Reid: Roberts 'didn't tell us the truth'

[kpete]

Source: Politico


Reid: Roberts 'didn't tell us the truth'
Politico


Manu Raju Manu Raju – 2 hrs 28 mins ago

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.”

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.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090327/pl_politico/20560;_ylt=Ak.2jLOr01poVu1LEP.jRWeyFz4D

[marylanddem]

1. Oh please.

Harry Reid is such a farce.

[Mike Daniels]

33. Haven't other Supreme Court justices turned out differently than some initially expected?

From my understanding a few presidents have gotten burned by their picks when they turned out to rule differently than initially expected.

Reid's just a big frickin' whiner in this instance.

[Jackpine Radical]

35. Earl Warren--

Ike thought he was a nice, safe conservative when he appointed him. Boy, was he in for a surprise.

[Freddie Stubbs]

49. And David Souter

[rhett o rick]

74. Please explain the blue dog on your signature. nm

[lark]

60. Reid is totally delusional

There was plenty of information on Roberts to tag him as a rank bizness supporter and one who totally supported the shrub imperial residency. Reid is just trying to make excuses for his obvious cluelessness. OMG, then he makes things worse by basically begging the Repugs to filibuster judicial nominees. He's disgusting!!

[bvar22]

76. I don't think Reid was clueless.

I think he is complicit.

I'm SICK of the excuses from the "Centrists".

"Gee, who could have imagined..."

[No Elephants]

88. Thank heaven, some Pubs appointed people who turned out to be sane when on the bench.

[glitch]

54. No kidding. The whole world knew Roberts was a Fascist but somehow Reid wants us to believe that he

missed it? Taking the idiot defense a little too far on this one, Reid.

[Jeep789]

86. Reid is obviously unqualified for his job

if he couldn't deduct such a simple fact.

[ogneopasno]

2. Hey Harry -- If you'd been listening to those damn liberals, you wouldn't have been surprised!

Ass cushion.

[GOPNotForMe]

3. This is NEWS to Reid?

Ay yai yai.....

[blue_onyx]

4. Like that would've changed whether Roberts was confirmed

The Dems wouldn't have blocked Roberts, just like they didn't block Alito.

[liskddksil]

5. And yet you had no problem letting him and Scalito walk right through

no filibuster, no question. What spineless wimp.

[lsewpershad]

52. Totally agree

[Shipwack]

6. Harry has no idea has balance works...

If a (far)right winger was put on the court, you don't achieve balance by putting someone in the middle... You need to appoint someone on the left to do that.

[IdaBriggs]

7. I keep forgetting how gullible Harry Reid is. The rest of us were able

to figure out that Roberts was a) not a moderate, and b) lying his ass off, all without benefit of anything more strenuous than a little bit of on-line research. Imagine what would have happened if we had staffs of people with similar skills!

:eyes:

Think he's caught on yet to the fact that if a Republican is talking, odds are good they are either "misinformed", "ignorant" or "lying like crazy"?

Probably not. Sigh. Gullible shit. (Where were those weapons of mass destruction again? And he thought Bush was telling the truth about war being a last resort because...Whatever.)

:nopity:

[rudy23]

11. I keep forgetting how gullible he thinks we are.

They really underestimate the research skills of "the masses", don't they?

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

8. AP BREAKING: Girl named Lucy takes away football as a Mr Charles Brown is about to kick it. nt

[Captain Hilts]

18. "It's not the first time she's done it," Ms. Van Pelt's brother, Linus, told officials. nt

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

23. "Victim's best friend Snoopy T Dog could not be reached for comment ....." OK I'll stop now. nt

[martymar64]

56. "And she won't stop stalking me!" says local musician Schroeder

n/t

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

61. LOL. You bastard! nt

[notadmblnd]

9. Jusdges can be impeached too.

Wouldn't lying to congress be an impeachable offense?

[glitch]

58. The appearance of impropriety is impeachable.

Scalia, Thomas, Roberts all qualify from Bush v Gore alone (and yes I know Roberts wasn't a Justice at the time, but he did advise Jeb on how to subvert the recount and send Bush electors even if Gore won).

