Chief Justice Roberts (coming soon...)

[CustomSarge]

IMHO, regardless of your political affiliation, this guy is GOOD! His "game" is SO much better than any of those questioning him. You'd sooner pickup mercury with a fork (at room temp).

After catching enough sound bytes, I started watching the vanilla feed, CSPAN or PBS-U. Even commentators I consider very left expressed their admiration in his abilities.

Anybody else consider these hearings blasted fine entertainment? <<<)))

[naddy100]

IMHO, regardless of your political affiliation, <<<)))
Roberts is not mine. However, you might have seen David Brooks' spoof of the hearings in the NYT today, Thursday. David Brooks is the token conservative on the NYT editorial page. The spoof was reasonably well done.
Noel

[MarkF]

Regardless of his politics - and it isn't extreme! - he is certainly well educated and inteligent. I loved listening to that air bag Kennedy grill him then interupt every time Roberts tried to give an answer. Kennedy even interupted the chair when he was telling Kennedy to just let Roberts answer.

BTW anyone else read that Biden was overheard in private telling Roberts that he is by far the best candidate to ever come before the committee?

[naddy100]

There has also been a review of how Israeli security catches people who have programmed 'talking points' that the people don't want to deviate from for fear of letting out the true agenda. It includes questions that are unrelated, designed to catch the person off guard. It includes things like "why is the sky blue?" and "if Scalia were a tree, what sort of tree would he be?"
Noel

[deanzat]

There has also been a review of how Israeli security catches people who have programmed 'talking points' that the people don't want to deviate from for fear of letting out the true agenda. It includes questions that are unrelated, designed to catch the person off guard. It includes things like "why is the sky blue?" and "if Scalia were a tree, what sort of tree would he be?"
Noel

The sky is blue because if it was green, we wouldn't know when to stop mowing.

And Scalia would surely be a prickly pear. DZ

[ironMan]

I always wonder what guys like Roberts would really like to say when being hammered by the windbag senators.

What would you say if you had the chance?

How about

Senator Kennedy, if I were the DA in Mass I would have told your father to keep his cash and prosecuted you for man slaughter.

Senator Biden, Refresh my memory was it the revelations of plagiarism or cheating your way through college that forced you out of the presidential race?

No matter which side you are on there is something wrong about these two yahoos questioning someone integrity.

[CustomSarge]

David Brooks may well be right of center, in the venue of the New York Times....

I'm abjectly aghast (but not surprized) at how those who would reject Roberts' confirmation; trying to "trip him up" on expressing an opinion on ANY subject that may come before the court; knowing Full Well said opinion would be just cause for rejecting his confirmation.

Why not ask him to make the bullitts(sp?) that shoot him down.... This guy is WAY too smart for this, and therefore is the Excellent candidate!

I consider this roughly equivalent as to acting or journalism: If I can't tell where you're "coming from" you've GOT IT.

I also just shake my head at those who CANNOT separate the advocasy of a position as council; as versed with the adjudication of an argument with respect to legal canon & precedent.

YO, Kbasa: you got a POV on this?? ...... :) ... <<<)))

[James.A]

I also just shake my head at those who CANNOT separate the advocasy of a position as council; as versed with the adjudication of an argument with respect to legal canon & precedent.


C'mon Sarge, we both know that Kennedy and Biden are smarter than that, but it doesn't fit well with their role of grandstanding demagogues. I have greatly enjoyed the hearings. Judge Roberts is the coolest cucumber in the whole store.

[CustomSarge]

professional pontificators; mostly the adjuct panelists/advocates at the end.

Unfortunately, I most fear the Great Divide: those who've been watching this,.. understand (my point).

Those that haven't been watching are simply oblivious to so subtle a parsing of argument. Or, perhaps watching had NO effect.

Perhaps a "prima facia"? ... If you're into it, you Get It, ELSE you don't.
Impressive polarization (doesn't change the result...) <<<)))

OH, P.S. In a fair & balanced media feeduverse, WHY is Fox News ONLY part of a paid premium tier as versed with CNN, which is included in ALL DSS packages ???

[John Brase]

I listened to most of the confirmation hearings and the one thing that struck me is that Sen. Sessions (R-ALA) seems to be a complete dumbass.

