Chief Justice Roberts
Today by a vote of 78-22, the Senate confirmed John Roberts as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. (Senator John Kerry (D-MA) was tardy and missed his first opportunity to voice his “NO” vote during the roll call. Apparently, Kerry received some last minute grooming before the vote). A few hours later, John Roberts was sworn in as Chief.
Fifty percent of Democratic Senators voted for Roberts. That’s pretty amazing. Even “Jumping Jim” Jeffords joined the Roberts bandwagon. “Dingy” Harry Reid led the other fractured fifty percent down another losing path.
Looking beyond the today’s confirmation, Chief Justice Roberts will likely guide the Court for the next three decades. How will he fare? Will he metamorphis into another Justice Stevens (who coincidentially adminstered him his judicial oath), or, will he hold true to the text of the Constitution which he defended in his confirmation hearings?
If Roberts jurisprudence is indeed akin to Justices Scalia and Thomas, President Bush’s selection of Roberts will be remembered as one of the greatest political manuevers in history. Ralph Neas, Michael Moore, MoveOn.org, NARAL, and the ACLU could not persuade a measley 25 Democratic Senators to vote against Roberts. The radical liberals used all their guns against Roberts and now wallow in a defeatist mire. Their methods of attack and bravado simply did not work. But, was it the method that failed to resonate or was Roberts a bulletproof nominee?
John Roberts was indeed bulletproof. He was a Superman nominee. Brandishing a squeaky-clean record, liberals and Democratic Senators like Chuck Schumer could not find any kryptonite with which to weaken Roberts confirmatory appeal.
John Roberts’s tenure as Chief will be very, very important for our country’s future. Here’s to hoping it’s a constitutional, socially conservative one.