Reid: Who Could Have Known Roberts Was Actually A Conservative?
By Susie Madrak Saturday Mar 28, 2009 9:30amThis particular issue sticks in my craw, because the Democratic activists blew it on Roberts and Alito. I was involved in several conference calls with senators at the time, and I was furious that opponents insisted on making the anti-Roberts and Alito pushback based on abortion rights.
"That's insane," I said. "Why would you want to oppose either of them on the basis of the single most divisive issue we have, when they both have records of always ruling for corporations at the expense of the little guy? That's something that most people can relate to. Make abortion the issue, and you've already lost, because the right wing is better at mobilizing their forces."
But hey, I guess that's why I'm just a lowly blogger and not a U.S. Senator:
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Friday that John Roberts misled the Senate during his confirmation hearings by pretending to be a moderate — and that the United States is now “stuck” with him as chief justice.
“Roberts didn’t tell us the truth. At least Alito told us who he was,” Reid said, referring to Samuel Alito, the second Supreme Court justice nominated by President George W. Bush. “But we’re stuck with those two young men, and we’ll try to change by having some moderates in the federal courts system as time goes on — I think that will happen.”
You'd think at some point that Harry Reid would have noticed the huge gap between what Republican true-believers say, and what they actually do, but I guess Harry has people who do that for him.
Reid’s comments, which came during a wide-ranging discussion hosted by the Christian Science Monitor, reflect Democratic concerns that Roberts presented himself as a neutral arbiter of the law but has wielded a relentlessly conservative agenda. Republicans reject the attacks, saying Roberts has been a fair judge and has been consistent in his opinions.
Although Reid said that Democrats will try to put moderates on the bench, he said he will not try to deny Republicans the right to filibuster nominees. In 2005, then-Majority Leader Bill Frist threatened to eliminate the filibuster, sparking a furious reaction by Reid and other Democrats who said the so-called nuclear option would quash the rights of the minority.
Login or Register to post comments.
Anyone with a clue about church and state separation called it like it was.
Pro-Corporate stance when Reid et alii are pro-corporate also
Just what we need, Harry Reid picking out a "Moderate" to counterbalance the extreme Right Wingnut Conservatives on the court. Have you thought about your kissin' cousin Joe Lieberman? I am sure he would be up for the job.
I don't want a GD moderate on the court! I want a progressive or liberal...and I sure as hell don't want Reid having any part in picking him out!
I can only imagine how god-awful his choice would be.
Roberts didn't lie to Reid.
He just got played.
It's always like this. They vote these guys through, then say "oh, we didn't think he was going to be so adamantly right wing, even though his previous record showed that he was. He said he was going to be nice. I don't know why he would lie. We're surprised as you are.".
They're not surprised. I guess this is Reid's "bipartisanship". Let the Republicans have their way, then when it's safe, say you were surprised that a conservative Republican acted like a conservative Republican.
the guy from Nevada gets played. Conservative humor.
pay. Harry's corrupt but not stupid. This whole "Ooo, he fooled us" kabuki is rolled out time and again (Alito, Scalia, Mukasey, Roberts, Bushco officials lying under oath, Bush and Cheney refusing to testi-lie under oath together about 9/11, etc. ad nauseum), mainly because they know the official organs will never call them on their corruption and that Americans are powerless over their own "representatives."
The Dems and Repugs aren't political parties in a real sense; they're two herds of pigs fighting for the same trough. Often, the pigs cooperate so each gets what they want; what did Harry Reid get grease Roberts onto the Supreme Court? What did Harry Reid get to make sure Bush and co. weren't impeached? Under our current system, we'll never know just what Harry Reid is doing to game the system against us, and he'll surely never suffer for it--at least not legally.
justices can be impeached. Lying to Congress is a good reason. There are others, such as conflict of interest issues for Roberts. Dems are such whiny cowards. Get rid of the liar, toss him out on his ass. He doesn't like the "low pay" anyway, making him a prime target for bribery.
that spineless, clueless idiot is in charge of anything. He's as useless as nipples on boar hog!! God, I fucking hate Harry Reid!!
Harry, Mr. Reid... Yes you. We tried to tell you and you didn't listen. This says more about you than the judge.