Roberts is impressive. Time will tell, but he could trun out to be a Scalia in sheep's clothing. (Scalia with social skills?) Who knows. The history of the Court is replete with justices who have turned out different than expected.

John

[MarkF]

Roberts is impressive. Time will tell, but he could trun out to be a Scalia in sheep's clothing. (Scalia with social skills?) Who knows.

Sounds like a Home RUN to me!

[goferu]

Doesn't matter which party you are with. The bottom line is do we have rights as citizens to have our elected officials ask questions and get answers of someone who is going to get a job that he never can be fired from? Mr. Roberts is a very young man and still has time to change his views. I want to know what his views are? I want to know if his views have changed on issues that he and I agree on. Mr. Roberts and I do agree on several issues. It makes me wonder if he has changed from his early years and is just masking this change, how would I know? It can happen. Both conservatives and liberals need beware. I never take anything for granted. They work for us not the other way around. Why do we forget that? Who pays their salaries and gives them health insurance? DUH we do....tax payers. I don't care what party affiliation you are, you best be ready to answer questions or hit the road.

On both side of the isles we have morons. I hate it when the senators grandstand and then pretend to listen.

[BubbaZanetti]

yeah, we'd defenetly not see eye to eye politically, but i am also impressed after listening to testimony all week. I just hope this more moderate Roberts isn't an act to get past Senate hearings and into the courts. Some of the stuff he wrote durring his tenure with the Regan administration is pretty dicey, but he is very articulate and he used the word "canard" in a very exemplary way yesterday

[Bob_M]

He is very convincing with his explanation that he is not a vehicle for an ideology. He thinks his worldview is fair, neutral and unbiased. Just like I view mine as fair neutral and unbiased. I am not an idealog, but people who dissagree with me are. OF COARSE he carries the baggage of an ideology. He is human and he has not lived in a bubble. He will be confirmed and the nature of his views, upbringing, education and opinions will color his judgement. Already he has served up deception.

Regarding the the Senate. Their job is to provide advise and consent. Without the papers withheld by the whitehouse they were prevented from doing their constitutionally mandated job. In trying to get a straight answer from Mr Roberts they were denied what they needed to provide informed consent.

Roberts is the best a liberal could hope for from the Bush Administration. I just wish he were more of a stand up guy and less of a slippery politican.

Just wait till the next guy, We can look forward to a right wing wacko who will persuade the court to outlaw the teaching and practice of evolution.
(ecxept Harley's evolution engine which will be required) :stick

[kbasa]

Roberts seems to have his head screwed on straight. Rule of law, the importance of precedent and his general high level of skill make me feel pretty good about him.

I work with lawyers all day long. Litigators, too, who are the guys that actually go to court when Sun sues Microsoft and the like. Most people form their opinions about lawyers based on the personal injury or divorce guys, but in fact, the folks you see on the Supreme Court come from the pool of folks I work with.

If there's one thing a good lawyer has, it's an ability to look at the law as its own set of rules. The Bible and other outside influences are not the law we live under as a larger society; we live under the rule of law as defined by our judicial system.

I'm confident that Roberts understands that important differentiation. While he was nominated by the republicans, I still feel good about him.

[j-budimlya]

Probably the greatest risk to the court would be to have all the judges be Harvard graduates.....

Just my HO....

[Callmethebreeze]

The proceedings were a standard partisan senate committee dog and pony show. Did anyone expect something different?
Partisan politics has poisoned the well of honest and balanced debate. Charicature has replaced character. Does anyone expect a jurist to give an opinion even in general terms to issues that may come before him in court?
Idealogues on each side of the aisle are ready to jump on anything that even resembles "pre-judgement" yet they scream that someone is not forthcoming or honest if he doesn't give them what they want.
I looked at Robert's record as both a judge and counsel to the president. What I see is a skilled interpreter of the law capable of balance, fairness and advocacy depending upon the role required of him. He is a guy who didn't hide out in a cabin such as David Souter nor did he pen opinions as a judge that reflected a doctrinaire viewpoint such as Antonin Scalia or Robert Bork.
Does everyone remember the confirmation hearings of Souter and Bork? The former was a sleepwalk. Souter had nothing to say and no record to impugn. Bork was a firebrand who wrote and spoke his mind. Gee, what happened?
There was a myth that prior to the hearings that Carl Rove took Judge Roberts outside the Capitol and pointed to the chalk outline of Bork's body on the steps reminding him of the last guy who tried to play it straight with the senators on the committee. True or not, Roberts got the message.
At the end of the day, Roberts appears to be an able guy who will bring his considerable skills in framing arguments and building consensus on the court.
The pols will go along their merry way feeding at the trough and generating sound bites. Does anyone really take these guys seriously?
Independence has a nice ring to it for me.

