John Roberts is keenly interested in protecting the SCOTUS as an institution, and somehow has come to the misguided conclusion that he can split hairs in such a way as to shield it from criticism. This is not the first time he has done this.
In this instance, I think he counted on PDJT staying resolute, reconstructing his plan to add the citizenship question, and then moving forward to have that on the census. Roberts could then step back and say, “Hey, no harm, no foul. All’s well that ends well; thanks to the SCOTUS.”
But PDJT is a crafty fellow. He gets to have his cake and eat it too. He finds another means to construct the same data. He disarms the Dems. He wins in the court of public opinion. He makes John Roberts in particular look like a fool. And he reinforces in the minds of his base (and increasingly of independents) that the judiciary is a big part of this country’s problems.
PDJT is described by liberals everywhere and always as impetuous, as if he opens his mouth and stuff comes out. My sense is the opposite. He plays with gut instincts but is premeditated and calculating. He stays relentlessly on message and methodically on plan. Because Dems fail to understand him, they react reflexively, flailing about, and always jumping the shark. This in turn gives him greater license to tweet incendiary things, since he knows that Dems will come back orders of magnitude more incendiary and largely incoherent.
I am neither fan nor foe of this president, but his reliable winning streak is impressive and likely to continue. I just hope that he does not become complacent or filled with hubris.
Roberts has long insisted that the courts should not be and are not political.
Recall his ridiculous statement to President Trump that there are no Obama judges, or Clinton judges, but only justices who are trying to follow the law.
Roberts sounded like the complete fool he is...he has done more to politicize the SCOTUS than any chief justice in history. He is a fraud and an embarrassment to America.