Reid Likely to Oppose Roberts' Nomination

[brooklynite]

WASHINGTON - Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid has told associates he intends to oppose confirmation of John Roberts as chief justice, Senate sources said Tuesday as rank and file Democrats began staking out positions on the man named to succeed the late William H. Rehnquist.

Reid scheduled a speech on the Senate floor for mid-afternoon, at which he was expected to make his announcement public.

Roberts has strong Republican support and appears headed for easy confirmation.

As party leader, Reid had urged fellow Democrats not to announce their positions until the conclusion last week of confirmation hearings for Roberts.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050920/ap_on_go_su_co/roberts

[Arkana]

1. Harry Reid is setting up the dominoes.

This man is a genius--when he wants to be.

[lancdem]

2. Good

This may give cover to other Dems to do the same.

[Trevelyan]

40. Sen. Leahy's inexplicable betrayal, Is he trying to get a better

second nominee for the Sandra Day's postion on the court? Inexplicable!

http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20050920155809990004&_ccc=4&cid=842~~~Leahy's support of Roberts upset some liberal interest groups. Ralph Neas, head of People for the American Way, called it "inexplicable and deeply disappointing."

Durbin and Schumer were confronted by People for the American Way's founder, television producer Norman Lear, and other major Democratic Party supporters during a trip to the West Coast over the weekend, according to party officials familiar with the conversation.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus also is opposing Roberts, and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California sent a letter to the Judiciary Democrats urging them to vote against him.

"Confirming Judge Roberts as chief justice will put our liberties and civil rights at risk, a risk we cannot afford," she said.

Other Senate Democrats opposing Roberts include Democratic leader Harry Reid, Barbara Boxer of California, John Kerry of Massachusetts and New Jersey Sens. Jon Corzine and Frank Lautenberg.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said in a prepared statement, "Judge Roberts is the most qualified nominee I can imagine, and if members of this committee cannot support him, they cannot support any nominee who shares the values of a conservative president."

Leahy called Roberts a "man of integrity."

"I can only take him at his word that he does not have an ideological agenda," the Vermont Democrat said after meeting with Bush.

Specter, Leahy, Reid and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., met with Bush at the White House over breakfast Wednesday to discuss O'Connor's replacement. While the senators offered some names, the president did not share his own opinions.

One potential nominee discussed was Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, a longtime favorite of the president who would become the first Hispanic named to the court.

Reid and Leahy also suggested other Hispanic candidates, including Judge Sonia Sotomayor of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Ed Prado of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and U.S. District Court Judge Ricardo Hinojosa, officials said. These officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the confidential nature of the meeting.

[mike_c]

3. I'm waiting to hear whether DiFi is going to vote with the repigs again...

...or whether she'll oppose Roberts nomination.

[Baconfoot]

9. She has already disgusted me too much to vote for her NT

[Dr Fate]

4. It should be a no-brainer- the man wont answer a single question.

That is reason enough alone to give him a thumbs down.

[kcass1954]

11. Re-frame our opposition - We don't know enough about him to know...

if we're opposed or not. Maybe if he'd answer a few questions...

[Dr Fate]

14. "We cant have another Brownie- let's see Robert's COMPLETE resume.

n/t

[Frances]

18. Good point

nt

[gratuitous]

5. Good for you, Mr. Reid

Now go the extra step that your predecessor wouldn't or couldn't take, and call on every Democrat to reject this nominee and send a message to the White House that they have to provide the complete record on its nominees. The country can't afford anymore dilettante appointments to crucial positions by this corrupt administration. If the incompetence of Michael Brown, Dan Chertoff, and John Bolton haven't been enough, then the deadly results of the administration's ineptitude last week in the Gulf Coast should put a little osteal matter in your collective backbones.

[mmonk]

6. Great!

Silent and evasive nominees are so for a reason. Also, when records are hidden away, that also is done for a reason. And Reid needs to get air time to express that very fact and to say it's the administration's and Roberts's fault as to why he can't support him.

[Nite Owl]

7. None of the dems should

vote for him. Even though he will get through the Repuke majority there is no need to have their fingerprints on this one.

[mountainvue]

8. Woohoo! n/t

[crispini]

10. Wow. I'm impressed.

Reid has the stuff. Good for him.

[StudentOfDarrow]

12. Give 'em hell, Harry!!!

:yourock:

[0007]

13. Do ya think it will do any good?

[ClintonTyree]

15. It couldn't do any harm.........

and SOMEONE has to stand up to these fascist pigs SOMETIME. How can you confirm someone to a lifetime position not knowing squat about him?
Yeah, I think it will give some Dems guidance in this situation. Most of them surely need it. Whether Roberts gets confirmed or not, we have to let bush and the rest of the slugs we're not going to rubber-stamp his stupid choices for the SC.

[roguevalley]

16. Call Mr. Reid and appreciate him. His staff sounded just so teary

to hear from me just now. call: 1-877-762-8762

[Voltaire99]

17. Reid finds spine

It must have been a shock for him when he discovered it.

[mnhtnbb]

19. How can an architect of the Bush v Gore

lawsuit be considered by ANY F**KING Dem to be qualified for the Supreme Court? How more biased can you get?

What is the matter with the Dems?

[jasmeel]

20. I just emailed him and said I was thrilled he was standing up to

the * admin on this issue. Here's his email if you'd like to email him too.

http://reid.senate.gov/email_form.cfm

[Carolab]

26. I just e-mailed him my profound gratitude for his decision.

With a hope and prayer that others will follow suit.