Breeze

[BubbaZanetti]

T Bork was a firebrand who wrote and spoke his mind. Gee, what happened?

if i remember correctly, teddy k was far more effective during this hearing,

yes, i was 7, yes, it REALLY is one of my first memories of watching tv, i guess i was a weird kid

[naddy100]

We'll never know (unless it reaches the Supreme Court) what Roberts thinks of Andy and Barney using the cover of 9/11 to roust Bob Higdon in Corpus Christi.
Noel

[SCDorman]

We'll never know (unless it reaches the Supreme Court) what Roberts thinks of Andy and Barney using the cover of 9/11 to roust Bob Higdon in Corpus Christi.
Noel

As someone who occasionally takes pictures while out and about on the bike, that story really bothered me.

[Callmethebreeze]

We'll never know (unless it reaches the Supreme Court) what Roberts thinks of Andy and Barney using the cover of 9/11 to roust Bob Higdon in Corpus Christi.
Noel

Frankly, this case would never reach the supreme court. Any JP or superior court judge could handle this with ease. Overexuberant local mounties may play fast and loose with interpretations of the law, most judges have a little more on the ball.
Let's not mix apples and oranges. Roberts record on protecting individual liberty is clear in such a case. He'd protect Bob.

Breeze

[goferu]

If we all expect mediocrity from our government officials then that is what we get and deserve. Why is it so unpopular to expect high standards from the people who have the say over our lives? I have been disappointed in public officials that I have believed to be somewhat honest. Only to be disappointed because they lied through their teeth. But that doesn't mean I'm gonna say uncle and use that tired old inane phrase, WELL WHAT DO YOU EXPECT THEY ARE POLITICIANS. Hell with that noise. I live by certain rules and expect the our elected officials to do the same. You can be an intellectual and be a baffoon. Use fancy words and actually sound like you make sense because you can talk a good game. But actions always speak louder than words. As we have observed with Katrina.

[olsalt]

Doesn't matter which party you are with. The bottom line is do we have rights as citizens to have our elected officials ask questions and get answers of someone who is going to get a job that he never can be fired from?This is the big picture folks and something we better stay cognizient of!

[MarkF]

We'll never know (unless it reaches the Supreme Court) what Roberts thinks of Andy and Barney using the cover of 9/11 to roust Bob Higdon in Corpus Christi.
Noel

Don't forget he gave consent to search. If you don't want the cops going thru your stuff don't consent. Detention has to be reasonable. Just sit down, shut up and wait. If they got nothing you should be on your way in no time. If not then you got some money coming to you.

[John Brase]

Don't forget he gave consent to search. If you don't want the cops going thru your stuff don't consent. Detention has to be reasonable. Just sit down, shut up and wait. If they got nothing you should be on your way in no time. If not then you got some money coming to you.

That works, in theory, but if you do that chances are you are going to piss them off and if nobody is watching (or running a video cam) they are going to beat the **** out of you and charge you with resisting. Your bruises are evidence that you resisted.

John

[naddy100]

Don't forget he gave consent to search. {snip}

"'Sure,' I said, as if consent meant anything."

It'd be nice to live where MarkF lives.
Noel

[MarkF]

if nobody is watching (or running a video cam) they are going to beat the **** out of you
In front of a County Courthouse?

It'd be nice to live where MarkF lives.
Even better where I work!

[The_Veg]

They no longer need consent, ever since that law was passed a few years ago allowing a search if probable cause is declared. That's what happend to a friend of mine. He said no, they declared probable cause and busted his Krausers open, permanently damaging them.