[JuniperLea]

10. You need to clean the wax out of your ears, Harry...

You were told this over and over and over again, by your very own colleagues, BEFORE he was appointed. Don't be a bobble head yes-man! Clean your ears and listen!!

[Political Heretic]

12. This is total bullshit. *I* knew, and was blizting everywhere with info on Roberts

If I knew, the Reid needs to shut the fuck up and just admit he's a gutless failure.

[DJ13]

13. Harry, oversight is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

Proper oversight isnt taking people at their word, its digging hard to find out the truth.

You're a failure, resign your position.

[Lasher]

14. How about we get a real Democrat as Majority Leader?

If we get a chance to appoint a new justice of the SCOTUS we need to have an actual progressive liberal, and a young one, to counterbalance the wingnuts already serving. And if Republicans threaten to filibuster we need to dust off their nuclear option and throw it right in their stupid faces.

They install right wing ideologists, we install 'moderates' who end up being Nazi-lite. That doesn't make sense. Get a pair, Reid, or get out of the way.

[jmowreader]

71. The question is, who?

There's no one in there now anyone here likes.

[Lasher]

77. Bernie Sanders?

You're right though.

[jmowreader]

Bernie's an independent

He's one of the few bona fide liberals in the Senate, but the Democratic Caucus should probably be led by someone in the Democratic Party.

John Kerry, Kirsten Gillibtand and Kay Hagan would all be better than Harry Reid. Olympia Snowe would be a better Senate Majority Leader, except we'd have to get her out of the Republican Party first. Any West Coasters, how's Jeff Merkley? (Well, other than the fact he has both his offices west of I-5--I know, I know, eastern Oregon is a fog-shrouded wasteland but really, how much would it have cost to rent a 10x10 office in Ontario and stick one person in it?)

[jmowreader]

79. Bernie's an independent

He's one of the few bona fide liberals in the Senate, but the Democratic Caucus should probably be led by someone in the Democratic Party.

John Kerry, Kirsten Gillibtand and Kay Hagan would all be better than Harry Reid. Olympia Snowe would be a better Senate Majority Leader, except we'd have to get her out of the Republican Party first. Any West Coasters, how's Jeff Merkley? (Well, other than the fact he has both his offices west of I-5--I know, I know, eastern Oregon is a fog-shrouded wasteland but really, how much would it have cost to rent a 10x10 office in Ontario and stick one person in it?)

[Lasher]

84. Jim Webb?

I like him even though he only recently came back to the light.

[jmowreader]

85. Jim Webb would be good too

[No Elephants]

89. Webb? Geez, no. Talk about googling!

[Captain Hilts]

15. He never claimed to be a moderate. No surprise. nt

[madrchsod]

16. god....what a loser

he should step down and let someone who can have the guts to lead

[Beetwasher]

17. Harry Harry Harry

*shakes head sorrowfully*

[The Stranger]

19. Now if Roberts were a Senator from Illinois, DUers would be screaming for him to resign immediately.

Why why why why why why why why why why why why why why?

[fascisthunter]

20. what a crock of shit... if he is serious, he's a moron

I knew how right wing that freak was, and so did Reid.

[stillcool]

21. Poor Harry...he got hood-winked again..

I wonder how much he's going to let the Senate Republicans carve out of the budget.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

22. Yes, he lied and no one knew. Just like no one knew economic crisis was coming for years

I'm not an overly wise person, nor am I and overly educated person. Yet I saw the truth in both matters. I do not believe that our governmental leaders are that much less informed than I was.

I do wonder how long they think feigning shock and decrying the lies after the fact will work though? Just like with the "evidence" leading to the Iraq war. Too many let their fear for their careers get in the way of doing what was obviously the right thing. Choosing instead to face that heat another day and devise some balderdash story of how they were duped.

[Politicalboi]

24. Wow! A Repuke that lies

Who'd a thunk it.

[asjr]

25. I wish Harry would let the Dems know what

days he is going to send in his clone to the Senate. He has been using that mild manner of speech too long. We are on to him.

[jobycom]

26. Hey folks, you're being jerked around by a reporter again.

Honestly, they should teach classes on how to read stories. This story says almost nothing about what Reid says, it only takes on comment out of context to make all of you folk start foaming. It's called a Pavlovian response--the reporter knows this will get people riled up and clicking on his story, and that's all he cares about.

