And Here We Go: Once More Unto The Breach, Dear Friends
And thus the battle is commenced...
Judge Roberts is about to dive, head first, into the sharks of the Senate. Whereas last week few could find fault with him, today is a much different story. The likes of Leahy, Schumer, Kennedy, and Durbin are sharpening their knives in an attempt to stop this man’s ascension to the Chief Justice’s vacant seat. Why? Foolish question. As the senior justice on the bench, Stevens would take over Rehnquist’s administrative jobs, meaning a liberal of the first order would be able to delegate and determine which cases would be heard by the court. There is the primary reason why the president renominated Judge Roberts to replace Rehnquist and not O’Connor.
In my opinion though, he is still replacing O’Connor. He was nominated to that spot first, and only by the mercy of God was he elevated to a higher post. The high court can’t afford to head into their next session without a sitting Chief Justice. Nonetheless, O’Connor has stated that she will remain on the court until her replacement is found and confirmed. I don’t think the president will wait too long in this determination. He knows that to have a full court is a necessity.
Technically, the court is not whole as departing Justice O’Connor really does want to step down and care for her ailing husband. That I can’t blame her for. All I implore is that when her next successor is named that she step aside, as Thurgood Marshall did when Justice Thomas was nominated; he knew that Thomas would be confirmed, and that it would just take slightly longer than usual. Because of her preoccupation with her husband, Justice O’Connor’s mind might not all be there. Of course, the question remains whether it has truly been there at all over the last few years with some of her nuttier decisions.
But the Roberts hearings should move along smoothly. This is based on the schedule released today for his confirmation.
Today or tomorrow: President's formal nomination of Roberts sent to the Senate
Monday, Sept. 12 -- Committee hearings open, with opening statements by members and by Judge Roberts
Tuesday, Sept. 13 -- Questioning of Roberts begins
Thursday or Friday, Sept. 15 or 16 -- Committee hearings expected to conclude
Thursday, Sept. 22 -- Target date for vote in Judiciary Committee
Monday, Sept. 26 -- Target date for opening of floor debate on the nomination
Thursday or Friday, Sept. 29 or 30 -- Target dates for final Senate vote on confirmation.
Now, as we all know, these dates are anything but firm. As Sens. Leahy and Schumer have already stated, Judge Roberts is not going to have an easy go at this, and that his elevation has "upped the odds" against him. This means that the partisan shenanigans are about to erupt. Bloggers had better be on their toes to protect against the lies and half-truths that are going to be launched against Roberts. Likewise, judicial watchers like Marcie and I are also going to need to be on our toes. The PFAW has already fired the first salvo, calling into question Roberts stance on privacy, women’s and reproductive rights, and religious rights.
Already, those on the right and the left are lining up to fight for the president’s nominee. We can only do so much. It will be up to Roberts to prove the Left in the Senate that they are wrong. This is not just merely a matter of charm, which Scalia used, or of standing by his principles, as Ginsburg did. The Left is going to pull out all the stops against him. There will be quotes by him taken out of context, decisions and opinions that will be misread, and interpreted completely opposite of what they mean. Trust me. I can feel this.
A while back, I thought that there was no true opposition that could be mounted against him. Now, I’m not so sure. I’m sure that the Left, in a vain attempt to slander him, would be willing to drag his kindergarten teacher out of the woodwork to "testify" to the fact that he was too hyper as a child. These are the tactics of the Left. We watched them as Kennedy "Borked" Robert Bork. We watched as they were used against Clarence Thomas. And we watched as the same tactics were used against John Bolton. Yes, I realize Bolton was not a judge, but they dug into his past so deeply, I’m surprised they didn’t dig up a grandparent to admonish him in his hearings.
We have an uphill battle to watch, and to participate in. And we, at the Asylum, will be here every step of the way.
Publius II
And thus the battle is commenced...
Judge Roberts is about to dive, head first, into the sharks of the Senate. Whereas last week few could find fault with him, today is a much different story. The likes of Leahy, Schumer, Kennedy, and Durbin are sharpening their knives in an attempt to stop this man’s ascension to the Chief Justice’s vacant seat. Why? Foolish question. As the senior justice on the bench, Stevens would take over Rehnquist’s administrative jobs, meaning a liberal of the first order would be able to delegate and determine which cases would be heard by the court. There is the primary reason why the president renominated Judge Roberts to replace Rehnquist and not O’Connor.
In my opinion though, he is still replacing O’Connor. He was nominated to that spot first, and only by the mercy of God was he elevated to a higher post. The high court can’t afford to head into their next session without a sitting Chief Justice. Nonetheless, O’Connor has stated that she will remain on the court until her replacement is found and confirmed. I don’t think the president will wait too long in this determination. He knows that to have a full court is a necessity.
Technically, the court is not whole as departing Justice O’Connor really does want to step down and care for her ailing husband. That I can’t blame her for. All I implore is that when her next successor is named that she step aside, as Thurgood Marshall did when Justice Thomas was nominated; he knew that Thomas would be confirmed, and that it would just take slightly longer than usual. Because of her preoccupation with her husband, Justice O’Connor’s mind might not all be there. Of course, the question remains whether it has truly been there at all over the last few years with some of her nuttier decisions.
But the Roberts hearings should move along smoothly. This is based on the schedule released today for his confirmation.
Today or tomorrow: President's formal nomination of Roberts sent to the Senate
Monday, Sept. 12 -- Committee hearings open, with opening statements by members and by Judge Roberts
Tuesday, Sept. 13 -- Questioning of Roberts begins
Thursday or Friday, Sept. 15 or 16 -- Committee hearings expected to conclude
Thursday, Sept. 22 -- Target date for vote in Judiciary Committee
Monday, Sept. 26 -- Target date for opening of floor debate on the nomination
Thursday or Friday, Sept. 29 or 30 -- Target dates for final Senate vote on confirmation.
Now, as we all know, these dates are anything but firm. As Sens. Leahy and Schumer have already stated, Judge Roberts is not going to have an easy go at this, and that his elevation has "upped the odds" against him. This means that the partisan shenanigans are about to erupt. Bloggers had better be on their toes to protect against the lies and half-truths that are going to be launched against Roberts. Likewise, judicial watchers like Marcie and I are also going to need to be on our toes. The PFAW has already fired the first salvo, calling into question Roberts stance on privacy, women’s and reproductive rights, and religious rights.
Already, those on the right and the left are lining up to fight for the president’s nominee. We can only do so much. It will be up to Roberts to prove the Left in the Senate that they are wrong. This is not just merely a matter of charm, which Scalia used, or of standing by his principles, as Ginsburg did. The Left is going to pull out all the stops against him. There will be quotes by him taken out of context, decisions and opinions that will be misread, and interpreted completely opposite of what they mean. Trust me. I can feel this.
A while back, I thought that there was no true opposition that could be mounted against him. Now, I’m not so sure. I’m sure that the Left, in a vain attempt to slander him, would be willing to drag his kindergarten teacher out of the woodwork to "testify" to the fact that he was too hyper as a child. These are the tactics of the Left. We watched them as Kennedy "Borked" Robert Bork. We watched as they were used against Clarence Thomas. And we watched as the same tactics were used against John Bolton. Yes, I realize Bolton was not a judge, but they dug into his past so deeply, I’m surprised they didn’t dig up a grandparent to admonish him in his hearings.
We have an uphill battle to watch, and to participate in. And we, at the Asylum, will be here every step of the way.
Publius II
posted by Syd And Vaughn | 5:01 PM
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