Roberts Picks Up Democratic Support

[Abbey Normal]

At least there is some good news in the midst of all the recent craziness.

WASHINGTON - Chief Justice-nominee John Roberts, his confirmation secure, picked up support from fractured Senate Democrats Wednesday as President Bush met lawmakers to discuss a second, probably more contentious, vacancy on the Supreme Court.

The Judiciary Committee's senior Democrat, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, announced his support for Roberts shortly after leaving the White House, guaranteeing bipartisan backing for the nominee in Thursday's vote by the panel.

But Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, longtime liberal stalwart Edward Kennedy and former presidential candidate John Kerry all are opposing Roberts, underscoring a split in the Senate's 44 Democrats on whether they can or should mount even symbolic opposition to the successor of the late William H. Rehnquist.

Republicans control the Senate and the Judiciary Committee, so majority support was already assured for the panel's vote on Thursday and for confirmation next week.

However, some of the Democrats' liberal supporters hoped that a strong vote against Roberts would signal to Bush that replacing retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor with a far-right conservative would lead to a bigger fight in the Senate.

Leahy, who has led filibuster fights against Bush's lower court nominees, said in a speech on the Senate floor, "I do not intend to lend my support to an effort by this president to move the Supreme Court and the law radically to the right."

But Roberts "is a man of integrity," said Leahy. "I can only take him at his word that he does not have an ideological agenda."

Other Democrats, including Tim Johnson of South Dakota and Max Baucus of Montana, also have announced their support. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana are leaning toward voting for Roberts, and Kent Conrad of North Dakota is viewed as a possible vote for him as well.

Roberts is "very well credentialed," Landrieu said Wednesday.

The other six Judiciary Democrats — Joseph Biden, Herb Kohl, Charles Schumer, Dick Durbin, Russell Feingold and Dianne Feinstein — have yet to announce their votes.


Balance of article:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050921/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus

 

[ProudDem]

At least there is some good news in the midst of all the recent craziness.

WASHINGTON - Chief Justice-nominee John Roberts, his confirmation secure, picked up support from fractured Senate Democrats Wednesday as President Bush met lawmakers to discuss a second, probably more contentious, vacancy on the Supreme Court.

The Judiciary Committee's senior Democrat, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, announced his support for Roberts shortly after leaving the White House, guaranteeing bipartisan backing for the nominee in Thursday's vote by the panel.

But Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, longtime liberal stalwart Edward Kennedy and former presidential candidate John Kerry all are opposing Roberts, underscoring a split in the Senate's 44 Democrats on whether they can or should mount even symbolic opposition to the successor of the late William H. Rehnquist.

Republicans control the Senate and the Judiciary Committee, so majority support was already assured for the panel's vote on Thursday and for confirmation next week.

However, some of the Democrats' liberal supporters hoped that a strong vote against Roberts would signal to Bush that replacing retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor with a far-right conservative would lead to a bigger fight in the Senate.

Leahy, who has led filibuster fights against Bush's lower court nominees, said in a speech on the Senate floor, "I do not intend to lend my support to an effort by this president to move the Supreme Court and the law radically to the right."

But Roberts "is a man of integrity," said Leahy. "I can only take him at his word that he does not have an ideological agenda."

Other Democrats, including Tim Johnson of South Dakota and Max Baucus of Montana, also have announced their support. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana are leaning toward voting for Roberts, and Kent Conrad of North Dakota is viewed as a possible vote for him as well.

Roberts is "very well credentialed," Landrieu said Wednesday.

The other six Judiciary Democrats — Joseph Biden, Herb Kohl, Charles Schumer, Dick Durbin, Russell Feingold and Dianne Feinstein — have yet to announce their votes.


Balance of article:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050921/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus

I am disappointed in Harry Reid for saying he will vote against him. Roberts is replacing Rehnquist--one of the more conservative Justices on the Court. Thus, that does not change the overall make-up of the Court. I think the dems should save their battle for who Bush picks to replace O'Connor (assuming that there will be a battle).

I read an article that said that the reason Reid and Kennedy are opposing him is to send a message to Bush that he should not nominate someone like Roberts for the other open seat. They think this is a better strategy than the one I mention above. I disagree.

I do believe that the dems who were part of the gang of 14 will all be supporting Roberts.

 

[Hagbard Celine]

I agree. Obviously Roberts is conservative, but he seems to genuinely believe that objectivity is the key to being a good justice. I agree there too. This guy is squeeky-clean and doesn't seem to be as rabidly "conservative" as Renquist was. I hope Bush's next pick will be another moderate conservative.

 

[Annie]

I agree. Obviously Roberts is conservative, but he seems to genuinely believe that objectivity is the key to being a good justice. I agree there too. This guy is squeeky-clean and doesn't seem to be as rabidly "conservative" as Renquist was. I hope Bush's next pick will be another moderate conservative.

You are hoping for another Roberts?

 

[Hagbard Celine]

Hey, I know Bush is going to pick another conservative, I'm being realistic. If we get two moderate conservatives to replace a rabid conservative and a moderate conservative, that's 0.5 percent less conservative. Or am I being too conservative?