Fool me once uh uh shame on uh uh... ah shucks Senator sit down shut up and let somebody with guts drive this machine, like Elizabeth Kicinich!
Just exactly how stupid is Harry Reid? Alas, it’s more like how stupid he thinks we are. Somebody needs to push this guy aside. He’s getting in the way.
Reid "Who could have know Roberts was actually a conservative"
because George W. Bush nominated him, you twit.
best answer yet.
the fact that he would not be where he is without the support of the majority of the Dem Senators.
They don't have to do anything as long as they have a patsy like Harry for leader.
You are a pretty shitty leader and Democrat when Steny Hoyer criticizes you.
Who would think Harry Reid is a Democrat?
were Neo-conservative ideologues.....how in the world could Reid NOT?
Either Reid is being willfully ignorant, or is completely incompetent...either way, it is time for someone else to fill his slot, not just as Majority Leader in the Senate, but also AS A SENATOR. What are the alternative in Nevada for Democrats in the next election?
Both!!
In the past I've stood up for Reid and Pelosi but this comment from Reid really made me gag. Give me a break. Willfully ignorant is the phrase I was thinking of as well. At the time of the confirmation it was obvious that the Bush people lied as a matter of course and it was obvious from a true look at Roberts' record what kind of judge he was.
Sadly, the Liberal/Progressive voters obstacle to progress are the Democratic politicians in the Senate and House.
Useless fucknozzle at best, at least.
Quisling most likely.
The Dems control two branches of the govt.
The legislative branch is under the "leadershit" of Reid/Pelosi.
Maybe we should just surrender.
Same shit, different decade...
...short shrift liberal voters in that interview?
Reid is useless. Moderates? He wants moderates on the court? How about Liberals you jackass? They get their right-of-right conservatives - TWO of them - we should get our liberals. And EVERY question should be on the table.
*
Obama's first SCOTUS appointment should be Anita Hill.
Genius. Pure-freakin'-genius. And I mean that sincerely.
That is the best idear I've heard in months.
Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas. Did anyone notice how excited Clarence Thomas was when President Obama came over to greet the Supreme Court Justices prior to his speech before both Houses? For two of the most recent Supreme Court rulings, Justice Thomas joined the "Force" and voted with the left. This was a shocker. Could Justice Thomas be feeling "free at last"?
The biggest problem with the democrat party is that they are stuck with Reid , Pelosi , Feinstein , Schumer , Blue Dogs and other republican conservatives which have been elected on our democratic ticket..
Our party will soon have more republicans elected , then we do Democrats..
The democrats are siding with corporation's policies on most of the important issues.
They have sent our manufacturing plants along with our jobs overseas , while changing the tax laws for the benefit of Global corporate domination..
We are in a depression because the working class no longer paid a decent wage or benefit and there are not enough jobs for our workers left in this country. Our elected representatives are throwing their citizens bones , while giving "our" tax money on a credit card to the Giant Criminal Corporations and even to the overseas countries..
We are feed a dose of BS on a daily basis while our lives are being destroy.
If this type of criminal activity would have happen 30 years ago , there would not only have been an outrage in demonstrations , but a revolution in this country.. They have now divided Americans into different group where Americans are fighting one another instead of the criminal which are running our policies and government..
How can any person with an once of sense believe the lies and BS our government is feeding us on a daily basis by letting the criminals which have committed treason , torture , illegal spying , sh.... all over our constitution , laws , while stealing our economy , wealth & power and handing it over to Global Corporations and even to foreign counties which hate us...
Obama , Emanuel , Pelosi , Reid , Blue Dogs and other democrats are going to let Bush , Cheney and the other criminals which have destroy our economy off with no prosecution.... Obama is now just as guilty as Bush and the other criminals by bypassing our constitution and laws and not prosecuting them for their criminal and destructed crimes to out country and citizens..
We are seeing the destruction of our democracy , freedom and decent living condition in this country..
The biggest problem with the democrat party is that they are stuck with Reid , Pelosi , Feinstein , Schumer , Blue Dogs and other republican conservatives which have been elected on our democratic ticket..
Our party will soon have more republicans elected , then we do Democrats..
The democrats are siding with corporation's policies on most of the important issues.
They have sent our manufacturing plants along with our jobs overseas , while changing the tax laws for the benefit of Global corporate domination..
