Has anyone made the case that Roberts might be a moderate?

[Onlooker]

The subtext I've seen is that Roberts is an exceptionally bright, civil, and low key guy, who has too little of a record for anyone to be completely sure as to what he will do as an SC justice. That said, I've seen absolutely nothing that leads me to believe he could turn out to be a Souter, or even a Kennedy or O'Connor. Has anyone seen any evidence that suggests that Roberts might be something other than low-key Scalia?

[Democrats_win]

1. Yeah: Senate Democrats. They're waiting for * to nominate a nazi.

[still_one]

2. here is my issue

Why won't they release all of the documents requested?

Claiming attorney/client privledge is BS

What are they hiding?

[dave502d]

3. I think you can forget about that.n/t

[liberalismresurgent]

4. No indication he's a moderate

The concensus is that Roberts is an ultra-conservative, similar to Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia. There is not 1 remote indication that he might be another Sandra O'Connor or Judge Kennedy.

[geek tragedy]

5. All signs point to 'Wingnut." He's more rightwing than Ted Olson.

Forget about it--Bush would never appoint someone who could even possibly become a moderate.

[benddem]

6. They have read some of his commentary

on items when he worked in the White House on NPR and AirAmerica...
he is to the right of Attila the Hun. He was further right than Ted Olsen.

[Spinzonner]

12. Which reminds me

What is Atilla's position on Stem Cell research ?

He seems to have left precious little documentation of his legal philosophy.

[HockeyMom]

7. What happens when the Pope or a Bishop

threatens him with denial of Communion or even Excommunication, if he does not legislate from the bench his Catholic pro life views (including ALL artificial birth control)?

Pope Benedict seems to think it is the DUTY of every Catholic legislator to do this. He is getting VERY militant about all this.

[Puregonzo1188]

8. Didn't he represent the Playboy Channel In A First

Amendment Case? I've heard/read that in a couple of places, any DUers know if thats true?

[cornermouse]

9. You are aware that:

"No such luck. Cornyn, who I would have sworn is not this stupid, apparently signed off on having the nominee "forget" he was a member of the Federalist Society, and Roberts obliged, which is strange considering his reputation for brilliance and a spectacular memory.

Turns out the guy is listed in the society's 1997-98 "Leadership Directory" as a member of its steering committee in Washington. How many steering committees have you been on that you've forgotten about?"

http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=19409

Leadership Directory of the Federalist Society doesn't sound at all moderate to me.

[Alcibiades]

10. He's a smart smart-ass

And I should know, being one myself.

There was a lot of talk about Roberts as the Souter nomination revisited when he was first nominated, but since then it has died down as more of his record has come to light.

On NPR this week, the day after they released the White House documents, Nina Totenberg went through them, point by point. On every issue, on every stance he took within the Reagan administration, Roberts was as conservative as he could be.

Here's a good article from law.com from last February:

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1108389946956

Highlights: decided to limit congress' power under to commerce clause to protect Arroyo toads in California, because the toad "for reasons of its own lives its entire life in California."

See also the bit toward the bottom on how he found that a wildlife group lacked standing because he went on vacation on federal lands out west, looked for them, and couldn't find them, which shows his arrogant contempt for anyone who disagrees with him as well has his elitist, east-coast failure to understand exactly how big the west really is.

I do detect more of Scalia than Souter here. Scalia is a jerk in his opinions, but he's a jerk live and in person, too. Someone can be affable in person, like Roberts, but write more like Scalia. I don't like the way he takes sides and shows contempt for those with whom he disagrees. It's unworthy of a judge.

[against all enemies]

11. Yeah, and the trojan horse was a nice gift.