This sort of thing is why Hunter Thompson founded the Fourth Amendment Foundation.

[coloktmGS]

Prior to GWB making this nomination, all we heard from the American political left was that this was George Bush's chance to "bring the country together" with a consensus nominee. Now, a couple months later, no one seems to have a strong objection to Judge Roberts (other that idealogues who are sure he won't side with them in EVERY case). But, for some reason, I haven't heard one kudos to the prez for making just the type of nomination everyone was clammoring for. Just a representative event in the past 5 political years: Lots of blame, very little praise and personal responsibility.

[goferu]

Think the kudos aren't coming because of the the Katrina disaster and how our Pres. handled it. Like I said before then later our Pres. said ........THE BUCK STOPS AT HIS DESK. Seeing all the children, that are still missing and aren't with their parents yet, makes it a little hard, for me, to hand out kudos. Think the Pres. will have to stand in a long line behind the people who were the real heros of that disaster.

Whether, you are republican or a democrat, it should be unsettling that Mr. Roberts didn't answer questions posed to him. Intellectuals say a lot but that doesn't mean they are right. Just means they have an opinion and can be fancy about expounding on their opinions. I just wanted to make sure he hasn't gone soft on my concerns. How would I know? People, as they grow older and have more life experiences under their belts, do have a tendancy to expand their mode of thinking, if they are thinkers at all. I just wanted to make sure the ole boy was still moving along in the direction I wanted. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.

[lorazepam]

Think the kudos aren't coming because of the the Katrina disaster and how our Pres. handled it. Like I said before then later our Pres. said ........THE BUCK STOPS AT HIS DESK. Seeing all the children, that are still missing and aren't with their parents yet, makes it a little hard, for me, to hand out kudos. Think the Pres. will have to stand in a long line behind the people who were the real heros of that disaster.

Whether, you are republican or a democrat, it should be unsettling that Mr. Roberts didn't answer questions posed to him. Intellectuals say a lot but that doesn't mean they are right. Just means they have an opinion and can be fancy about expounding on their opinions. I just wanted to make sure he hasn't gone soft on my concerns. How would I know? People, as they grow older and have more life experiences under their belts, do have a tendancy to expand their mode of thinking, if they are thinkers at all. I just wanted to make sure the ole boy was still moving along in the direction I wanted. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.


Well if you have a better way to get children who dont know their address or phone number or even their parents real names, back to parents, You should be giving them a hand in getting the kids reunited.

When a chopper takes the kids one place, and the parents another, ( it was a rescue operation and not a carnival ride ) it will take time to get them all reunited.

Makes a perfect case for teaching your child his phone number as soon as they can remember it. If you dont have a phone, then teach them your address.

[Callmethebreeze]

Well if you have a better way to get children who dont know their address or phone number or even their parents real names, back to parents, You should be giving them a hand in getting the kids reunited.

When a chopper takes the kids one place, and the parents another, ( it was a rescue operation and not a carnival ride ) it will take time to get them all reunited.

Makes a perfect case for teaching your child his phone number as soon as they can remember it. If you dont have a phone, then teach them your address.

I know that the civil libertarians may lapse into apoplexy over this one but do we need a universal child registry with finger and footprints stored for scanning and comparison puposes? My four children were printed at school. I never thought anything of it other than if something catastrophic happened, they would be identified. Well, the catastrophic has happened on the Gulf coast. I believe that the Red Cross could be a major player in using such a registry to reunite families.
Any thoughts?

Breeze
Perhaps a well secured data base accessible only to carefully screened authorities would help to reunite "lost" children and parents.

[kbasa]

I know that the civil libertarians may lapse into apoplexy over this one but do we need a universal child registry with finger and footprints stored for scanning and comparison puposes? My four children were printed at school. I never thought anything of it other than if something catastrophic happened, they would be identified. Well, the catastrophic has happened on the Gulf coast. I believe that the Red Cross could be a major player in using such a registry to reunite families.
Any thoughts?

Breeze
Perhaps a well secured data base accessible only to carefully screened authorities would help to reunite "lost" children and parents.

How about teaching your kids your real names, address and phone number when they're little?