[Marleyb]

21. The opposition is alive!

Oh Thank God! I mean what have we lowered ourselves to in this country anyhow? The guy has no experience, won't answer questions, and is only 50 so we'll be stuck with him forever.

Okay, who has the picture with him, the handsome young guys and the food? If we send it around that might be enough to turn some republicans...I have no problem with him being gay, but whatever works you know...

[GOPFighter]

22. Hey, this is big!

When the Democratic leadership feel confident enough to oppose a candidate that influential columnist David Broder said is "...so obviously -- ridiculously -- well-equipped to lead government's third branch that it is hard to imagine how any Democrats can justify a vote against his confirmation." Well, guess what MISTER Broder, ol' Harry Reid just bitch slapped you.

Roberts will be confirmed, of course, but by opposing Roberts Sen. Reid is telling the White House that if they nominate another conservative, it means war!

[BreweryYardRat]

23. Hell yeah!

Go Reid!

[4dsc]

24. This sucks

"The question is close, and the arguments against him do not warrant extraordinary procedural tactics to block the nomination," Reid said.

BS!! The Robert's nomination DOES WARRENT extraordinary procedural tactics aka filibuster!! And Reid calls himself a leader??

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

28. lets email him, encourage him to stay strong

these politicians need to hear from us, because they are in a bubble.

[4dsc]

30. I cannot stand the wimps that are supporting Reid

What the hell is the matter with just about everybody here cheering Reid for his "opposition" to Roberts?? So the fuck what with Reid "opposition"..

"Opposition" is not going to STOP the Robert's nomination now is it!!

If Reid and other so-called democrat's are in "opposition" to Roberts, then stand up like democrat's and "FILIBUSTER" the SOB and let your "opposition" be known..

[progressivebydesign]

25. I promise you. I will not vote for ANY democrat that votes for Roberts.

I hope you'll all take that same pledge. The man answered ZERO questions, and they White HOuse stonewalled on the documents. He's a pig in a poke, and I want my democratic leaders to start ACTING like democrats instead of republican lites.

[davidwparker]

29. All Dems (except DINO Liberman) should vote no and give failure to

answer questions as the reason.

What message gets sent when the party requests documents that don't come, don't get questions answered, and then votes for they guy?

It's like begging the abuser to hit you again.

[Mabus]

32. I'll add it to my 2008 lithmus test

If a Senator wants to run for the Democratic nomination in 2008 and they vote for Roberts then they will not get my support.

However, and I really really hate to say this, if a Senator who votes for Roberts ends up becoming the Democratic candidate for president in 2008 I will hold my nose and vote for them.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

27. Senator Reid's email form

Let Senator Reid know that you appreciate his stance on opposing the confirmation of John Roberts as chief justice -

http://reid.senate.gov/email_form.cfm


also, what happened to Nancy Pelosi opposing Roberts, did she back down?

[Mabus]

31. Give 'em hell Harry!

I e-mailed his office just now to thank him. Here's my message:

Thank you Senator Reid, thank you. Thank you for standing up for so many of us are devoid of representation because we have Republican Senators who are marching in lockstep for their party. Thank for wanting to ask questions. The Supreme Court should a source of fair & equitable decisions that protect the American way of life. Although I'm sure Mr. Roberts is a fine jurist and possesses a finely honed legal mind I feel we need a Chief Justice without an agenda and without political debt, otherwise we've sold our children's futures out from under them.

[Bleeding Blue]

33. Just get ready for the next one

Roberts is in there. Done deal. Chalk it up. End of story. Walk it off. Move on.

Let's just ready for the NEXT one.

He/She/It will be UGLY, mark my words. Roberts was the "moderate" one, to replace O'Conner. The next one will be replacing Reinquist, and will be REALLY scary.

I blame Kerry for screwing up the election, the moron. Should have made a stand in Ohio.

[autorank]

34. And now it starts!!!! Thanks Harry Reid, D, NV-Leader--YOUR ROCK

:patriot:

[saracat]

35. Only because he knows he will be confirmed. Remember, Reid

voted for the Bankruptsy Bill. I cannot ever trust any Dem who voted for that legislation. There are NO excuses for it. But I am glad he is voting against Roberts. Too bad it makes no difference.I am disgusted with this nation. Our civil rights are about to be completely cancelled and no one cares. Unbelievable that we should come to this. How very sad.I am so ashamed.

[4dsc]

38. He won't be confirmed if they FILIBUSTER!!

Why in the hell are democrat's bending over on this nomination and not standing up for the rights they believe in??

FILIBUSTER the bastard!! That would be standing up in OPPOSITION!!! Damn wimps anyways!!

[insane_cratic_gal]

36. He'll get voted in BUT

I'm glad that somebody is going to stand up and vote against him. Nothing drives me more batty then the posturing game that Bidden will do. Bitch fest the person out yet Rubber stamp him through. I'm glad someone will stand on principle, so thank you Senator Reid.

[rhett o rick]

37. That's it Harry, show some token resistance. nt

[dpcavana]

39. And this is news?

On the front page today (21st), too. Frankly, I'm not the least bit surprised. Leahey will give a speech today, too; and I expect he's going to say he's voting "No". He's actually on the Committee on the Judiciary, that might be worth something.

Or not.