncountylee
Hey...Schumer (gutter snipe) and Biden (Plagiarist) are just as scummy

LOL ... It is pathetic to think this miscreants are on the JUDICIARY committee. I was getting nauseous and had to stop. Thanks for continuing.

9 posted on 08/06/2005 11:27:53 PM PDT by Just A Nobody (I - LOVE - my attitude problem!)
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To: ncountylee

Democrat eight:

Patrick J. Leahy
RANKING DEMOCRATIC MEMBER, VERMONT
Edward M. Kennedy
MASSACHUSETTS
Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
DELAWARE
Herbert Kohl
WISCONSIN
Dianne Feinstein
CALIFORNIA
Russell D. Feingold
WISCONSIN
Charles E. Schumer
NEW YORK
Richard J. Durbin
ILLINOIS

Your "Agonizers", Please!

Seeing that list makes me think of "The Seven Deadly Sins" Plus one.

Jack.


10 posted on 08/07/2005 12:02:31 AM PDT by Jack Deth (Knight Errant and Disemboweler of the WFTD Thread)
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To: Crackingham

...make the documents a central issue in the ...televised confirmation hearing.....

Argggghhh!

Come on...THIS ISN'T EVEN NEWS! The whole TV audience will be put to sleep by the Dims stuttering and stammering over this.

Speaking of news, where's the front page stuff on the Wilson-Plame leak deal? Ha! Yeah....FIRE ROVE! 8-O


11 posted on 08/07/2005 3:21:58 AM PDT by Randy Papadoo (Hey! That's NOT YOUR COOKIE!!!)
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