Is anyone else scratching their head over Roberts as Chief Justice nominee

[KitchenWitch]

Doesn't that seem a bit against protocol?

Not that Bush follows any set rules ever in his life... :evilfrown:

[Blue-Jay]

No. It's not unheard of at all.

In fact, Rehnquist was one of only three (IIRC) who was elevated to the position of Chief Justice, instead of being appointed.

[Jara sang]

1. Not really,

a U.S. Supreme Court justice doesn't even have to have qualifications as a lawyer to be on that court.

[tigereye]

2. well, it could be Scalia!!!!

apparently Scalia has really wanted to be the Chief Justice. It does seem odd to me to appoint someone who is brand new, simply in terms of not knowing all the protocols as well as someone who has been there for a while. It does send kind of an odd message...

When you consider the other Rep. appointees, * certainly could not be seen as having "control" over them, per se. Many of the most moderate folk were Rep. appointees.

[LynneSin]

9. I would rather have Scalia - he's 69 years old

and his health isn't that great.

I mean, no matter what we're stuck but Roberts means were stuck for mabye the next 30-40 years. Believe me, you'd wish we could get Scalia!

[babylonsister]

3. I'm wondering what the Dems are thinking about this;

what are they going to do? Will they kowtow or filibuster? I just hope they will take their time. There might be other issues that need to be addressed.:evilgrin:

[Crazy Guggenheim]

4. We're screwed.

[chknltl]

5. Another....

....wrong man for the job from the wrong man for the job who has a history of appointing the wrong man for the job. (He will do it again too, just watch).

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. And unfortunately, I believe you are correct!

How are we going to survive this dipwad of a lump?

:cry: :shrug:

[Hardrada]

7. And the wrong people will approve him

and the "right people" will have thumbs up their butts.

[murielm99]

8. Wasn't there someone here who was gathering information

about the Roberts adoption?

[BlueIris]

10. Yep. That thread got CRAZY.

Elicited a lot of highly emotional comments from many posters. Only natural considering that the thread title was "It's official: Roberts' adoptions are questionable." And, I'm not saying the adoptions aren't questionable, in my eyes, at least, but I don't feel comfortable stating in what ways. PM me if you want details about my opinions. The thread was from three weeks ago, so I don't know how easy it will be for you to find it.

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. More than. I would like to just hide my head under the covers,

but we can't do that anymore. This has gone beyond.

[tjwmason]

12. Can an ignorant Englishman ask a quick question?

How much power does the Chief Justice have vs. the rest of the court?

If Roberts gets in (as I guess will happen), but successive associate justices are appointed by Democrats and are progressive, until the progressives are in the majority - what would happen then? Would Roberts prevail (e.g. by selection of cases) or just the majority?

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. It really depends on the justice and how he frames the role.

It is majority rule, but with a chief justice that is savvy at swaying and making deals, it could (will be) horrid. And, when he is in the majority, he gets to assign the task of writing the court's opinion which can be a very big thing. Basically, we are screwed. We really need to get a Dem in the Oval Office or we are going to successively move backwards...unless the more powerful liberal minded judges on the bench can hold Roberts down.

[tjwmason]

15. Thanks for the response

I thought it would be something like that. It looks like there's going to be a conservative Chief and conservative majority too for a while though.

[Whoa_Nelly]

14. With the Idiot Boy, nothing is beyond obnoxiousness

Sure, Chimp! Just look to push your BS through while our nation is in crisis and realizing that WE ARE NOT PROTECTED!

Bush has no brain...someone told him to make this absolutely arrogant move

[Orsino]

16. Roberts has been bred from birth (if not sooner) for this position.

He's the robber baron's man, and cannot be expected to serve as a mere Justice.

[jmm]

17. When Rehnquist died I expected this to happen

Under different circumstance I'm sure he would've loved to anoint...err...I mean appoint Scalia but he knows his political capital is low right now and he doesn't want to have to fight for two nominees and a new chief justice at the same time.