Read it again: "Reid’s comments, which came during a wide-ranging discussion hosted by the Christian Science Monitor..." In other words, there was a lot before, and a lot after, this statement, and we don't know what that was. Reid doesn't say he was fooled, he doesn't say Roberts was approved because people thought he was a moderate, he doesn't say anything about his own beliefs at the time at all, or at least this article doesn't mention it if he did.

All we know he said was that Roberts didn't tell the truth. He doesn't act like this was a surprise or unknown at the time. He just makes that statement.

Quit being such easy marks. These half-truths and out-of-context statements are how they destroy our heroes (or in Reid's case, occassional allies). Remember Clinton? Gore? Kerry? Dean? Hell, they do it to Obama. Wake up. Quit letting them jerk your chain. Assume the media is lying, and demand full evidence, or write the story off as another attack on Dems. We make it too easy for them.

[Jackpine Radical]

37. What's the better analogy here?

Trying to turn a stampede, or trying to redirect a lynch mob?

[jobycom]

41. Hehe. Neither was my intention, but interesting question.

Especially since I don't know if you meant me or the reporter...

[Jackpine Radical]

43. I meant you.

[jobycom]

45. That's what I thought.

My intention was to be accurate--it's all the academic training, makes me hate imprecise writing.

But my unconscious intention--I'll have to figure that one out. :)

[Jackpine Radical]

46. Imprecise? Me?

I'm crushed.

[jobycom]

62. Not you!

The article in the OP! You're comment was clear, clever, and insightful.

[Jackpine Radical]

69. Thank heavens! My ego is salved.

On re-reading this whole exchange, I finally picked up on what you're saying. I often wonder, on seeing what passes for journalism these days, whether literacy is even a requirement for the job. Wisdom, judgment and comprehension are clearly not. Many years ago, when driven to it by desperation, I committed some random and senseless acts of journalism myself, so I've always had a soft spot for the profession (I found myself debating whether to let the word "profession" stand or replace it with"perversion"). Sad to see the depths to which it has fallen. Sadder still to see it twisted into an evil mockery of itself, bent into a tool to do the bidding of the power elite.

[Dr Fate]

59. Reid had a chance to expose Roberts as liar b/f confirmation, he failed or did not even try.

I think that is why people are reacting to this article.

Some DEMS feel like Reid is the one jerking them around.

For instance-just recently, he tried to characterize people who voice support Obama's budget as "extreme Liberals." Most people who are angry at Reid can see a pretty clear pattern here.

Calling a lifetime an appointee a liar now is too little, too late.

[jobycom]

63. I won't argue about Reid.

Just pointing out that the article is heavily slanted to piss people off. We don't know, from that article at least, what Reid said.

[Dr Fate]

65. Point taken- my point is such articles are pretty easy to believe these days.

n/t

[rhett o rick]

75. You may be correct, but.....Roberts is a fascist and was appointed on Reid's watch.

What more do you need to know?

[acmavm]

27. **snarf** Poor Harry. Always the victim.

Too bad he didn't read his damn e-mails, the Tool.

[Jefferson23]

28. Talk about too little too late, I can't stand Reid.

[Demeter]

29. Who Are You Going to Believe, Harry? The People or Your Basic Lying GOP Flunky?

the man has been out in the sun for too long. Put him down and take up another leader.

[pleah]

30. Fuck you Harry!

Grow a pair!

[BlueJac]

31. STFU Harry, you weren't thinking then so why try to start now!

[high density]

32. Why are we going to put moderates when the Repukes put up insane people?

I do not understand this DC Democratic way of appeasing the Repukes at every turn.

[ArcticFox]

34. What a loser

There's nothing you can do about it now, Reid. How come I could figure out he was a right wing nutjob, and you, a powerful and knowledgable senator, were caught completely by surprise? You should step down so a real democrat can have a shot at representing your state.

[Gman]

36. Just increase the size of the Supreme Court by 3 or even 5

have Obama appoint to the new seats. Problem over.