We are in a depression because the working class no longer paid a decent wage or benefit and there are not enough jobs for our workers left in this country. Our elected representatives are throwing their citizens bones , while give "our" tax money on a credit card to the Giant Criminal Corporations and even to the overseas countries..
We are feed a dose of BS on a daily basis while our lives or being destroy.
If this type of criminal activity would have happen 30 years ago , there would not only have been an outrage , but a revolution in this country.. They have now divided Americans into different group where Americans are fighting one another instead of the criminal which are running our policies and government..
How can any person with an once of sense believe the lies and BS our government is feeding us on a daily basis by letting the criminals which have committed treason , torture , illegal spying , sh.... all over our constitution , laws , while stealing our economy , wealth & power and handing it over to Global Corporations and even to foreign counties which hate us...
We are seeing the destruction of our democracy , freedom and decent living condition in this country..
WA. Laughable words to the effect that she voted to confirm Roberts "in the spirit of cooperation."
Now that has ALWAYS stuck in my craw. I wrote back and told her we elected her to OPPOSE. I quit writing this waste of time and space. Over the what 2 decades shes been in, she's pretty much shown herself to be a senator from Boeing, even when they kicked WA state to the curb and moved to Chicago, because it "Was closer to world markets" (yeah, like China, Japan and Korea).
Idiots.
As for the filibuster, Reid needs to step down if that's his attitude..
In the meantime, read this from a guy who points some important crap out ABOUT the present day 'filibuster,' which isn't really a filibuster at all...
When a person doesn't really have to fillibuster (i.e. talk his or her ass off until cloture), it's really easy for the minority to hold the majority hostage in Congress. The way I see it either revert back to what the filibuster was originally supposed to be or just get rid of it.
More like spirit of cowardice since he would rather cave in than take an affirmative stand. Duped by Roberts? Bullshit. You were duped by your addiction to the status quo and your fear of confrontation and conflict.
Read JFK's Profiles of Courage if you need a refresher course on how quality politicians act.
You know Reid didn't say Roberts fooled them, he said he lied to them. Harry Reid knows exactly what the Republicans, e.g. a S. C. nominee, are capable of. So--a sensationalist headline would be "Leader of the Senate calls Head Supreme Court Justice a Liar." Not very spineless in my opinion. The more important point is that Reid is effectively leading Obama's agenda to victory after victory. Next week a revolutionary budget including health care. If you knew Reid's personal story--and I very ardently recommend his book "The Good Fight"--you'd have a clue who he is and why the other Senators elect him time and again. And--when he runs again in 2010 Obama will be in Nevada stumping for him and saying he couldn't have gotten his agenda passed without Harry Reid.
Both are nonsensical responses. That's like saying they were "shocked, shocked I tell you" to learn that BushCo lied to them about Iraq. If both examples were patently obvious to a complete civilian out of the walls of power (and they were) it should have been patently obvious to those with staffs of people that can investigate the claims.
This is "convenient cover" and nothing else and frankly I'm getting tired of convenient cover from our "Democratic" "leaders" (**cough**impeachmentisoffthetable**cough**).
like Casablanca, who could have known there was gambling going on at Rick's?
his decisions were there for all to read
why is it that bloggers knew where the guy stood, but reid didnt
the only person who blatantly lied to get confirmed is thomas
that house negro never shouldve made it to the bench
is considered a moderate. Obama supporters say Obama is a moderate. You get what you vote for I guess. Bipartisanship baby! Now which one of you big ass corporations has a big fat ol' bribe for the re-election campaign? Come on now, we bailed ya out!
they always seem to "compromise" or "err" towards the conservative spectrum of things.
I mean, you never see them Dems confirming someone who later turns out to be a completely far left-wing commie pinko bastard. Have you ever seen any of them saying "such and such deceived us, we did not expect them to be that liberal." You also never see them passing legislation that is overly progressive, or humane, or benefits entirely the middle and lower classes, or it is unabashedly in favor of civil rights, improves the general welfare of the population, etc, etc.
For example. all the crazy Patriot Act, FISA, etc. They always claim how they did not have time to read it, or that there was pressure to get it passed due to national security, or whatever excuse they make for voting for what basically amounts to fascist legislation. However, liberal or heck even common sense or decent legislation... all of that gets examined with a magnifying glass.... and you will see all of those "wonderful" Dems saying how we should not "rush such things" and make sure "they work with the other side of the aisle on a compromise."
When "compromise" literally means "catering to the right wing" I no longer have the humor to give a rat's ass about what any of those Dems has to say anymore. And after Obama's latest healthcare shenanigans, he can go flight a kite for all I care.
As I said, I am f*cking tired of Reid et al literally laughing at my face. F*ck'em...
Combine this obtusity with Harry bashing grassroots organizations opposed to the "Blue Dogs", and I say it is time for Harry to go home.
It boggles the mind that he was unamimously elected leader by the Dems.
when the dems were trying to put forward a face of morality in order to placate the faith based
but the man is a fucking retard
didnt know that roberts was a conservative?? please
Would have appointed anything else.
Time to say bye bye Harry. Your time is up. Just wait till the next election.
is that Resident Bush was never elected in the first place and then the Supreme Court appointed (Cheney) President anyway.
I thought Obama was something different because he appears to have been "elected". Yes, I know it's only been two months but I'm not impressed or fooled in any way anymore.
Everyone was so excited about the 2006 results. But look at what happened anyway. NADA. We feel like we're getting decent people into office and when they get there, hEEEEEERE'S CORPO-LAND IN YO FACE. We've all been holding out hope and just waiting for the next election forever.
Meanwhile, Rome continues to burn and takes the international community down with it.
It's even more disturbing when these "think tanks" get out the vote by using stupid wedge issues such as abortion, religion and gun rights to get people into the booths to use those faulty electronic voting machines to vote against their own interests.
Fine. He lied to Reid and to the rest of Congress during his appointment process; however, one only had to look at his record or read a few of his rulings to see where Roberts stood on certain issues. Instead of relying only on what a person says, he should have been looking at the facts of Roberts' record.
I am completely convinced that those within the Beltway are completely out of touch with reality. If Senator Reid stepped outside the Beltway and spent some time with the rest of us, he would have known that Roberts was a conservative. I'm sure there are many more secrets that Roberts is hiding from the public. Does he actually 'sleep' with his wife or is she just a front? Just asking.
I'm amazed that anyone actually believes Harry Reid "loses" these things because he's incompetent or afraid of confrontation.
He has no problem confronting his own base. Does it all the time. And the way he manages to maneuver the Republican/corporate agenda into the winning position of debates is a demonstration of his sly understanding of the political process.
He's not an idiot and he's not a coward. He just isn't on our side.
When the Repugs back in the 80s figured out that since Ronnie figured he could do it then Congress figured they could as well. Well it is many years later and it is much worse.
I don't know if Reid's religion gets in the way, but he needs to grow a set and smack someone in the nose, or let someone else do it.
This is exactly why Harry Reid needs to be replaced and be replaced NOW. Preferably by someone with a pair of balls. He wants to protect the Republicans rights. LOSERS HAVE NO RIGHTS! Bush got his right wing wackos into the courts. Now it's our turn to nominate some sane people. If the Republicans threaten to filibuster, take away that procedure. Whatever happened to the concept that all of a President's judicial nominees deserved an up or down vote?
Reid proves himself to be an idiot. Hell, I am not the democratic leader of the senate and I knew Roberts and anyone Bush nominated for anything was not going to be a moderate anything and certainly not a liberal. Dear Lord, save this country from the morons.
Yes. Who could have known???? For people in control of "the most powerful nation on earth," they don't know much, do they?
BUT FUCK THAT.
I can't stand the vast majority of the Democratic party and I fucking hate the entire Republican party.
How g damned stupid do they think we all are?
How stupid are we supposed to be?
Here, let's all bend over one more time.
Again and again and again we all get taken for the morons we are expected to be.
I can't stand Harry "I'm a LEMMING and PROUD OF IT" Reid.
I also can't really stand Obama anymore. The word "moderate" is code for "corporate stooge".
I hear ya.
What they really want to say is, "Consume, pay your taxes, and STFU."
on the floor on wallstreet after 9/11 screaming at traumitized and confused Americans to save our "freedom" from the terrorists by going out there and SPEND, SPEND, SPEND.
I was living in Europe at the time and remember the whole roomful of people just sitting there staring at the television in stunned disbelief.
