Roberts' record on high court defies '05 pledges of centrism

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-court-john-robertsjun29,0,5374420.story

By James Oliphant | Washington Bureau
June 29, 2008

WASHINGTON — With his third term as chief justice coming to a close amid three explosive cases last week, John Roberts has proved to be almost everything conservatives hoped and liberals feared.

Despite pledges during his 2005 confirmation hearing to hew to judicial centrism, Roberts has shown himself to be a reliable member of the Supreme Court's right flank—rarely, if ever, disagreeing with its positions on civil rights, gun control, the death penalty, affirmative action and a host of other issues.

That may come as no surprise to those who paid close attention to Roberts' career before his elevation to the high court, but the picture is at odds with the non-ideological face he presented after his nomination.

"I come before this committee with no agenda, no platform," Roberts told the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2005. "I will approach every case with an open mind."

[DFW]

1. That was so obviously a crock, it hurts

Any Senator who fell for that one must also believe in the tooth fairy and WMD.

[zanne]

4. I was so disappointed when Robert Byrd spoke in his defense. nt

[DFW]

6. So was I. And regrets are useless: the damage is done and will outlive Byrd by decades.

[zanne]

7. It was so unlike Byrd.

I always wondered what was behind it. I guess we'll never know.

[DFW]

14. That was one that had me puzzled as well.

[connecticut yankee]

2. Did anyone really believe him?

[fasttense]

3. Roberts is nothing but a politician in black robes.

He does not deserve the title of judge or justice. He does not ensure fair and just treatment of laws and people but promotes his master's political agenda.

[indepat]

5. An open-minded RW hack?

:D

[lonestarnot]

8. I hope we can make that piece of crap so miserable with new appointments that he quits.

[LiberalFighter]

9. Since when does a judge with a past like his tell the truth?

[madrchsod]

10. fat tony thinks the guy is to extreme

when tony thinks roberts is to extreme then this nation is in bigger trouble than we can imagine.
roberts has already over turned a supreme court ruling from the 1800`s------

[iamjoy]

12. What?

Where did you hear "Tony" (Scalia?) thinks Roberts is too extreme? And which ruling did he overturn?

I though I paid attention to the Supreme Court, but obviously not enough.

[madrchsod]

17. heard the author of the latest book on the supreme court

on npr last fall say that..sorry i do`t remember the name of the book or author...

[KharmaTrain]

11. Why Elections Matter

I have long condemned those Democrats who so easily caved in on John Boy's aw shucks charm and looks and didn't look at his record. He has shown that he puts power ahead of the people and party and partisanship ahead of justice. Anyone who could even question Habeus Corpus deserves contempt...especially someone in such a position of power and respect who sold out principals to an "ideology" of privilidge and exclusion. No agenda? I see said the blind man.

The more discomforting thought these days is what "balance" there is on the court falls onto one man...big Tony Kennedy. Depending on how he feels on a specific day he can determine elections or rights...interpreting the Constitution on his terms. Not a very comforting thought indeed.

[bean fidhleir]

13. "I believe you find life such a problem because you think that there are

good politicians and bad politicians", said the man. "You're wrong, of course. There are, always and only, the bad politicians, but some of them are on opposite sides."

[spanone]

15. hey, when congress rubber stamps a justice, you can't complain...it's a job for LIFE

it's the way of american politics...lie, say anything to get the job.

[tom_paine]

16. What? A Loyal Bushie lie shamelessly? NO!

[kentuck]

18. Nobody really thought Dubya would make the mistake of his father?

With someone like David Souter, did they? They knew exactly what they were getting. Democrats were played for fools.

[devilgrrl]

19. Golly, I'm so shocked to hear this. Who saw that coming?

:sarcasm:

[readmoreoften]

20. I can't wait until people STOP BELIEVING WHAT THESE ASSHOLES SAY!

They never do what they say. They just flappa flappa flappa the gums and lips.

[Individualist]

21. Roberts' definition of centrism is the same as DLC's: Far right.