[McCamy Taylor]

39. FDR tried that one. They would not let him,

[Gman]

92. Yeah, I know. But if at first you don't succeed...

I mean, damn. Obama wants change? Then friggin' start changin' things including the SCOTUS. It'll be a lot of heat, but revolutions generate a lot of heat. I think it can be sold to the people. Nobody's forgotten what we just went through in the last 8 years.

[McCamy Taylor]

38. The Dems had their chance to filibuster Roberts and they blew it.

[cadmium]

42. And they even had an active filibuster in place over Alito but

blew it. I knew Roberts was a mistake -- his limited record revealed his leanings and prioritities.

[JerseygirlCT]

40. Oh come on. How stupid is Reid? Really? REALLY?

Raise your hand if you knew full well what a rightwinger Roberts was well before he was made SC Chief Justice.

Yeah, that's what I thought.

Raise your hand if you knew about his leanings well before he was even put on the court.

Right.

Either Reid is so completely and totally out of touch that he needs to retire ASAP. Or he's attempting to have us on, and that's grossly insulting.

[cadmium]

44. Roll Call Votes on Roberts

Tip of the hat to Akaka, Inouye, and Bayh---sometimes conservative in voting.
Alphabetical by Senator Name
Akaka (D-HI), Nay
Alexander (R-TN), Yea
Allard (R-CO), Yea
Allen (R-VA), Yea
Baucus (D-MT), Yea
Bayh (D-IN), Nay
Bennett (R-UT), Yea
Biden (D-DE), Nay
Bingaman (D-NM), Yea
Bond (R-MO), Yea
Boxer (D-CA), Nay
Brownback (R-KS), Yea
Bunning (R-KY), Yea
Burns (R-MT), Yea
Burr (R-NC), Yea
Byrd (D-WV), Yea
Cantwell (D-WA), Nay
Carper (D-DE), Yea
Chafee (R-RI), Yea
Chambliss (R-GA), Yea
Clinton (D-NY), Nay
Coburn (R-OK), Yea
Cochran (R-MS), Yea
Coleman (R-MN), Yea
Collins (R-ME), Yea
Conrad (D-ND), Yea
Cornyn (R-TX), Yea
Corzine (D-NJ), Nay
Craig (R-ID), Yea
Crapo (R-ID), Yea
Dayton (D-MN), Nay
DeMint (R-SC), Yea
DeWine (R-OH), Yea
Dodd (D-CT), Yea
Dole (R-NC), Yea
Domenici (R-NM), Yea
Dorgan (D-ND), Yea
Durbin (D-IL), Nay
Ensign (R-NV), Yea
Enzi (R-WY), Yea
Feingold (D-WI), Yea
Feinstein (D-CA), Nay
Frist (R-TN), Yea
Graham (R-SC), Yea
Grassley (R-IA), Yea
Gregg (R-NH), Yea
Hagel (R-NE), Yea
Harkin (D-IA), Nay
Hatch (R-UT), Yea
Hutchison (R-TX), Yea
Inhofe (R-OK), Yea
Inouye (D-HI), Nay
Isakson (R-GA), Yea
Jeffords (I-VT), Yea
Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Kennedy (D-MA), Nay
Kerry (D-MA), Nay
Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Kyl (R-AZ), Yea
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea
Lautenberg (D-NJ), Nay
Leahy (D-VT), Yea
Levin (D-MI), Yea
Lieberman (D-CT), Yea
Lincoln (D-AR), Yea
Lott (R-MS), Yea
Lugar (R-IN), Yea
Martinez (R-FL), Yea
McCain (R-AZ), Yea
McConnell (R-KY), Yea
Mikulski (D-MD), Nay
Murkowski (R-AK), Yea
Murray (D-WA), Yea
Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Nelson (D-NE), Yea
Obama (D-IL), Nay
Pryor (D-AR), Yea
Reed (D-RI), Nay
Reid (D-NV), Nay
Roberts (R-KS), Yea
Rockefeller (D-WV), Yea
Salazar (D-CO), Yea
Santorum (R-PA), Yea
Sarbanes (D-MD), Nay
Schumer (D-NY), Nay
Sessions (R-AL), Yea
Shelby (R-AL), Yea
Smith (R-OR), Yea
Snowe (R-ME), Yea
Specter (R-PA), Yea
Stabenow (D-MI), Nay
Stevens (R-AK), Yea
Sununu (R-NH), Yea
Talent (R-MO), Yea
Thomas (R-WY), Yea
Thune (R-SD), Yea
Vitter (R-LA), Yea
Voinovich (R-OH), Yea
Warner (R-VA), Yea
Wyden (D-OR), Yea