 

[Annie]

Hey, I know Bush is going to pick another conservative, I'm being realistic. If we get two moderate conservatives to replace a rabid conservative and a moderate conservative, that's 0.5 percent less conservative. Or am I being too conservative?

Great. I'm all for another moderate conservative like Roberts.

 

[theim]

I've given up my hopes for an overturn of Roe v. Wade and am just praying for someone to halt the socialist takeover of the culture, specifically the purging of Christianity. Thankfully Roberts seems to fit the bill.

 

[Avatar4321]

I've given up my hopes for an overturn of Roe v. Wade and am just praying for someone to halt the socialist takeover of the culture, specifically the purging of Christianity. Thankfully Roberts seems to fit the bill.

I haven't given up. Let the people decide.

 

[musicman]

I haven't given up. Let the people decide.

Agreed - and that's exactly what overturning that horrendously bad piece of law will do!

 

[Avatar4321]

Agreed - and that's exactly what overturning that horrendously bad piece of law will do!

I know. No one ever thought that the Supreme Court would overturn segregation either, but they did. It may be later in our lives that we would really want. However, I think Roe v. Wade needs to be overturned for our nation to survive. Abortion is a contentious issue. And by denying the people a choice in formulating their own laws concerning it, the courts begin to take away the people's feelings that Democracy and voting matters. This feeling will continue to grow as more and more social issues are decided by the courts rather than the people.

 

[ProudDem]

I know. No one ever thought that the Supreme Court would overturn segregation either, but they did. It may be later in our lives that we would really want. However, I think Roe v. Wade needs to be overturned for our nation to survive. Abortion is a contentious issue. And by denying the people a choice in formulating their own laws concerning it, the courts begin to take away the people's feelings that Democracy and voting matters. This feeling will continue to grow as more and more social issues are decided by the courts rather than the people.

Avatar, how would overturning Roe affect the survival of our nation? I believe what we need to be doing is educating people on contraception and responsible sexual activity.

Statistics show that the majority of people do not want to overturn Roe v. Wade. Do you have evidence that shows otherwise?

Check out this webiste.
http://www.pollingreport.com/abortion.htm


Check out this one too (it's from Fox News )
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,139841,00.html

(oops--I forgot to attach the website)

 

[Adam's Apple]

I was shocked by Senator Leahy's declaration. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought he would be so fair minded. There's still hope, after all, for the other Dems who serve on the Judiciary Committee. I feel sure some of them will follow's Leahy's lead.

 

[ProudDem]

I was shocked by Senator Leahy's declaration. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought he would be so fair minded. There's still hope, after all, for the other Dems who serve on the Judiciary Committee. I feel sure some of them will follow's Leahy's lead.

Well, Kennedy, Kerry, and Boxer will be voting against him......

 

[Zhukov]

I was shocked by Senator Leahy's declaration. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought he would be so fair minded. There's still hope, after all, for the other Dems who serve on the Judiciary Committee. I feel sure some of them will follow's Leahy's lead.

Political calculation. Robert's is in, he knows it, he's saving his energy for the next nominee.

Kennedy, Kerry, and Boxer will be voting against him......

Shocking. I can't wait for Kerry's '08 campaign. Should be electric.

 

[Zhukov]

Hey, I know Bush is going to pick another conservative, I'm being realistic. If we get two moderate conservatives to replace a rabid conservative and a moderate conservative, that's 0.5 percent less conservative. Or am I being too conservative?

I don't want conservatives or liberals. I want nine ego-less readers, divorced from politics and polls.

 

[Annie]

Political calculation. Robert's is in, he knows it, he's saving his energy for the next nominee.
Shocking. I can't wait for Kerry's '08 campaign. Should be electric.

Exactly right on Leahey. This 'yes' vote guarantees he will be against the next nominee, no matter who it is. GW should nominate Leahey, wonder what he would do then?

 

[ProudDem]

Exactly right on Leahey. This 'yes' vote guarantees he will be against the next nominee, no matter who it is. GW should nominate Leahey, wonder what he would do then?

He would tell George Bush, "Go f*ck yourself."

 

[Adam's Apple]

Political calculation. Robert's is in, he knows it, he's saving his energy for the next nominee.

Something's going on, that's for sure. Roberts will be confirmed whether or not the hard left supports him, so I just figured they would all stick by their guns and vote no since, in their opinion, he is "misinformed" and therefore dangerous to have on the court.

 

[Abbey Normal]

Something's going on, that's for sure. Roberts will be confirmed whether or not the hard left supports him, so I just figured they would all stick by their guns and vote no since, in their opinion, he is "misinformed" and therefore dangerous to have on the court.

I thought their main complaint was that he is too successful to be a good Justice.

 

[TheEnemyWithin]

What really gets me is all the controversy over Roberts being too "extreme" and "out of the mainstream." How DARE Bush appoint a guy who shares his values and political views!!! Who does Bush think he is, anyway? Bill Clinton????!!!! :teeth: