John Roberts is making some ground in his quest for Senate confirmation as a U. S. Supreme court nominee, because a nonactivist judge is a good thing.
Who wants a justice who is going to use his or her moral and legal opinions to create law rather than to interpret the laws written by the actual law makers?
Of course, the hard questions including abortion and tendency to overturn court precedent are coming later from Senate democrats.
Although several potential appointees have been floated in the media to replace recently retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor -- Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to please the Hispanic voters, or Judge Edith Jones of Texas to replace a woman with a woman -- there was some degree of surprise when Bush appointed Roberts.
In all fairness to Pres. Bush, many on the Hill are confident he is saving his "appointment in the name of diversity" for when Chief Justice William Rehnquist finally retires (or dies).
While Roberts basically looks like a shoe-in to most, legal experts have said he "is a reliable conservative who can be counted on to undermine if not immediately overturn liberal landmarks like abortion rights and affirmative action."
According to law.com, Friends of Roberts said his true character can be found in his professional history, including clerking for Rehnquist, membership in the Federalist Society, laboring in the Ronald Reagan White House counsel's office and at the Justice Department into the Bush years, working with Kenneth Starr among others, and even his lunchtime conversations at Hogan & Hartson.
"He is as conservative as you can get," one friend puts it.
In short, Roberts may combine the stealth appeal of Souter with the unwavering ideology of Scalia and Thomas.
law.com
I'm sure that won't send up a few HUGE RED FLAGS with blue Senators.
Bush may have his conservative appointment for now, but he is basically a conservative replacing a conservative.
While that is no big hit to democrats, if they give Bush this appointment, you can bet they will fight tooth and nail to get a liberal -- or even moderate -- appointment to replace Rehnquist.
As a masculine voice once proclaimed in the En Vogue song "My Lovin":
"And now, it's time for the break down."
If you have an opinion about Roberts -- or any federal or state issue, for that matter -- I challenge you to contact your local representatives and let them know how you expect them to vote or act. After all, it is your voice they have been elected to represent, isn't it?
Here are a couple of links to help you find your reps, but there are plenty of others out there, which you can find with simple Internet searches.
Michigan House of Representatives
Michigan Senate
United States House of Representatives
United States Senate
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