[Jefferson23]

70. Leahy voted yea? I wonder what that was all about.

[Dinger]

72. Breaking This Down:

Dems Who Voted Nay: 22 REAL Dems
Akaka (D-HI), Nay
Bayh (D-IN), Nay
Biden (D-DE), Nay
Boxer (D-CA), Nay
Cantwell (D-WA), Nay
Clinton (D-NY), Nay
Corzine (D-NJ), Nay
Dayton (D-MN), Nay
Durbin (D-IL), Nay
Feinstein (D-CA), Nay
Harkin (D-IA), Nay
Inouye (D-HI), Nay
Kennedy (D-MA), Nay
Kerry (D-MA), Nay
Lautenberg (D-NJ), Nay
Mikulski (D-MD), Nay
Obama (D-IL), Nay
Reed (D-RI), Nay
Reid (D-NV), Nay
Sarbanes (D-MD), Nay
Schumer (D-NY), Nay
Stabenow (D-MI), Nay

DINOs who voted Yea: 22 so-called Dems, with some surprises

Baucus (D-MT), Yea
Bingaman (D-NM), Yea
Byrd (D-WV), Yea
Carper (D-DE), Yea
Conrad (D-ND), Yea
Dodd (D-CT), Yea
Dorgan (D-ND), Yea
Feingold (D-WI), Yea
Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea
Leahy (D-VT), Yea
Levin (D-MI), Yea
Lieberman (A-CT), Yea
Lincoln (D-AR ), Yea
Murray (D-WA), Yea
Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Nelson (D-NE), Yea
Pryor (D-AR), Yea
Rockefeller (D-WV), Yea
Salazar (D-CO), Yea
Wyden (D-OR), Yea


Is there a list like this on scalito? Also, how did the senators vote on cloture? If they voted against confirmation, but voted for cloture, then one vote canceled out the other. Sort of like making themselves look like they voted against either asshole, but then voting for cloture to make sure they got in, thereby missing a backbone. I think Kohl (my so-called senator) was guilt of this, at least on one of these votes.

*Assuming I have the idea of cloture right on this. Confuses me a bit. I'm not a lawyer or legal expert by any stretch of the imagination.

[blue_onyx]

81. These are the only Dems who voted for Alito

Byrd (D-WV), Yea
Conrad (D-ND), Yea
Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Nelson (D-NE), Yea



Dems who voted Yes on cloture

Akaka (D-HI), Yea
Baucus (D-MT), Yea
Bingaman (D-NM), Yea
Byrd (D-WV), Yea
Cantwell (D-WA), Yea
Carper (D-DE), Yea
Conrad (D-ND), Yea
Dorgan (D-ND), Yea
Inouye (D-HI), Yea
Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea
Lieberman (D-CT), Yea
Lincoln (D-AR), Yea
Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Nelson (D-NE), Yea
Pryor (D-AR), Yea
Rockefeller (D-WV), Yea
Salazar (D-CO), Yea

[scytherius]

47. Remind me again WHY the Dems chose Reid as Ldr? *sigh* n/r

nt

[dkofos]

48. Yes fearless leader, you were duped again. Maybe next time you will listen

to the fucking people.

[Hawaii Hiker]

50. Hey Reid grow a spine - How about putting LIBERALS on the court

why the fuck should we accept "moderates"......During the campaign, McCain made no apologies about the types he wanted on the SCOTUS (Roberts, Ailito, Thomas, & Scalia), these are FAR right justices....

Well, Obama won, & I think it's time for a left leaning justice(s).....

[AndyA]

51. Fuck you, Harry. Is this really a surprise to you?

If it is, you're too FUCKING STUPID to be in Congress. Resign. NOW. Do your constituents and the rest of us a favor, you ball-less wonder.

And to offset the damage you've done by putting a "surprise I'm a right winger" on the bench, you need to put LIBERALS on there from now on to balance things out.

With FREAKS like Roberts, Alito, Thomas, and Scalia, we need to go way to the left to have any hope of balance.

