WP: Bush might name Roberts chief justice.

[BurtWorm]

Think he's a closet moderate now?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/04/AR2005090401525_pf.html


Second Court Vacancy Triggers a Scramble
Bush Considers Picking Roberts as Chief, Aides Say

By Peter Baker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, September 5, 2005; A01



The death of Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist just days before Senate confirmation hearings for John G. Roberts Jr. set off a scramble in Washington yesterday and presented President Bush a historic opportunity to put his stamp on the Supreme Court for decades to come.

As he contemplates filling his second court vacancy, Bush is considering a plan to install Roberts as chief justice rather than as an associate justice replacing Sandra Day O'Connor, senior administration officials said. With the Roberts vetting process well advanced and his confirmation on track, such a shift could guarantee that a chief justice would be in place when the court opens its term Oct. 3.

The switch would be unprecedented in modern times. If the president does not opt for that course, officials said, he will return to the list of potential candidates he scrutinized in picking Roberts in July. Among those at the top of such a list would be his close friend Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales; his former deputy attorney general, Larry D. Thompson; and a handful of federal appeals judges, including Edith Hollan Jones, Edith Brown Clement, J. Harvie Wilkinson III, J. Michael Luttig, Emilio M. Garza and Priscilla R. Owen.

[Xenotime]

1. We can't let this happen..

What are we doing to bring this to a stop?

[billkurtmeyer]

2. Bush loves to appont people with no relevent experience!

Brown and FEMA is the perfect example, Arabian Horse lawyer, give me a break. How much experience does Roberts have on the bench? Very little, but WTF in the Bushies world!

[napi21]

3. I don't think he'll nominate Roberts for CJ, or course with Shrub,

you never know for sure. I think, behind the scenes, they've already promised that spot to Scalia, and if he doesn't get it, payback will be a bitch!

[BurtWorm]

5. Why are the "aides" floating this, I wonder.

It can't be to make the people who hate Bush for NO comfortable. Is appeasing the die-hard right wing lunatics seriously all they can think about?! :wtf:

[nashville_brook]

4. isn't that a little presumptuous? he needs more "capital". he's all out.

sheesh.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

6. Not if he goes to the office Tuesday and finds a

pink slip on his desk,

Hey, that gives me an idea...how about we start a campaign...everybody in DU mail him a pink slip. And get a bumper stick out there that says "Save America, Mail bush a pink slip".

[Dr.Phool]

7. Better yet

A horses head under his bedsheets.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

8. I agree, but the postage would be a lot more.

:)