I don't have kids, but my parents did that with me when I was but 3 or 4.

My phone number was JU8-0456 and I lived at 230 Park Drive, Clawson, MI.

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

Breeze...I find that my vocabulary is improving exponentially since reading your posts, I find myself reaching for the dictionary rather more frequently these days...a sincere thank you is in order...lol.
Take care,
Andy

[Callmethebreeze]

How about teaching your kids your real names, address and phone number when they're little?

I don't have kids, but my parents did that with me when I was but 3 or 4.

My phone number was JU8-0456 and I lived at 230 Park Drive, Clawson, MI.

Dave, I agree with you. Parental teaching of simple personal data is the best.My parents taught me too. Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to happening enough. Moreover, younger kids can become more easily traumatized and "forget" stuff. Family systems can be informal, extended and loose. Sad to say, kids raised by aunts, g-parents and "others" are harder to track and "place" when there's a major breakdown in order and communication. There is also the unthinkable and unconscienable, which is to say that some adult takes advantage of this crisis to exploit a child through kidnapping or unauthorized custody in disputed divorce settlements.
We all hope to god that these tragedies can be resolved by having these missing kids returned to their loved ones.
Objective, verifiable evidence in the form of prints might offer some hope if done in a confidential manner.


Breeze


BTW: 35 East Shaw St. Greenock, Scotland, UK No phone but it was a small town where parents knew everyone else's kids. News traveled faster than I could run. :laugh

[BradfordBenn]

I had a piece of laminated paper in my shoe that I knew to give to the "Helpful Policeman" if I got lost. Now I have replaced it with medical information in the 'Stich. go figure.

[coloktmGS]

Goferu--

2 things:

1) Listen to Judge Roberts explain what a judiciary was intended to be: an impartial, independent 3rd party in disputes, not a legislative body for policies that can't get passed in traditional ways. You want him to answer questions to make sure he'll side with you in disputes, Judge Roberts has made it clear, if you are on the side of the law, he'd side with you, if not, he won't. Of course everyone's personal bias will color their judgement,yours liberal, mine conservative...wich brings me to one more thing: If you are really concerned about who sits on the judiciary (though I don't advocate ideaologues of either stripes), you should pursuade your party to adopt positions that win elections, then you get to pick who sits for these newfound interrogations.

2) You lumped Hurricane Katrina response efforts into a judicial debate. People consitantly bemoan the divisions in American politics, the American left has the opportunity to praise George Bush now and build unity, yet you personally choose to move to the next complaint you have with George Bush. In other words, no kudos until he's Bill Clinton...I can see why many on the right are giving up on the "New Tone".

Second, as someone who's been to the Gulf Coast to help deal with the hurricane and someone with lots of family in the reigion, particularly Hattieburg, MS, I can ensure you, the people in the region don't have the desire to point fingers like you have. Mistakes were made at the state, local, and federal levels, no one disputes that; but remember, these were democrats, republicans, and a few independants in local communities. The only thing that these failures illustrated was the fallicy that if all hell breaks loose, the government will protect you. If you have speicifc facts that you think the president 'caused' all of these problems, i'd love to hear them.

[goferu]

Tell the parents of the missing children, to chill, because all this takes time.BULLROAR if it were the children of any of are esteemed government officials you bet your sweet bippie those kids would have already been tracked down and reunited with their parents. Don't give me this crap. If one of my kids was missing I'd be going crazy. My heart goes out to the parents of the children that are still missing. It is a heartbreaker for sure.

[lorazepam]

Tell the parents of the missing children, to chill, because all this takes time.BULLROAR if it were the children of any of are esteemed government officials you bet your sweet bippie those kids would have already been tracked down and reunited with their parents. Don't give me this crap. If one of my kids was missing I'd be going crazy. My heart goes out to the parents of the children that are still missing. It is a heartbreaker for sure.

If you have a 3 year old that doesnt know its last name, or phone number, or address, then what you have is an irresponsible parent who shoule be spending more time with the child and teaching it something.
You can bet that the *esteemed* government officials kids will have a way of communicating who they are and who their parents are.
Blaming the government for their own irresponsibilities is wrong, and not giving your child attention, and information is even more wrong.