Resign, Harry. Really, you are a waste.

[seafan]

53. We SCREAMED about John Roberts to Harry Reid before that confirmation.

Reid: Roberts 'didn't tell us the truth'

March 27, 2009

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.”

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. ((:mad: :eyes: :puke: :crazy: :argh:))

.....

Oh, PLEASE, Senator. Have you conveniently forgotten how Bill Frist treated Democrats over the filibuster??


Hey, Senator Reid, as usual, you blew us off when we tried to tell you about the risks of confirming John Roberts.


REMINDER: John Roberts helped prepare case Bush v. Gore in 2000, July 27, 2005

Roberts had larger 2000 recount role

By MARC CAPUTO
Miami Herald

July 27, 2005


TALLAHASSEE - U.S. Supreme Court nominee John Roberts played a broader behind-the-scenes role for the Republican camp in the aftermath of the 2000 election than previously reported -- as legal consultant, lawsuit editor and prep coach for arguments before the nation's highest court, according to the man who drafted him for the job.

.....

Until now, Gov. Jeb Bush and others involved in the election dispute could recall almost nothing of Roberts' role, except for a half-hour meeting the governor had with Roberts. Cruz said Roberts was in Tallahassee helping the Bush camp for ''a week to 10 days,'' and that his help was important, though Cruz said it is difficult to remember specifics five years after the sleep-depriving frenetic pace of the 2000 recount.

.....

Soon after getting the call from Cruz, Roberts traveled from his Washington office at Hogan & Hartson to Tallahassee to lend advice and help polish legal briefs. Later, Roberts participated in a dress rehearsal to prepare the Bush legal team for the U.S. Supreme Court.
Cruz's account is the first to place Roberts firmly within the Bush vs. Gore battle, filling in substantial blanks in the memories of everyone from Bush's campaign lawyer, Ben Ginsberg, to the governor.

.....

Ted Olson, the lawyer who successfully argued George W. Bush's case before the U.S. Supreme Court, said Roberts helped, but couldn't recall what legal briefs, if any, Roberts reviewed. Olson said he was certain that Roberts participated in a ''moot court'' hearing to prep him for arguments before the high court in the first of two hearings.

''It was a conference room full of people and John was there. I had known him for 20 years by that point, and I highly respected his opinions,'' Olson said.

As documented in the old thread above, I sent this information to both Reid and Leahy immediately after it was published on July 27, 2005. Nothing but silence.


Anyone who would actively work against counting all the votes in a presidential election should be automatically disqualified from consideration as Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court. HOW DIFFICULT IS THAT??? This was a monstrous tragedy and Reid happily gave Bush what he wanted... a partisan hack heading the Supreme Court.


Senator Reid, you are not what we need as Senate Majority Leader. To stay in that position is an affront to the people who desperately need some LEADERSHIP from the Senate.

Whether you are whining about John Roberts now, nearly 4 years after you confirmed him, or griping about the pressure the ConservaDems are going to face when progressives really get cranked up to expose what they are doing to impede Obama's agenda for health care, education and energy legislation, you are perpetuating the damage that 30 years of Republican pillage and plunder have wrought.


Leave, Harry. Let a more capable Senator such as Barbara Boxer take over.


LEAVE. NOW.

[Dr Fate]

57. Reid is either stupid, lying or both. n/t

n/t

[defendandprotect]

95. "Never mistake good acting for cluelessness" ---

but heaven help us if this isn't acting and Reid is really this dumb .... ????

PLUS ... Roberts turned out to be even a worse move because he's now CHIEF Justice

which means he controls much of the water going over the dam.

[Dr Fate]

55. The "far left Liberals" that you vilify told you that over and over- you lying idiot.

One more instance out of literally thousands where the conservative, pro-Bush DEMS were wrong, and the true moderates and Liberals were right.

Reid is a liar, plain & simple.

[Individualist]

64. Typical. I've never known of a DLCer that didn't lie.

[cadmium]

66. Reid did vote against Roberts while

Feingold voted for him. I have problems with Reid but I dont think this is a big stumble on his part. Votes are going to go forward on Supreme Court nominees that make it out of Judicial committee.

