Roberts will become the most powerful man in America

[win_in_06]

and we can't stop it. The ramifications of 2000 and 2004 are coming home to roost.x(

[punpirate]

1. No, Roberts will become a fairly direct replacement of his mentor...

... Rehnquist. For this assertion to be true, Rehnquist would have to have been the most powerful man in America, and while he was a lot of things (many of them quite unpleasant), he was not that.

[win_in_06]

2. Roberts could be CJ for 30 years.

If that turns out to be the case then one could make an argument that he will influence the direction of our country as much as any other individual.

[punpirate]

3. Rehnquist was a justice for thirty-four years...

... so, what's different?

I think Roberts will be quite bad for the court--that's not in question--what is in contention is your assertion that he will be "the most powerful person in the country." Rehnquist wasn't. By definition, Roberts won't be either.

It doesn't change the balance of the court (there are still, normally, nine members). Roberts is, if anything, a clone of Rehnquist and will decide cases in much the same fashion.

There's a much bigger problem with conservative (actually, far-right wackos) on the appeals courts. Remember, the Supreme Court hears only about 80 cases a year, and only a very small percentage of cases appealed at the appellate court level ever reach the Supreme Court.

But, in short, Roberts isn't going to be the most powerful person in the country. He's just another Rehnquist.

Now, if Ginsberg retires while Bush is president, then watch the fireworks....

[win_in_06]

6. Rehnquist was Chief Justice for less than 20 years

and for a good portion of that time the court was balanced or moderate.

Given the results of the 2000 election I would say Rehnquist's influence will have a lasting impact.

Again my premise is that Roberts will preside over a conservative court as CJ for 30 yrs or more.

Of course only time will tell how powerful he will be.

[punpirate]

7. Look, the chief justice...

... has no additional powers when it comes to deciding cases--his or her vote counts for no more than any others. The chief justice has small additional effects on the budgets of judicial districts, or their security issues, etc., but, effectively, the office of Chief Justice--in the practical workings of the court, is mostly symbolic.

So, how does Roberts' installation ensure a conservative court for the next thirty years? It doesn't.

What counts in that future regard are the presidents elected and the composition of the Senate--not the presence of Roberts' on the high court as Chief Justice.

Cheers.

[win_in_06]

8. The political leanings of the next nominee will help indicate

how conservative the future court may be.

Chief Justice requires Senate Confirmation apart from being a SC Justice, so it cleary carries a lot of Constitutional Significance.

Will the Roberts Court, as it will be known, impact our lives with the same impact of the Warren Court or the Berger Court?

Like I said, only time will tell.

[ladylibertee]

4. Never underestimate the power of the people.......

When you really consider it,the American people have too strong of a will.When you have a nation of people who grew up only knowing "freedom",it will be hard trying to take that away from them.They may pass laws,overrule the laws that gave us the only freedom we ever knew, but they will never take away our will.We WILL continue go enjoy the freedoms we always have: LEGAL or ILLEGAL."PROTECTED" or "UNPROTECTED" This is a fact that I am sure all law makers are aware of.So, to Roberts quest on being the most powerful man in America? I say " Yeah,Good Luck with that.":rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[izzie]

5. God help us as he seems to have been in Bush's bubble also

I swear the whole thing is like having the Romanov's running the Empire. Not one of them know what is going on.

[Dark]

9. No, Greenspan is the most powerful man in America. n/t

[Nederland]

11. Ding Ding Ding

Yes! Someone else who realizes where the real power lies.

[snippy]

10. There is no way that the Chief Justice of the United States

would ever be the most powerful person in America. Roberts probably won't even be the most powerful person on the Supreme Court very often.