Let Roberts Replace Rehnquist
The AP reports:
Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., said Bush should consider asking O’Connor to rescind her retirement temporarily so the president would have more time to consider how to replace Rehnquist.
I’d be on board with having O’Connor remain temporarily, if the Senate would agree to allow Roberts to serve as Rehnquist’s replacement, rather than O’Connor’s. That way we’d at least have nine people on the Court when the term begins.
Somehow, I don’t think that’s what Dodd has in mind.
(AP story via Confirm Them.)
Might be wise to consider why the Chief Justice hung in there, instead of retiring earlier. Seems to me, he probably wanted to make sure that a conservative like Roberts would be nominated to take O’Connor’s seat. Had Rehnquist retired, there would have been enormous pressure on Pres. Bush to nominate a conservate to take Rehnquist’s seat but a moderate to take O’Connor’s.
If Bush were to now switch Roberts over to the Chief slot, then there would once again be enormous pressure on Bush to appoint a moderate instead of a conservative for the O’Connor slot. So, I’m for going ahead with the Roberts hearing on Tuesday to fill the O’Connor slot. Meanwhile, Bush could appoint a conservative for the Rehnquist slot. (I use the term “conservative” not in a political sense, but in the sense of conserving the Constitution.)
Another reason to avoid delaying the Tuesday hearing is that it would give opposition groups a much bigger opportunity to mobilize.
Andrew (3976f2) — 9/4/2005 @ 10:41 amIf Dodd was really interested in the good of the country, he would suggest that Roberts and the next nominee is consented to immediately.
Bush should also elevate Thomas or Scalia to the Chief Justice role to ensure continuity of leadership and to reduce the perceived impacat of the next nominee.
FreeKnight (0e87a9) — 9/4/2005 @ 1:33 pmDodd knows that the coverage of Katrina will overshadow boring Congressional hearings.
That’s why he wants a delay.
What a sick, sick man.
RightNumberOne (b60816) — 9/4/2005 @ 3:16 pm2 hours ago
Bush Nominates Roberts for Chief Justice
Yi Ling (2cbfb8) — 9/5/2005 @ 10:40 am[…] The story is here. Just call me Karnak. […]
Patterico’s Pontifications » Bush Nominates Roberts to Replace Rehnquist as Chief Justice (421107) — 9/5/2005 @ 11:16 amRescind? O’Connor is not going anywhere until her replacement is confirmed. If Roberts is now Renquist’s replacement, does that not automatically mean that O’Connor will be sticking around for a little while longer? Also, the White House indicated that another nominee would be announced at the end of the week. So, the only thing that will hold up a full court is Dodd and his peers.
oregano (2ed781) — 9/5/2005 @ 8:41 pm