[Dinger]

91. How Did He Vote On Cloture?

If voted for cloture, and against roberts, it seems that one vote canceled out another.

[WolverineDG]

67. I coulda told you that, Harry

Oh wait, I did, FOUR YEARS AGO!!!!!!!!!! :grr:

dg

[Cass]

68. Huh? Loads of us knew Roberts was no moderate. It's not rocket science.

Evidently we were all able to figure this out but a Senate full of lawyers and other hot shots got blind-sided by Roberts. Come on. Does he think we all just arrived here yesterday and have no knowledge of the past few years?

:wtf:

[depakid]

73. Gee, do ya think?

Alito lied right to Congress' face in previous hearings, regarding recusing himself when he was in a blatant conflict of interest- and you were too weak to stop your members from confirming him. too.

Yet another fail from the illustrious Reid, who now has the temerity to whinge about it.

[Solly Mack]

78. I smell bullshit

[shanti]

80. good grief

what kind of person did they THINK *ush would nominate? is he an idiot? :eyes:

[sutz12]

82. Reid: That water was much wetter than we expected...

And the sky was bluer, too.

:shrug:

[xchrom]

83. really, reid? -- really?

his written record wasn't enough of a clue?

that bush nominated him wasn't enough of a clue?

i hope you know you have humiliated yourself.

[Art_from_Ark]

87. Reid was in the midst of the forest

but he couldn't see it because of all the trees

[David__77]

90. "Moderates?" No thanks.

We need progressives - period.

[defendandprotect]

93. Come on . . . Roberts was part of the GOP/fascist planning in Florida 2000 .. .

Roberts was also participating in the GOP fascist rally in Miami-Dade County
to STOP the vote counting mandaged by the Florida State Supreme Court.
As I understand it, he was Bush's advisor on a lot of this stuff???

[BuyingThyme]

94. Oh, gosh! They tricked you again, Harry. Wah, wah, wah.

Asshole.

[Samantha]

96. Roberts worked pro bono for Bush in the election 2000 controversy

giving advice on how to handle the Florida debacle. This is something that stayed quietly in the background during Roberts' hearings, but nonetheless was reported after the fact.

But wait, here it is in Wikipedia:

"2000 Presidential Election

While an attorney at Hogan & Hartson, Roberts met with Florida Governor Jeb Bush and gave advice on the legal aspects of election disputes during the Florida recount of 2000.<1> According to Ted Cruz, an adviser on Bush's 2000 campaign, Roberts helped polish some legal briefs and held a "moot court" session to prepare Bush's lawyers for arguments in Bush v. Palm Beach County Canvassing Board and Bush v. Gore.<2>"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Roberts_Supreme_Court_nomination_and_hearings

Really, is there anyone here at DU who had any doubt on Roberts' leanings? Maybe Harry Reid should have taken a second out and looked him up on the Internet. Jeez:eyes:

Sam

[ecstatic]

97. huh? so is Reid admitting that he did zero research?

I'm pretty sure everyone on DU knew what Roberts was about. :eyes:

[UTUSN]

98. Jeez, Harry, some of us nobodies KNEW that -- and knew about Shrub-Iraq, too!1

Before the fact and withOUT high level contacts and inside information. Just, jeez!1 He should at least NOT BRING IT UP NOW!1

[Joe Bacon]

99. Wimp.

I still remember the Harry Reid who challenged Paul Laxalt in the 1974 Nevada Senate race. The Harry Reid so strongly supported by the Council for a Livable World who was such a feisty liberal. That Harry Reid narrowly lost and the Senate is a sadder place because of that. The 1986 version of Harry Reid who finally won was farther to the right. And wimpiier.

[NoodleyAppendage]

100. FUCK YOU, Reid. We (by "we" I mean the real Democrats) know you're full of shit. n/t

J

[kestrel91316]

101. Why on earth anyone would have thought ANY Bush pick would be

anything other than a RW christofascist fanatic is utterly beyond me. I seem to recall I saw right through him, and so did a lot of other DUers.

[TankLV]

102. What a dumb old fuck Reid is - WE knew that AT THE TIME!!!!

WE TRIED TO TELL YOU, YOU DUMB FUCK, BUT YOU WOULDN'T LISTEN!!!