Just how IS IT that the vast majority of the planet earth knew that there were no WMD in Iraq but somehow, just somehow our entire congress was "FOOLED".
Give me a freakin' break. Anybody see a pattern here?
Democrats and Republicans: "Duh, I dunno but let's just bomb people back to the stone age because it's good for the economy and we'll keep on doin' it til the end times arrive. Then we'll play the terrorism card again cuz our corporate paymasters told us to".
Lying. Owned. Sacks. of. Shit.
Yea sure, and who could have known that people would use planes as a weapon and fly them into buildings? Who could have known New Orleans would be underwater? Who could have known? Reid has fucked us every time we needed him to stand tall. Then he snivels some crappy excuse as to why he laid down like the cheap whore he is.I am so sick of these lying MF I could just scream. Reid is not ball-less, he's bought and paid for. I hope your kids are proud of you harry, a fine example of a piece of shit criminal.CEO,citizens,eyes,open.
Harry Reid must think we're very stupid. How did this shadow of a man ever become a Senate leader?
Harry Reid must think we're very stupid. How did this shadow of a man ever become a Senate leader?
That instead of having conservaitives shitting on my liberal principles, now I get to have conservatives and Dems shit on my principles in stereo?
Ain't progress grand?
Reid, Pelos, Clinton, and Obama can from now on go pound sand for all I care. I am yet to see a single sign of change from the past 3 decades of shift towards the right.
I am f*cking tired of this sh*t honestly....
That all those emails, phone calls, FAXES and snail mail letters in opposition to both Roberts and Alito might have, maybe just a little, been a clue that we the people didn't think Roberts and Alito were the best persons for a lifetime job appointment.
With leaders like Harry Reid I feel supremely confident we Democrats are royally screwed. Now, let's baste that turkey.. I'm sure he's done.
Cahoots? Complicit? Collusion.
They take so many "sponsors" they are simply bought and paid for like celebrities.
There's an excellent chance you don't want to hear it from me but way to go! It's nice to know that there are at least some liberals out there who get it and understand how our side has been needlessly driving away supporters by harping on this issue when it's decidedly against our interest. My compliments for good strategic awareness. We could use more like you.
Roberts never pretended to be moderate. Instead he was deliberately evasive during questioning. His nomination process revealed nothing about him.
Roberts was unwilling to state whether Griswald v. Connecticut was clearly established law (right of access to contraceptives). If you wanted to see his judicial philosophy, you could have reviewed his judicial opinions, such as the Hamdan case that he decided in the DC Circuit Court of Appeals that was reversed by the SCOTUS. If you wanted to see his passion, you could have reviewed his Reagan Administration memos where he mocked the right of privacy as having no place in the constitution.
Someone could have asked him questions about his opinion on the unitary executive theory or about his relationship to the Federalist Society.
If someone in the legislative branch of government had conducted a thorough review of Robert's record, they would have discovered that he followed the Rehnquistian approach to a T: wax eloquent about pragmatism and stare decisis while always ensuring that you decide the case against the criminal defendant, against the little guy, against the habeas petitioner, and for the government (or corporation, they are interchangeable).
Reid's feigned surprise about Roberts is just like Kerry/Clinton's feigned surprise that Bush used the authorization to use force against Iraq that Congress gave him to attack Iraq. Anyone who thought that Bush wasn't going to war no matter what was either lying or incompetent. Same thing with Reid. Convenient post hoc political cover.
Can we please get a Democrat with stones in that leadership position?
I'm sick to death and tired of watching him stumble through press conference after press conference, and I'm especially tired of watching him work overtime to help the Republicans who are intent on destroying this country, while crippling the REAL Democrats who might actually have the damned nerve to FIX THINGS.
How do we remove him from the leadership and put somebody like Feingold, Boxer, or Leahy in that role??
The Dems are just stalling because they have no useful ideas. So, their only plan is to try to keep up the game of trying(miserably) to distract the public from their own incompetence.
You've got Emanuel desperately trying to label limbaugh as the head of the repubs, Barney Frank calling scalia a homophobe and now Reid playing the babe in the woods. Does he even care how stupid and dishonest he sounds in making such pronouncements? What a joke.
Login or Register to post comments.