News John Roberts Baseball Umpire or Supreme Court Judge?

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The discussion centers around John Roberts' confirmation hearing for Chief Justice, where he likened his role to that of an umpire in baseball, emphasizing that he would call "balls and strikes" without making laws. Key points from his speech included his gratitude towards those who supported his nomination, his assertion of impartiality, and a claim that he does not have a political agenda. However, participants expressed skepticism about this analogy, arguing that the Supreme Court does indeed make significant legal decisions that can shape laws and societal norms. Concerns were raised about Roberts' understanding of judicial activism, with some suggesting he may be more conservative than he portrays. The conversation also touched on the role of the Senate in vetting judicial nominees and the potential for Roberts to be an activist chief justice, despite his claims of restraint. Overall, the thread reflects a mix of apprehension and scrutiny regarding the implications of Roberts' confirmation for the judiciary and broader legal landscape.
  • #31
loseyourname said:
Then again, I don't worry about anything. Hold a gun to my head and I'll give you a hundred reasons that I should remain calm and optimistic.
I don't want a gun held to my head.

I have already resigned myself to Roberts, yes he seems so reasonable and intelligent, so does Scalia. He is going to present the best face he can. These hearings are not giving us a good insight into John Roberts, especially in the light that the White house is not fully releasing all his relevant papers.

[edit] Here is a quote that echos my sentiments.

T. A. Frank said:
There's no doubt that Roberts is dreadfully intelligent, and he's lucid to the point of creepiness. (One commentator pointed out that Roberts doesn't say "um.") There's also little doubt that he's nearly everything liberals fear. What stood out most about Roberts yesterday, however, was that he's a Washington specimen of the most distilled variety. He seems to have known since the age of two that he wished to be on the Supreme Court. He seems to have done nothing, ever, that would compromise this vision. His worldview seems to be untempered by failure and snugly confined within acceptable party lines. Most important, he knows how to say nothing at great length--which, these days, is an essential skill. It's unfortunate that we consistently reward public officials who play it entirely safe, but we can hardly blame them for noticing. Honesty can be costly, which may explain why there's nothing more fascinating than candor. It may also explain why there's nothing more boring than the Roberts confirmation hearings.
http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=w050912&s=frank091405
 
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